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HISTORY 


OK 


EW  fJAVEN  ^UNTY, 


CONNECTICUT. 


Edited  by 
J.    L.    ROCKEY, 

Assisted  by  a  corps  of  "ysriters. 


Ir)    b\iro    YoIuiT)^s,    Illustrated. 


volt: ME  I. 


New  Yoek: 
W.  W.  PRESTON  &  CO. 

1892. 


Press  of  J.  Henry  Probst, 

36  VESev  ST. ,  NEW  YORK. 


PREFACE. 


The  preparation  of  this  History  of  New  Haven  County  was  begun 
more  than  two  years  ago,  work  on  it  having  been  assidxxously  prose- 
cuted since  October,  1889.  The  magnitude  of  the  undertaking  has 
been  much  greater  than  was  contemplated,  and  the  volume  of  matter 
has  far  exceeded  the  limit  originally  set  by  the  publishers.  It  has 
been  found  necessary,  after  the  book  had  been  sold,  in  order  to  prop- 
erly embrace  these  hundreds  of  additional  pages,  to  bind  it  in  two 
handsome  volumes  instead  of  one,  as  purposed  and  agreed  with  the 
subscribers.  These  changes  have  been  made  at  an  expenditure  of 
several  thousand  dollars — apparently  a  loss  to  the  publishers,  but 
clearly  a  gain  to  their  patrons.  They  feel  that  they  have  been  some- 
what compensated  for  this  extra  outlay  by  the  appreciative  support 
they  have  received,  in  spite  of  many  adverse  circumstances.  The 
publication,  in  1886,  of  a  voluminous  and  exhaustive  history  of  the  city 
of  New  Haven  so  fully  supplied  the  demand  in  that  locality  for  such  a 
local  work  that  no  patronage  was  there  solicited  or  received  for  this 
book.  In  the  city  of  Waterbury,  also,  a  comprehensive  history  is  being 
prepared  bj-  careful  and  competent  writers,  which  will  afford  the  people 
of  that  section  of  the  count}-  a  vast  fund  of  information  upon  such 
local  matters  as  will  most  interest  them.  Naturally,  that  prospective 
work  limited  the  patronage  for  our  book,  in  that  town.  Very  properly, 
then,  since  the  histories  of  these  localities  have  recently  been  so  fully 
recorded  elsewhere,  and  a  sense  of  obligation  does  not  demand  their 
repetition  by  us,  the  narratives  of  these  two  towns  are  not  here  given 
m  detail.  But  complete  outline  histories  of  them  have  instead  been 
prepared,  wherein  may  be  found  all  the  salient  features  of  the  events 
connected  with  them  since  their  .settlement.  We  believe  that  this 
arrangement  will  be  generally  satisfactory  to  the  citizens  of  the 
county,  as  it  has  permitted  us  to  write  the  accounts  of  other  towns, 
with  much  greater  attention  to  details,  so  that  a  very  good  knowledge 
of  their  affairs  and  relation  to  the  body  corporate  can  be  obtained. 
In  genei^al.  these  narratives  are  far  more  comprehensive  and  finished 
than  anything  heretofore  published;  and  in  several  instances  they  are 
the  only  accounts  of  the  kind,  being  the  results  of  original  investiga- 
tions by  the  compilers  of  this  book.  A  number  of  these  are  citizens 
of  the  county,  and  being  men  of  excellent  character,  their  accounts  of 
the  local  history  of  their  respective  towns  may  be  accepted  as  based 
upon  the  facts  of  the  subjects  treated. 


20132:}0 


IV  PREFACE. 

Notwithstanding  the  extended  limits  given  us  by  the  publishers, 
we  have  been  obliged  by  the  vast  expanse  of  the  territory  embraced 
and  the  abundance  of  its  historical  matter,  to  confine  ourselves,  in 
most  cases,  to  the  simple  record  of  events.  Plainness  of  statement 
and  brevity  of  style  have  been  conspicuously  kept  in  view,  and  there 
has  been  but  little  attempt  at  embellishment.  The  compilers  have 
endeavored  to  perform  their  work  impartially,  and  to  give  every  in- 
terest a  proper  representation.  They  have  sought  to  avoid  the  favorit- 
ism often  seen  in  works  of  this  nature,  and  which  so  greatly  detracts 
from  their  value.  The  rich  and  the  poor,  the  lowly  and  the  exalted, 
the  humble  toiler  and  the  prosperous  employer,  have  alike  received 
creditable  mention  for  what  they  have  done.  This  is  proper;  this  is 
just.  The  true  history  of  an}-  country  is  the  simple  recital  of  the 
deeds  of  its  citizens.  Each  one  in  his  own  sphere  is  a  useful  factor  in 
the  body  politic,  and  however  diverse  their  intere.sts  one  is  the  com- 
plement of  the  other  in  forming  the  harmonious  whole.  But  in  a  work 
of  this  nature  there  is  no  such  thing  as  absolute  perfection.  No  doubt 
this  book  contains  mistakes  of  statements  and  errors  of  judgment,  as 
well  as  the  works  of  others  who  have  heretofore  gleaned  in  this  ex- 
tensive field.  We  claim,  however,  credit  for  an  honest  intention  to 
make  our  book  as  nearly  as  possible  authentic  in  all  things.  To  that 
end  we  have  not  only  compiled  from  the  published  works  of  others 
and  examined  much  manuscript  matter,  using  diligent  effort  to  verify 
the  same,  and  spending  many  months  in  careful  personal  investigations, 
but  we  visited  every  part  of  the  county,  and  in  every  locality  consulted 
many  citizens  of  worth  in  every  department  of  life,  who  were  reputed 
to  possess  knowledge  of  this  nature.  We  thus  called  on  at  least  three 
thousand  of  the  most  progressive  people  of  the  county,  and  these 
pages  contain  to  a  large  extent  what  was  learned  from  them. 

It  is  proper  here  to  acknowledge  our  gratitude  toward  all  who  have 
so  kindly  aided  us.  Without  their  intelligent  and  generous  assistance 
we  should  have  failed  in  our  purpose  to  make  this  a  valuable,  popular 
work;  with  the  help  given  us  we  have  striven  modestly  to  perform 
this  task,  beset  by  so  many  discouraging  obstacles,  and  cherish  the 
hope  that  every  reader  of  this  book  may  derive  much  pleasure  and 
satisfaction  from  the  perusal  and  contemplation  of  its  pages. 

J.    L.    ROCKEV. 

New  York,  March  28th,  1892. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  PAGE 

Location  and  Description. — Natural  Features,  Topograph j',  Geologj",  etc. — 
Discovery. — Claims  of  the  Dutch  and  English. — Settlements  at  Windsor, 
Hartford  and  Wethersfield. — Settlement  of  Quinnipiac. — Treaties  with  the 
Indians. — Organization  of  Church  and  Civil  Government. — The  Juris- 
diction of  New  Haven. — Union  of  the  New  England  Colonies. — Governor 
Eaton  and  his  Successors. — The  Regicide  Judges. — Charter  of  1662. — 
Union  of  New  Haven  and  Connecticut  Colonies. — New  Haven  County 
Formed. — Town  Organizations. — Cities  and  Boroughs. — Statistics. — State 
and  County  Buildings. — County  Commissioners. — The  Courts  of  the 
County. — Internal  Improvements. — General  Military  Matters. — General 
Civil  List 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

TOWN   AND   CITY  OF   NEW    HAVEN    (CONCLUDED). 

Location  and  Natural  Features. — General  Description. — Settlement  and  De- 
velopment.— Condition  at  the  Beginning  of  the  Present  Century. — Sta- 
tistics.— Municipal  Organization. — Town  Clerks. — City  Government. — • 
City  Police — Fire  Department. — Water  Supply. — Public  Sewerage. — City 
Buildings. — Street  Illumination. — Trees  and  Parks. — General  Business 
Interests. — Monetary  Institutions. — Lawyers  and  Physicians. — Post 
Office. — Street  Railways. — Philanthropic  and  Social  Institutions 97 

CHAPTER  III. 

TOWN    AND    LITV   UF    NEW    HAVEN    (CONCLUDED). 

Early  School  Teachers. — Hopkins  Grammar  School. — Other  Early  Schools. — 
Later  Select  Schools. — The  Lancasterian  School. — Graded  Schools  Es- 
tablished.— Present  Condition  of  Public  Schools. — Yale  University. — The 
Periodical  Press. — First  Congregational  Church. — North  Church. — Yale 
College  Church.— Third  Congregational  Church. —Dixwell  Avenue  Church. 
— College  Street  Church. — Church  of  the  Redeemer. — Davenport  Church. 
— Howard  Avenue  Church. — Humphrey  Street  Church. — Taylor  Church. 
— Dwight  Place  Church. — Ferry  Street  Church. — Emanuel  Church. — First 
Presbyterian  Church. — Trinity  Church. — St.  Paul's  Church. — St.  John's 
Church. — Church  of  the  Ascension. — St.  Thomas'  Church. — Christ 
Church. — Grace  Church. — St.  Luke's  Church. — All  Saints'  Chapel. — 
Trinity  Chapel. — Methodist  Churches. — Baptist  Churches. — Lutherans. — 
Second  Adven tists.  — Universalists.  — Hebrews.  — Roman  Catholics.  — Cem- 
eteries.— Fair  Haven. — Westville. — Biographical  Sketches 144 


VI  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   IV. 
THE  TOWN   OF   F.ASl'   HAVEN.  PAGE 

Location  and  Natviral  Features. — The  Pioneer  Settlers. — Civil  Organization. 
— Bridges,  Ferries,  Roads,  etc. — Industrial  Pursuits. — East  Haven  Village. 
— Religious  and  Educational  Matters. — Cemeteries. — Military  Affairs.^ 
Biographical  Sketches '317 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE  TOWN  OF  NORTH  HAVEN. 

Location  and  Description. — Settlement. — Early  Religious  Affairs. — Reverend 
Benjamin  Trumbull. — Congregational  Church. — St.  John's  (P.  E. )  Church. 
— Baptist  Church  at  Montowese. — Clinton ville  Union  Mission. — The 
Militia. — Cemeteries. — Education. — Incorporation  of  the  Town. — Civil 
List. — Public  Improvements. — Public  Buildings. — The  Bradley  Library. 
— The  Town  Centennial. — General  Business  Interests. — Villages. — Sab- 
bath Day  Houses. — Slaves. — Fishing  Privileges. — Taverns. — Physicians. 
— North  Haven  in  the  Nation's  Wars. — Biographical  Sketches 248 

CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  TOWN   OF    HAMDEN. 

Location  and  Natural  Features. — Early  Agricultural  Industries. — The  Early 
Settlers  and  their  Descendants. — Population. — Civil  Organization. — Town 
Poor. — Town  Hall. — Town  Clerks. — Public  Thoroughfares. — Manufactur- 
ing Interests. — Hamlets,  Post  Offices,  etc. — Masonic  Lodge. — Schools. — 
Mt.  Carmel  Congregational  Church. — Congregational  Church  in  Whit- 
neyville. — Grace  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal). — St.  Mary's  Church 
(Roman  Catholic"). — Hamden  Plains  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — The 
New  Lebanon  Mission. — Cemeteries. — Water  Works  and  Parks. — Bio- 
graphical Sketches 


•28 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   TOWN   OF   WALLINGFORD. 

Location  and  Description. — Early  Settlers. — Growth  of  the  Town. — Second 
Centennial. — Organization  of  Town  and  Early  Records.  —Town  Clerks 
and  Probate  Judges. — Public  Highways. — Manufacturing. — Wallingford 
Borough. — Incorporation  and  Officers. — Sewerage. — Street  Improvement. 
— Water  Department. — Fire  Department. — The  Wallingford  Disaster. — 
Gas  Light  Company. — Banks. — Building  and  Loan  Association. — Business 
Places. — Post  Office. — Public  Buildings. — The  Press. — Libraries. — Yales- 
ville. — Tracy. — East  Wallingford. — Physicians  and  Attorneys. — Societies.  3-10 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE   TOWN    OF   WALLINGFORD  (CONCLUDED). 

Educational  Matters. — Establishment  of  Religious  Worship. — First  Congre- 
gational Church. — The  Wallingford  Controversy. — The  Wells  Society. — 
The  Wallingford  Baptist  Church. — St.  Paul's  (Protestant  Episcopal) 
Church.— The  First  Methodist  Class.— Yalesville  M.  E.  Church.— The  Ad- 
ventist  Church. — Yalesville  Baptist  Church. — St.  John's  (Protestant 
Episcopal)  Church,  Yalesville. — Second  Advent  Church  of  Wallingford. 
—Holy  Trinity  (Roman  Catholic)  Parish.— The  Wallingford  Community. 
— Cemeteries. — Biographical  Sketches 378 


TAIiLE   OF   CON'l  KNTS.  VU 

CHAPTER   IX. 

TOWN   AND   CITV   OK    MERIUEX.  PAGE 

Location  and  Description. — Early  Settlement. — Ecclesiastical  Organization. 
— Civil  Organization. — Town  Officers. — Town  Buildings. — South  Meri- 
den. — East  Meriden. — The  City  of  Meriden. — Location  and  Surroundings. 
— Early  Growth. — Municipal  Affairs. — Police  Department. — Street  Im- 
provement.— Public  Parks. — Water  Department. — Fire  Department. — 
Gas  Light  Company. — Railway  Interests. — Manufacturing  Interests. — 
Banking  and  Other  Monetary  Institutions. — General  Business  Interests. — 
Inns  and  Hotels. — Post  Office 456 

CHAPTER  X. 

TOWN    AND   CITV   OI     .MERIDEN    (CONCLUDED). 

The  Periodical  Press. — Literary  Notes. — Physicians. — Lawyers. — Secret  Or- 
ders.— G.  A.  R.  and  Soldiers'  Monument. — Agricultural  Societies,  etc. — 
Meriden  Ecclesiastical  Society. — First  Meeting  House. — First  Congrega- 
tional Church. — Center  Congregational  Church. — St.  Andrew's  (P.  E.) 
Church. — First  Baptist  Church. — German  Baptist  Church.— M.  E. 
Churches. — Universalist  Church. — St.  John's  German  Lutheran  Church. 
— New  Emanuel  Lutheran  Church.— St.  Rose  of  Lima  iR.  C.i  Church. — 
St.  Laurent's  (French  Catholici  Church.— Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion.— State  Reform  School. — The  Curtis  Home. — City  Mission  Society. — 
Meriden  Hospital. — Cemeteries 516 

CHAPTER   XI. 

MERIDEN. — BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 

Nathaniel  L.  Bradley.— Eli  Butler.— Andrew  J.  Coe.— Levi  E.  Coe.— Lemuel 
J.  Curtis.— Charles  H.  S.  Davis.— Seth  J.  Hall.— George  E.  Howe.— Emily 
J.  Leonard.— Saxton  B.  Little.— William  W.  Lyman.— Edward  B.  Man- 
ning.—Edward  Miller.— Samuel  C.  Paddock.— Charles  Parker.- Cephas 
B.  Rogers.— John  Sutliff.— John  Tait.— Henry  K.  White.— Horace  C.Wil- 
cox.— Grove  H.  Wilson. — Bertrand  L.  Yale. — Personal  Paragraphs 574 

CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  TOWN  OF   CHESHIRE. 

Geographical  and  Descriptive. — Early  Settlers.-Roads.-Taverns.— Small 
Pox. — Civil  Organization. — Manufacturing  Interests.— Mines  and  Mining. 
—Cheshire  Village. — West  Cheshire.— Brooksvale.—Mix\'ille.— Cheshire 
Street. — Other  Localities. — Railroads. — Lodges  and  Societies. — Soldiers' 
Monument. — Educational  and  Professional  Interests. — Cheshire  Cong^re- 
gational  Church. — St.  Peter's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. — Cheshire 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.— St.  Bridget's  Roman  Catholic  Church.— 
Biographical  Sketches 657 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

^  THE   TOWN    OK   PROSPECT. 

Geographical  and  Descriptive. — Civil  Organization. — Town  Officers. — The 
Roads.— Town  Poor.— Business  Interests.— Educational  and  Religious  In- 
terests.— Biographical  Sketches •'  '"'33 


vm  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

PORTRAITS. 

pa(;e 

Banks,  Nehemiah 414 

Bradley,  Justin 238 

Bradley,  Nathaniel  L 074 

Burleigh.  Cecil  A 324 

Butler,    Eli oTS 

Capewell,  George  J 717 

Coe,  Andrew  J 580 

Coe,  Levi  E ■'584 

Cornwall,  Edward  A 718 

Curtis,  Lemuel  J oSfi 

Davis,  Charles  H.  S o90 

Downes,  William  E 206 

Francis,  William 418 

Goodyear,  Robert  B 378 

Hall,  Seth  J 592 

Hallenbeck,  George  M 424 

Harrison,  Benjamin  F 426 

Horton,  Sanford  J ' 722 

Howe,  George  E 594 

Hubbard,  Leverett  M 428 

Humiston,   Daniel 725 

Ives,  Titus  B 736 

Judd,  Morton 434 

Lanyon,  James 728 

Leonard,  Emily  J 596 

Little,  Saxton  B ^ 600 

Lyman,  Wilham  W 603 

McGavighey,  James  D 438 

Manning,  Edward  B 603 

Miller,  Edward   604 

Mix,  Norris  B 330 

Paddock,  Samuel  C 608 

Parker,  Charles 611 

Reynolds,  William  T 280 

Rogers,  Cephas  B 613 

Simpson,  Samuel 446- 

Stiles,  Ezra 282 

Stiles,  Isaac  L 284 

Sutliff ,  John 615 

Swift,  Edwin   D 3.S4 

Tait,  John 616 

Todd,  F.  Hayden 286 

Townsend,  James  M 213 

Tuttle,  Henry 336 

Wallace,  Robert 45a 

White,  Henry  K 618 

Wilcox.  Horace  C 621 

Wilson,  Grove  H 622 

Yale,  Bertrand  L 624 

Yale,  Charles  D 452 

MAP. 

Map  of  New  Haven  County 1 


■,v 


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>tr/'X 


f(EW  HAVEN  COUNTY    '  ■■  " 


CONNECTICUT 


W    W    PRESTOH  &  CO 
Publishers. 


ISJlrtiotaftT 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  HAVEN  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  I. 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  NEW  HAVEN  COUNTY. 


Location  and  Description. — Natural  Features,  Topography,  Geology,  etc. — Discovery. — 
Claims  of  the  Dutch  and  English. — Settlements  at  Windsor,  Hartford  and  Wethers- 
tield. — Settlement  of  Qiiinnipiac. — Treaties  with  the  Indians. — Organization  of 
Church  and  Civil  Government. — The  Jurisdiction  of  New  Haven. — Union  of  the 
New  England  Colonies. — Governor  Eaton  and  his  Successors. — The  Regicide  Judges. 
— Charter  of  1662. — Union  of  New  Haven  and  Connecticut  Colonies. — New  Haven 
County  Formed. — Town  Organizations. — Cities  and  Boroughs. — Statistics. — State 
and  County  Buildings. — County  Commissioners. — The  Courts  of  the  County. — In- 
ternal Improvements. — General  Military  Matters. — General  Civil  List. 


NEW  HAVEN  county  was  one  of  the  four  original  counties  of 
the  state,  created  by  the  general  court  at  Hartford,  in  May, 
1666,  the  others  being  the  counties  of  New  London,  Fairfield 
and  Hartford.  It  comprised,  originally,  the  towns  of  Guilford,  Bran- 
ford,  New  Haven  and  Milford,  the  bounds  being  described  as  extend- 
ing from  the  east  side  of  the  former  to  the  west  side  of  the  latter.  On 
the  south  was  then,  as  now,  a  limit  fixed  by  the  waters  of  Long  Island 
sound,  but  the  northern  bounds  were  vague  and  undefined.  The 
county  included,  properly,  all  the  lands  ceded  by  the  Indians  to  the 
foregoing  towns,  in  the  New  Haven  colony,  the  remainder  of  the 
present  area  being  at  that  time  included  in  Hartford  county.  In  1891 
New  Haven  county  embraced  26  towns,  and  was  bounded  as  follows  : 
On  the  north  by  the  towns  of  Roxbury,  Woodbury,  Watertown  and 
Plymouth,  in  the  county  of  Litchfield;  Bristol,  Southington  and  Ber- 
lin, in  the  county  of  Hartford;  on  the  east  by  the  towns  of  Middle- 
town,  Middlefield,  Durham,  Killingworth  and  Clinton,  in  the  county 
of  Middlesex;  and  on  the  west  by  the  county  of  Fairfield,  the  Housa- 
tonic  river  forming  the  dividing  line.  The  contiguous  western  towns, 
from  the  south  and  lying  opposite  the  towns  in  New  Haven,  are : 
Stratford,  Huntington,  Monroe  and  Newtown.  The  shape  of  the 
county  is  irregular,  but  it  is  about  26  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  21 
from  north  to  south.  From  the  extreme  southea.st  corner,  in  Madi- 
son, to  the  extreme  northwest  point,  in  Southbury,  the  distance  is 
1 


2  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

about  'So  miles.     The  area  in  square  miles  and  acres  has  never  been 
accurately  determined. 

The  coast  line  of  the  county  presents  many  forms  of  marine  as- 
spects,  but  the  principal  projections  and  indentures,  from  the  west, 
are  Milford  Point,  Milford  Harbor,  Merwin  Point,  Savin  Rock,  New 
Haven  Harbor,  ilile  Point,  Branford  Point  and  Harbor,  Stony  Creek 
Harbor,  Sachem's  Head,  Guilford  Point  and  Harbor,  and  Hammon- 
assett  Point.  In  the  same  order  are  small  islands,  belonging  to  the 
county,  bearing  the  names  of  Charles,  off  the  Milford  coast;  the 
Thimble  islands,  along  the  East  Branford  coast;  Faulkner's  or  Falcon 
island,  off  the  Guilford  coast.  With  but  little  exception  the  New 
Haven  shores  of  the  sound  are  low,  and  a  considerable  area  is  in  salt 
marshes,  about  three  thousand  acres  being  thus  classed.  The  only 
harbor  admitting  vessels  of  large  draught  is  the  one  at  New  Haven. 

The  general  slope  of  the  county  is  toward  the  sound,  into  which 
all  the  principal  streams  drop  their  waters  directly  or  through  the 
agency  of  larger  streams.  None  of  the  streams  are  large,  but  several 
are  important  by  reason  of  the  water  privileges  they  afford.  These 
are,  mainly,  the  Quinnipiac*  and  the  Mill  rivers,  in  the  central  part, 
and  the  Naugatuck  in  the  northwestern  section.  The  former  is  the 
longest  .stream.  It  rises  near  New  Britain,  and  after  flowing  south 
into  New  Haven  county,  bends  abruptly  to  the  east,  below  the  high 
lands  of  the  Hanging  hills,  and  thence  again  flows  south  into  New 
Haven  harbor.  For  a  considerable  distance  it  is  a  tidal  stream,  and 
it  has  been  claimed  that  the  term  means  "  the  long  water  place  " — a 
very  proper  conception  when  one  looks  at  the  e.xpanse  produced  on 
the  lower  meadows  of  the  Quinnipiac  by  the  tidal  flow.  Splendid 
water  powers  are  afforded  in  the  county  by  this  stream  at  Walling- 
ford,  Yalesville  and  South  Meriden.  Mill  river  has  a  convergent  flow 
toward  the  Quinnipiac  from  the  north  part  of  Cheshire,  draining  the 
second  of  the  upper  north  and  south  valleys  of  the  county.  In  con- 
junction with  the  above  river  it  forms  the  well-known  neck  of  land  at 
the  city  of  New  Haven.  Its  name  was  derived  from  the  fact  that  the 
first  mill  in  the  county  was  erected  on  it,  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
present  town  of  Hamden.  Higher  up,  in  the  same  town,  are  numer- 
ous other  good  mill  privileges.  The  stream  is  small,  but  from  the 
nature  of  the  ground  it  drains  is  constant.  Flowing  around  the  base 
of  West  Rock  ridge,  much  as  the  Mill  river  does  around  East  Rock, 
is  a  smaller  stream,  flowing  from  Woodbridge  into  New  Haven  and 
thence  into  the  harbor  below  Oyster  Point.  From  its  course,  relative 
to  the  first  settlement,  it  was  called  the  West  river.  Farther  west  and 
flowing  from  the  same  town,  through  Orange  into  Milford,  is  the 
Wepowaug,  another  small  mill  stream  which  was  very  serviceable  to 
the  Milford  planters. 

The  Naugatuck  is  perhaps  the  most  important  mill  stream  in  the 
*  Also  spelled  Quinnipiack. 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    UAVKX   COUNTY.  3 

county.  It  flows  from  Litchfleld  county,  through  the  town.s  of  Water- 
bury,  Naugatuck,  Beacon  Falls,  Seymour,  An.sonia  and  Derby,  in 
which  it  empties  into  the  Housatonic.  In  each  of  these  towns  it  has 
been  utilized  to  operate  vast  manufacturing  establishments.  Its 
course  is  also  characterized  by  its  picturesque  surroundings.  The 
affluent  streams  have  precipitous  courses  from  the  hilly  lands  of  the 
valley,  and  have  also  been  u.seful  factors  in  the  industrial  develop- 
ment of  that  section. 

The  Pomperaug  is  a  small  stream  flowing  out  of  Woodbury  into 
Southbury,  where  its  waters  fall  into  the  Housatonic.  It  is  distin- 
guished by  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  valley  through  which  it 
courses.  The  Housatonic  is,  next  to  the  Connecticut,  the  longest 
stream  in  the  state,  and  drains  a  large  area  of  country.  At  the  head 
of  tide  water,  at  Birmingham,  a  little  more  than  a  mile  above  the 
junction  of  the  Naugatuck,  it  has  been  dammed  to  afford  an  immense 
reservoir,  from  which  is  obtained  power  to  operate  a  score  of  manu- 
facturing establishments.  Below  this  dam  the  stream  is  navigable  for 
vessels  of  considerable  burden. 

East  of  the  Quinnipiac  the  principal  streams  are  the  Farm  or 
Stony  river  of  North  Branford  and  East  Haven;  the  Branford  river 
and  Stony  creek  of  the  town  of  Branford;  and  the  Menuncatuc*  and 
East  rivers  of  Guilford,  all  small  but  not  being  without  use  in  their 
respective  localities.  The  Hammonassett  river  drains  the  eastern 
part  of  Madison,  and  is  part  of  the  eastern  boundary  between  this  and 
Middlesex  county. 

The  count}'  has  a  large  number  of  brooks  and  small  streams,  and 
several  lakes  of  considerable  size.  Of  these  Lake  Saltonstall.  on  the 
line  between  East  Haven  and  Branford,  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
and  best  known.  Pistapaug  lake,  at  the  corner  of  the  towns  of  Wal- 
lingford.  North  Branford,  Guilford  and  Durham,  is  a  large  and  attrac- 
tive sheet  of  water;  and  Quassipaug  lake,  on  the  Middlebury  and 
Woodbury  line,  covers  many  acres,  and  has  picturesque  surroundings. 
Other  small  lakes  and  ponds,  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  add  to 
the  beauty  of  a  landscape  greatly  diversified  by  streams,  hills  and 
dales,  in  addition  to  the  larger  areas  of  valleys  and  lands  of  a  moun- 
tainous nature  above  noted. 

The  general  topography  of  the  county  is  varied.  With  some  ex- 
ception the  surface  along  the  coast  for  several  miles  inland  is  level 
and  not  elevated  more  than  about  forty  feet  above  tide  water.  But 
passing  northward,  a  marked  increase  in  the  altitude  is  seen.  The 
country  is  broken  by  well  defined  ridges  and  high  hills,  whose  trend 
is  generally  from  the  northeast  to  the  southwest.  In  .several  towns 
these  hills  terminate  abruptly  and  with  precipitous  faces  toward  the 
sea,  giving  them  a  striking  appearance.  The  elevation  of  the  prin- 
cipal peaks  has  been  ascertained.     The  highest  point  is  West  Peak  of 

*  Also  called  West  river. 


4  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  Hanging  hills,  at  Meriden,  which  is  1,020  feet,  or  886.5  feet  higher 
than  the  lowest  point  on  Main  street.  The  latter  is  133.5  feet  above 
sea  level.  The  altitude  of  the  lower  parts  of  the  city  of  Meriden  are 
thus  found  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  one  hundred  feet  higher  than 
the  principal  part  of  New  Haven  city.  Mt.  Carmel  range  terminates 
in  a  peak  800  feet  high;  and  still  farther  south  is  West  Rock,  40.")  feet 
high.  Two  miles  to  the  eastward  is  the  companion.  East  Rock,  360 
feet  high.  These  are  the  most  southerly  of  the  lands  whose  altitude 
exceeds  several  hundred  feet,  and  their  bare,  trap-rock  faces  cause 
them  to  be  marked  objects.  It  is  the  theory  of  geologists  that  in  re- 
mote ages  a  mighty  upheaval  of  a  volcanic  nature  forced  the  red  sand- 
stone surface  of  this  section  into  these  ridges  and  hills.*  Where  the 
crust  was  thinnest  or  the  upheaval  more  intense,  the  melted  trap  rock 
was  forced  well  to  the  surface.  Subsequently,  by  glacial  action,  parts 
of  the  sandstone  were  ground  or  polished  away  and  carried  out  into 
the  sea,  leaving  the  harder  rock  exposed,  and  giving  evidence  of  the 
planing  action,  and  leaving  some  rocks  with  the  abrupt  forms  we  now 
behold.  In  this  state  this  range  of  secondary  country  extends  as  far 
as  Middletown,  in  that  direction,  where  it  breaks  toward  the  south- 
west, and  extends  in  ridges  to  the  places  indicated  at  New  Haven  and 
Meriden.  In  North  Branford  ends  the  highest  of  the  Totoket  range, 
smaller  spurs  continuing  into  East  Haven,  and  rounding  off  with 
Beacon  hill  and  the  hills  nearer  the  .sound.  East  the  Branford  hills 
encroach  well  upon  the 'sea.  Geologists  also  think  that  these  inter- 
sections by  secondary  ridges  caused  the  Connecticut  river  to  seek  its 
present  channel,  and  that  prior  to  this  upheaval  its  course  from  Hart- 
ford was  down  the  valley  to  New  Haven  city,  where,  undoubtedly, 
was  the  mouth  of  that  stream.  The  formation  of  the  trap-dikes  and 
ridges,  of  which  the  elevations  named  are  a  part,  formed  a  barrier 
which  made  its  further  passage  impossible,  and,  in  the  language  of 
Professor  Dana:  "  In  this  extremity  the  river  finding  a  way  to  the 
southeastward  open  before  it,  made  a  rush  through  the  narrows  at 
Middletown,  and  was  off  for  Saybrook,  leaving  New  Haven  in  the 
lurch."  Doubtless  the  same  agency  also  modified  the  course  of  other 
streams.  It  is  akso  owing  to  that  intersection  of  the  primitive  forma- 
tion, by  a  secondary  ridge,  that  traces  of  so  many  different  kinds  of 
minerals  may  be  found,  and  that  the  conditions  of  the  soil  have  been 
so  much  modified.  Nearly  all  the  precious  minerals  have  been  found, 
but  few  only  were  so  abundant  that  mining  operations  paid  when  an 
attempt  was  made  to  develop  them.  The  only  mineral  whose  develop- 
ment formed  an  important  industry  was  barytes.     That  mineral  was 

*  Evidences  of  an  extinct  crater  in  the  form  of  an  ash  bed  of  clearly  defined 
outlines  appear  in  a  spot  several  miles  north  of  Meriden,  near  Mount  Lamentation, 
which  may  be  tSken  as  a  strong  presumption  of  the  correctness  of  the  theory.  It 
is  said  that  this  ash  bed  is  the  only  one  of  the  kind  now  found  in  New  England, 
and  is  an  object  of  great  curiosity  to  the  student  of  nature. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  5 

extensively  and  profitably  mined  a  nv:mber  of  years  in  the  town  of 
Cheshire. 

The  county  has  a  large  variety  of  building  stones,  the  red  sand- 
stone being  the  most  abundant  and  most  widely  distributed.  In  some 
localities  its  qualities  are  very  superior.  Limestone  is  aLso  found; 
and  flag  stones  are  distributed  over  many  parts  of  the  county.  In 
Milford  are  quarries  of  green  marble,  and  in  Branford,  Guilford  and 
Madison  superior  granite  abounds.  The  Stony  Creek  granite  is  also 
adapted  for  monumental  work.  The  soil  of  North  Haven,  Hamden 
and  some  other  towns  yields  material  for  first-class  brick,  and  the 
county  was  rich  in  other  building  material.  Much  of  the  area  was 
covered  with  timber,  and  nearly  every  variety  of  deciduous  and  ever- 
green growth,  conamon  to  the  eastern  section  of  the  Union,  was  found 
here.  In  some  localities  lumbermg  was  long  an  important  occupation, 
but  the  most  valuable  forests  have  been  cut  down,  and  but  little  tim- 
ber land  remains.  A  considerable  area  is  still  in  woodland,  and  some 
of  the  sandy  plains  are  covered  with  a  barren  growth. 

The  county  has  a  great  variety  of  soil,  adapting  it  for  the  numer- 
ous products  of  the  farmer,  gardener  and  orchardist,  and  for  many 
years  these  occupations  were  the  ones  which  chiefly  engaged  the  at- 
tention of  the  people.  In  recent  years  these  pursuits  have  been  sub- 
ordinated to  the  avocations  of  the  workshop  and  the  factory,  and  the 
urban  population  has  far  exceeded,  in  its  increase,  that  of  the  rural 
sections.  Many  farms  in  the  hilly  and  sandy  sections  have  been  al- 
lowed to  go  to  waste,  and  the  population  of  the  exclusively  farming 
towns  has  steadily  decreased.  The  increase  of  the  city  population  in 
the  past  two  decades  has  been  very  great,  causing  New  Haven  county 
to  become,  in  the  number  of  its  inhabitants,  in  the  variety  of  its  inter- 
ests, and  in  its  accumulated  wealth,  the  leading  county  in  the  state. 

The  first  white  man  to  discover  the  territor}'  now  embraced  in  the 
county  was  the  Dutch  navigator.  Captain  Adrian  Block.  In  1G14  he 
made  a  voyage  from  New  Netherland  up  the  sound  and  visited  the 
spot  where  is  now  New  Haven  city,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of 
"Rodenberg"  (Red  Mount),  from  the  reddish  appearance  of  East 
Rock,  or  the  Red  Rock  on  the  east  of  the  Quinnipiac.  He  passed  on, 
ascended  the  Connecticut  as  high  as  Hartford,  .and  returning  con- 
tinued his  voyage  to  the  upper  end  of  the  sound,  where  Block  Island 
still  perpetuates  his  name.  Soon  after,  the  Dutch  several  times 
stopped  at  Quinnipiac  or  "  Rodenberg,"  with  a  view  of  establishing  a 
trading  post,  but  found  little  to  encourage  them  in  taking  such  a  step. 
The  natives  were  poor  and  indolent,  and  there  was  no  prospect  for 
trade.  In  Branford,  however,  a  Dutch  trading  house  was  built  in  after 
3'ears.  In  the  main  there  was  nothing  in  the  New  Haven  section  to 
cause  the  Dutch  to  plant  a  settlement,  but  upon  these  early  discoveries 
they  later  based  their  claims  of  the  ownership  of  Connecticut. 


6  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

In  1020  James  I.  granted  a  general  patent  of  New  England,  which 
embraced  this  section.  Ten  years  later  the  Plymouth  colony  con- 
veyed the  Connecticut  region  to  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  and  the 
same  year  it  was  confirmed  to  him  by  a  patent  from  Charles  I.  The 
earl,  on  March  19th,  1631,  in  turn  executed  a  patent  for  a  part  of  this 
section  to  Viscount  Say  and  Seal,  Lord  Robert  Brooke,  Sir  Richard 
Saltonstall  and  their  associates,  among  whom  were  John  Hampden 
and  others — all  being  noble,  honorable  men.  In  the  same  year  the 
land  was  spied  out  by  Governor  Winslow  of  the  Plymouth  colony, 
who  named  himself  the  discoverer  of  the  river  and  the  valley  of  Con- 
necticut.    And  it  was  decided  to  make  a  settlement  at  Windsor. 

Thus  there  were  two  rival  claimants  to  the  same  territory — the 
Dutch  as  discoverers,  the  English  as  patentees.  In  1633  each  effected 
a  lodgment  in  the  state,  the  Dutch  building  a  fort  at  Hartford;  the 
English,  through  William  Holmes,  of  the  Plymouth  colony,  putting 
up  a  house  at  Windsor,  a  point  on  the  river  seven  miles  north.  Nat- 
urally there  was  contention  between  the  two  nationalities,  each  as- 
serting its  claim,  but  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  the  Dutch  yielded, 
sold  their  interests  to  the  English,  and  withdrew  from  this  soil. 

In  the  meantime  the  English  had  carried  out  their  plans  to  occupy 
the  country  more  completely  than  their  rivals,  and  hurried  on  to  the 
scenes  of  their  new  homes,  undeterred  by  the  hostility  of  .some  In- 
dians, who  had  in  1634  murdered  Captains  Stone  and  Norton,  with 
eight  men,  while  they  were  on  the  Connecticut  river.  In  1635  they 
made  preparations  to  establish  settlements  at  Windsor,  Hartford  and 
Wethersfield,  and  in  the  furtherance  of  this  purpose  some  sixty  per- 
sons left  Massachusetts  to  take  up  their  abode  in  those  localities.  In- 
stead of  sailing  up  the  river,  they  went  thither  on  foot,  driving  their 
cattle  before  them,  in  the  wilderness.  The  following  winter  was  very 
severe,  and  there  being  a  scarcity  of  food,  many  suffered  from  famine. 
Others,  at  the  risk  of  losing  their  lives  in  the  snow  and  storms,  re- 
turned to  the  Plymouth  colonists. 

But  the  purpose  to  found  a  new  state  assumed" encouraging  forms, 
in  spite  of  these  obstacles.  In  the  fall  of  1635  John  Winthrop,  Jr., 
was  appointed  governor  of  the  "  river  Connecticut,"  by  the  owners  of 
the  Warwick  patent,  to  hold  his  office  for  one  year,  after  his  arrival  at 
that  place.  He  came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut,  where  he  built 
a  small  fort  and  named  it  for  his  patrons,  Say-Brook.  The  settlers 
were  now  assured  of  greater  safety  from  the  Dutch  and  the  Indians, 
and  the  subsequent  events  soon  justified  the  wisdom  of  such  a  move, 
for,  in  1636,  the  Indians  besieged  the  fort.  On  the  26th  of  April,  1636, 
the  colonists  on  the  Connecticut  held  their  first  court,  or  general  coun- 
cil, at  Newtown  (Hartford),  the  meeting  being  composed  of  the  three 
settlements  named:  Windsor,  Hartford  and  Wethersfield,  which  was 
another  step  toward  permanent  organization.  x\nd  when,  in  the 
month  of  June,  the  same  year.  Reverend  Thomas  Hooker  and  his 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVKN   COUNTY.  7 

assistant,  Samuel  Stone,  with  about  one  hundred  people,  joined  the 
settlers  at  Hartford,  the  force  of  numbers  and  the  added  weight  of  the 
character  of  the  settlers  were  bound  to  carry  it  to  success.  Nothing 
now  appeared  to  obscure  its  future  but  the  wily  Pequot  Indians. 
They  again  committed  depredations  the  latter  part  of  163C,  and  were 
so  hostile  in  the  spring  of  1637  that  the  court  at  Hartford  determined 
on  war  against  them  May  1st,  1G37.  Twenty-five  days  later,  under  the 
leadership  of  the  intrepid  Captain  John  Mason,  the  Indians  were 
attacked  at  their  fort  at  Mystic  (New  London),  which  was  destroyed. 
Six  hundred  savages  were  slain,  and  the  remainder  were  dispersed. 
Their  flight  along  the  coast  westward  followed.  A  sachem  and  a  few 
followers  were  overtaken  in  Guilford  and  beheaded,  the  act  giving 
name  to  that  point  on  the  sound  .shore.  The  rest  of  the  Pequots  were 
brought  to  a  stand  in  a  swamp  in  Fairfield  county.  A  fierce  fight 
ensued,  and  July  13th,  1637,  the  Pequots  were  so  completely  defeated 
that  they  were  thereafter  powerless.  The  pursuit  of  these  fugitive 
Indians  was  the  means  of  introducing  the  English  into  the  New 
Haven  country.  Upon  the  return  home  of  the  whites  they  gave  such 
glowing  accounts  of  the  Ouinnipiac  region  that  it  was  determined  to 
further  explore  it  with  a  view  to  its  settlement  by  some  of  the  newly 
arrived  emigrants  from  England  at  Massachu.setts  Bay. 

Accordingly,  early  in  the  month  of  September,  1637,  an  exploring 
party  of  twenty  men,  led  by  Theophilus  Eaton,  after  viewing  the 
Connecticut  coast  from  Rhode  Island  west,  sailed  into  the  harbor  of 
Ouinnipiac.  The  advantages  of  the  situation  pleased  them,  and  they 
determined  to  secure  the  country,  and  on  this  harbor  found  a  com- 
mercial city,  in  which  they  could  carry  out  the  principles  which  led 
them  into  the  New  World.  Eaton  and  most  of  his  associates  belonged 
to  the  company  of  Puritans  which  followed  Reverend  John  Daven- 
port to  America  in  the  "  Hector"  and  her  consort,  landing  in  Boston 
June  26th,  1637.  This  company  was  composed  of  men  of  wealth,  edu- 
cation and  influence,  most  of  them  being  the  old  parishioners  of  Mr. 
Davenport's  St.  Stephen's  church,  Coleman  street,  London,  When  he 
was  persecuted  on  account  of  his  religious  belief,  they  stood  by  him 
and  resolved  to  cast  their  lots  with  him,  even  though  it  involved  the 
sacrifice  of  po.sition  and  invited  persecution  upon  themselves.  At 
Boston  they  were  warmly  welcomed,  and  every  effort  was  made  to 
persuade  them  to  settle  in  the  Bay  colony.  The  report  of  the  "  famous 
Mr.  Davenport  and  the  opulence  of  the  merchants  who  accompanied 
him,  gave  to  this  company,  in  the  estimation  of  the  colonists,  an  un- 
usual value."  So  strong  was  the  desire  that  they  should  remain  that 
the  "  General  Court  offered  them  any  place  which  they  should 
choose." 

It  appears,  however,  that  all  these  persuasions  were  in  vain,  as 
most  of  the  Davenport  party  were  not  content  to  become  a  part  of  an 
established  community.     "  It  is  probable  that  the  motive  which  had 


8  HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  greatest  influence  with  the  principal  men  was  the  desire  of  being- 
at  the  head  of  a  new  government,  modeled  both  in  civil  and  religious 
matters  agreeably  to  their  own  apprehensions.  In  laying  the  founda- 
tions of  a  new  colony  there  was  a  fair  probability  that  they  might 
accommodate  all  matters  of  church  and  commonwealth  to  their  own 
feelings  and  sentiments.  But  in  Massachusetts  the  principal  men 
were  fixed  in  the  chief  seats  of  government,  which  they  were  likely 
to  keep,  and  their  civil  and  religious  polity  was  already  formed. "■■  It 
may  be,  also,  that  they  had  some  sort  of  an  agreement  or  compact 
which  prevented  them  from  becoming  a  part  of  an  established  com- 
munity which,  together  with  other  considerations,  made  them  very 
anxious  to  become  a  separate  colony.  It  was  determined  to  make  a 
wise  selection  of  territory,  removed  from  all  external  influences, 
but  enjoying  all  natural  advantages.  The  task  of  selecting  it  was 
entrusted  to  Eaton,  who  was  one  of  their  most  experienced  and  practi- 
cal business  men.  After  examining  the  possibilities  of  the  Quinnip- 
iac  region  Eaton  and  thirteen  of  his  men  set  sail  for  Boston  to  make 
their  report  to  the  expectant  company.  The  other  seven  men  were 
first  assisted  in  building  a  hut,  in  which  they  could  subsist  during  the 
winter  and  retain  possession  of  the  land.  It  is  believed  that  this 
humble  first  habitation  in  the  county  stood  near  a  spring  which  was 
in  the  locality  of  where  are  now  Church  and  George  streets,  and  was 
perhaps,  quite  rude  in  its  appointments.  It  was  tenanted  by  Joshua 
Atwater,  Francis  Brown,  Robert  Pigg,  Thomas  Hogg,  John  Beecher 
and  two  others,  whose  names  have  not  been  preserved.  It  has  very 
properly  been  supposed  that  a  part  of  the  time  of  these  seven  men 
•was  occupied  in  cutting  and  hewing  timbers  to  build  houses  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  when  they  should  be  joined  by  the  other  members  of 
the  projected  colony.  They  probably  suffered  but  little  hardship 
during  the  winter,  as  there  was  an  abundance  of  game,  and  fish  and 
o\'sters  could  also  be  obtained.  One  of  their  number,  supposed  to 
have  been  John  Beecher,  died  and  was  buried  at  a  point  about  fifty 
rods  east  of  their  hut.  In  1750,  while  the  cellar  for  the  stone  house  at 
the  corner  of  George  and  Meadow  streets  was  being  dug,  his  bones 
were  found,  after  being  forgotten  many  years.  It  is  believed  that 
this  John  Beecher  was  the  ancestor  of  the  celebrated  Beecher  family 
in  this  country. f  The  other  members  of  the  Davenport  company  re- 
mained in  Boston  all  winter,  living  in  such  places  as  they  could  find 
shelter,  but  presumably  keeping  up  their  organization  as  a  company, 
and  perfecting  their  plans  to  occupy  their  new  houses,  as  soon  as  the 
season  would  permit. 

Those  coming  from   London    in   the    "Hector"    and  her  consort 
numbered  about  fifty  adult  males  and  the  entire  company  comprised 

*  Trumbull. 

t  What  lends  color  to  this  belief  is  the  fact  that  among  the  company  landing 
at  New  Haven  in  April,  1638,  was  the  widow  Beecher,  with  several  sons. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVKN   COUNTY.  9 

about  2.jO  persons.  But  when,  on  the  I-^oth  of  March,  1638,  the  com- 
pariy  left  for  the  Ouinnipiac  it  received  many  accessions  from  the 
Massachusetts  colonies,  so  that  there  may  have  been  near  three  hun- 
dred persons,  and  having  property  aggregating  in  value  about  ;^36,- 
()(H).  After  skirting  along  the  coast  leisurely  for  a  fortnight  the  ves- 
sel in  which  they  saileji  from  Boston  reached  the  Quinnipiac  harbor, 
and  passed  up  a  small  stream,  called  West  creek,  long  since  filled  up 
and  now  extinct.  A  landing  was  effected  near  a  large  oak  tree  which 
stood  where  are  now  George  and  College  streets,  when  they  offered 
prayer  and  thank.sgiving  to  God  for  his  mercy  in  bringing  them  safe- 
ly to  these  shores.  A  few  days  later,  April  loth,  1038,  they  observed 
their  first  Sabbath  here  by  holding  a  meeting  under  this  tree.  This 
was  also  attended  by  some  Indians  who  had  become  acquainted  with 
the  six  men  remaining  here  and  were  on  friendly  terms  with  them. 
Mr.  Davenport  preached  upon  the  "Temptations  of  the  wilderness," 
basing  his  remarks  upon  Matthew  iv:  1.  The  occasion  was  most  solemn 
and  impressive,  as  one  can  readily  imagine.  In  the  afternoon  Rever- 
end Peter  Prudden  preached.  He  was  the  leader  of  the  Hereford 
county  people,  who  had  come  to  Boston  in  the  vessel  "James,"  sail- 
ing from  Bristol.  They  came  to  Ouinnipiac  with  the  London  com- 
pany and  remained  here  with  them  until  they  could  occupy  their  own 
plantations  at  Milford,  a  year  later.  Thus  was  founded  the  religious 
commonwealth  which  became  known  as  the  New  Haven  colonj',  and 
from  that  Sabbath  until  the  present  time  religious  meetings  have 
been  regularly  held  in  this  county,  no  circumstances  of  season  or 
place  being  allowed  to  interrupt  them. 

Not  long  after  this  the  settlers  at  Ouinnipiac  observed  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  to  prepare  them  to  enter  into  a  solemn  compact 
which  they  called  the  "  Plantation  covenant "  and  which  should 
provisionally  govern  them  until  they  should  be  further  incor- 
porated as  a  church  and  a  state.  The  terms  of  the  covenant 
were  as  follows:  "That,  as  in  matters  which  concern  the  gathering 
and  ordering  of  a  church,  so  also  in  all  public  offices  which  con- 
cern civil  honor — as  the  choice  of  magistrates  and  officers,  making 
and  repealing  laws,  dividing  allotments  of  inheritance,  and  all 
things  of  like  nature — they  would  all  of  them  be  ordered  by  the 
rules  which  the  Scripture  held  forth  to  them."  Under  this  initial 
government,  with  the  Bible  as  the  sole  guide,  the  affairs  of  the  settle- 
ment were  administered  more  than  a  year  and  a  half. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  site  for  their  future  town  had  been  selected 
and  the  work  of  building  houses  had  been  pushed  actively  forward. 
The  plain  north  of  West  creek,  where  lay  their  pinnace  still  aff'ording 
them  temporary  shelter,  was  chosen  as  the  place  for  the  home  lots. 
George  street  was  laid  out  half  a  mile  long  parallel  with  the  creek 
and  taken  as  a  base  line  upon  which  was  described  a  square,  also  half 
a  mile  long.     This  was  divided  by  two  parallel  streets  running  east 


10  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

and  west,  and  by  two  parallel  streets  running  north  and  south,  into 
nine  equal  squares.  The  one  in  the  center  was  sequestered  as  a  market 
place  and  became  the  celebrated  New  Haven  Green.  The  other  eight 
squares  or' quarters,  as  they  were  called,  were  fenced  and  assigned  to 
settlers  for  house  lots,  a  number  being  grouped  together,  and  the  size 
varying  according  to  the  number  of  persons  in  a  family  or  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  the  family  had  invested  in  the  common  stock  of  the 
company.  Usually  these  quarters  were  known  by  the  names  of  their 
principal  occupants  or  the  principal  men  to  whom  they  were  assigned. 
The  northeast  one  became  known  as  Governor  Eaton's  quarter.  The 
north  center  one  was  assigned  to  Robert  Newman;  the  east  center  to 
John  Davenport;  the  southeast  to  George  Lamberton;  the  south  cen- 
ter to  Thomas  Gregson,  etc.  Around  this  half  mile  square  were  sub- 
urban quarters,  those  on  the  west  side  being  temporarily  occupied  by 
the  Yorkshire  and  Herefordshire  people.  The  half  mile  square  not 
being  sufficient  for  house  lots,  two  additions  were  surveyed,  the  one 
being  southeast  of  the  main  plot  and  extending  to  the  harbor.  It  was 
enclosed  by  the  present  George,  Water,  Meadow  and  State  streets. 
The  other  addition  was  on  the  west  side  of  West  creek.  All  of  them 
were  laid  out  by  John  Brockett,  who  apparently  was  a  skillful  survey- 
or, as  his  angles  were  nicely  made. 

Many  of  the  colonists  put  up  large  houses,  a  number  of  them  being 
two  stories  high,  and  "tradition  reports  that  the  house  of  Theophilus 
Eaton  was  so  large  as  to  have  nineteen  fire  places  and  that  it  was 
lofty  as  well  as  large.  Davenport's  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street,  is  said  to  have  had  thirteen  fire  places."*  In  this  matter  of 
building  these  colonists  laid  themselves  liable  to  criticism  by  the 
other  colonies,  and  Hubbard,  the  historian,  said  :  "They  laid  out  too 
much  of  their  stocks  and  estates  in  building  of  fair  and  stately  houses 
wherein  they  at  the  first  outdid  the  rest  of  the  country."  It  is  sup- 
posed that  some  of  these  buildings  were  not  completed  for  several 
years  and  as  labor  and  material  were  cheap  the  expense  may,  after 
all,  not  have  been  so  great.  As  an  excuse  or  explanation  why  this 
style  of  building  was  so  general,  it  may  be  said  that  the  founders  of 
New  Haven  were  mainly  gentlemen  and  merchants,  used  to  living 
in  superior  houses  in  London  and  in  other  parts  of  England,  and  hav- 
ing the  means  at  their  command,  it  was  quite  the  proper  thing  for 
them  to  here  build  "stately"  houses,  especially  when  it  was  their  am- 
bition to  make  this  a  great  commercial  town.  The  failure  of  this  pur- 
pose and  the  necessity  which  forced  them  to  accept  the  conditions  of 
a  planter's  life  were  after  considerations.  And  it  does  not  appear 
that  the  actual  farm  buildings,  later  put  up,  were  superior  to  those  in 
other  parts  of  the  state.  It  should  be  noted,  too,  that  not  all  of  New 
Haven's  first  settlers  lived  in  "  stately  "  houses.  Some  of  those  in 
more  moderate  circumstances,  or  those  who  came  later  in  the  season, 
*  .Stiles'  History  of  the  Judges. 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  II 

spent  the  winter  of  1G38-9  in  huts  or  habitations  which,  in  these  later 
days,  have  become  popularly  known  as  "  dug-outs" — being  an  excava- 
tion on  a  side  hill,  covered  over  with  grass  upon  which  a  layer  of  earth 
has  been  placed.  They  insured  warmth  and  a  fair  degree  of  comfort, 
but  were  not,  in  any  way,  "fair  and  stately." 

The  settlement  received  an  addition  to  its  numbers,  in  October, 
1638,  when  some  Yorkshire  people  under  the  leadership  of  Ezekiel 
Rogers,  a  non-conformist  minister  of  high  standing,  came  to  America 
with  a  view  of  becoming  a  part  of  the  Ouinnipiac  plantation.  After 
arriving  in  ^Massachusetts,  and  after  some  of  the  party  had  already 
come  to  New  Haven,  Mr.  Rogers  changed  his  mind  and  established 
himself  at  Rowley,  Mass.,  to  which  place,  subsequently,  some  of  the 
Yorkshire  people  returned.  The  principal  settlers  at  Ouinnipiac  were 
now  John  Davenport,  Samuel  Eaton,  Theophilus  Eaton,  David  Yale, 
Thomas  Gregson,  Matthew  Gilbert,  John  Evance,  Stephen  Goodyear, 
William  Peck,  Robert  Newman,  Francis  Newman,  Thomas  Fugill, 
George  Lamberton  and  Ezekiel  Cheever.  Most  of  them  were  reputed 
wealthy,  and  had  been  honored  in  the  old  country  in  social  positions 
to  an  unusual  degree,  and  were,  all  in  all,  in  character,  greater  than 
those  who  had  previously  come  to  the  New  World. 

In  all  this  period  the  English  lived  on  the  most  friendly  terms 
with  the  Indians,  who  appeared  to  be  glad  to  have  them  in  their 
midst.  As  has  been  stated,  they  were  few  in  number,  peaceful  and 
unambitious.  Whatever  native  spirit  they  may  have  had  was  crushed 
by  their  fears  of  the  Mohawks  and  the  Pequots,  who  had  completely 
subjugated  the  feeble  tribes  living  in  the  New  Haven  country,  and  by 
exacting  frequent  tribute  had  kept  them  very  poor.  If  they  refused 
or  neglected  to  honor  their  demands,  the  Mohawks  would  sweep 
down  upon  them,  plundering  them  at  will,  and,  at  times,  carried  them 
into  captivity.  The  very  cry  of  "  A  Mohawk!  a  Mohawk!"  would 
"  cause  them  to  fly  like  sheep  before  wolves,  without  attempting  the 
least  resistance."*  The  Mohawks  thereupon  would  taunt  them,  cry- 
ing out  in  the  most  terrible  manner,  in  their  language:  "  We  are 
come!  we  are  come  to  suck  your  blood!"  The  presence  of  the  English 
relieved  them  of  their  fears,  and  did  not  interfere  with  their  avoca- 
tions. But  Eaton  and  his  associates  were  too  good  business  men  not 
to  know  that  they  ought  to  have  some  title  to  the  soil,  and,  accord- 
ingly, made  a  treaty  with  the  Ouinnipiac  Indians,  whereby  they,  as 
original  owners,  conferred  their  rights  upon  the  whites — represented 
by  Theophilus  Eaton  and  John  Davenport.  The  Indian  representa- 
tives were  the  Ouinnipiac  sachem,  Momaugin,  and  his  sister,  Shaump- 
ishuh,  and  four  of  his  chief  men.     The  conveyance  was  as  follows: 

"  First.  That  ]\Iomaugin  is  the  sole  sachem  of  Ouinnipiac,  and  hath 
absolute  and  independent  power  to  give,  alien,  dispos'e  or  sell  all  or 
any  part  of  the  lands  of  Ouinnipiac,  and  that  whatsoever  he  and  his 

'  .\twater's  New  Haven  Colony. 


12  HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

companions  shall  now  do  and  conclude  shall  stand  firm  and  inviolable 
against  all  claims  and  persons  whatsoever. 

"Second.  The  .said  sachem  and  his  company,  among  which  there 
was  a  squaw  sachem  called  Shaumpishuh,  sister  to  the  sachem,  re- 
membering and  acknowledging  the  heav}'  taxes  and  imminent  dan- 
gers which  they  lately  felt  and  feared  from  the  Pequots,  Mohawks 
and  other  Indians,  and  observing  the  safety  and  ease  that  other 
Indians  enjoy  near  the  English— of  which  benefit  they  have  had  a 
comfortable  taste  alread3%  since  the  English  began  to  build  and  to 
plant  at  Quinnipiac,  which  with  all  thankfulness  they  now  acknowl- 
edge— jointly  and  freely  gave  and  yielded  up  all  their  rights,  title, 
and  interest  to  all  the  lands,  rivers,  ponds  and  trees,  with  all  the 
liberty  and  appurtenances  belonging  unto  the  same  in  Quinnipiac,  to 
the  utmost  of  their  bounds,  east,  west,  north,  south,  unto  Theophilus 
Eaton,  John  Davenport  and  others,  the  present  Engli.sh  planters 
there,  and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever;  stipulating  only  that  the 
said  English  planters  should  grant  them  such  portions  of  ground  on 
the  east  side  of  the  harbor,  towards  the  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
of  Connecticut,  as  might  be  sufficient  for  them,  being  but  few  in  num- 
ber, to  plant  in:  and  that  this  be  under  the  entire  control  of  the 
English,  subject  to  such  limitations  as  they  might  deem  fit;  and  the 
Indians,  moreover,  promising  not  to  remove  to  another  part  of  Quin- 
nipiac without  the  consent  of  the  English. 

"  Third.  The  said  sachem  and  company,  desiring  to  hunt  and  fish 
within  the  bounds  of  Quinnipiac,  do  hereby  covenant  and  bind  them- 
selves not  to  set  traps  so  as  to  injure  the  animals  belonging  to  the 
English,  nor  in  any  way  inconvenience  them  by  their  hunting. 

"  Fourth.  The  said  sachem  and  company  do  hereby  covenant  and 
bind  themselves  that  none  of  them  henceforth  shall  hanker  about  any 
of  the  English  houses  at  the  time  when  they  meet  for  public  worship 
of  God;  nor  on  the  Lord's  day,  henceforward,  to  be  seen  within  the 
compass  of  the  English  town  carrying  on  an}^  manner  of  business; 
nor,  henceforward,  without  leave  open  any  latch  belonging  to  any 
Englishman's  door;  nor  stay  in  any  Englishman's  house  after  due 
warning  to  leave;  nor  do  any  violence  or  injury  to  the  person  of  the 
English,  whether  man,  woman  or  child, — and  if  the  English  do  an}^ 
wrong  to  the  Indians,  upon  complaint,  just  recompense  shall  be  made; 
nor  shall  any  of  them  henceforward  use  any  Englishman's  boat  with- 
out leave;  nor  come  into  the  English  town  with  bows  and  arrows,  or 
any  other  weapons  whatsoever,  in  number  above  six  Indians  so  armed 
at  a  time. 

'■  Fifth.  The  parties  above  named  do  truly  bind  and  covenant  to 
pay  the  full  value  of  any  cattle  whatsoever  of  the  English  which  they 
shall  kill  or  hurt  casually  or  negligently;  to  pay  double  the  value  for 
any  they  shall  kill  or  hurt  wilfully;  and  to  bring  back  home  any  stray- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  IS 

ing  cattle  of  the  English  which  they  shall  find,  receiving  a  moderate 
price  in  recompense  for  the  same. 

"  Sixth.  The  number  of  the  men  and  youths  of  Quinnipiac  Indians 
being  forty-seven  at  present,  they  do  covenant  not  to  receive  or  admit 
any  other  Indians  among  them  without  leave  from  the  English;  nor 
to  harbor  any  that  are  enemies  to  the  English,  but  to  apprehend  such 
and  deliver  them  up;  also  to  inform  the  English  of  any  plots  which 
they  are  aware  are  being  formed  against  them  by  the  Indians  or 
others. 

"  Lastly.  The  said  sachem  and  company  do  hereby  promise  truly 
and  carefully  to  observe  and  keep  all  and  every  one  of  these  articles 
of  agreement,  and  to  deliver  up  all  of  their  number  who  shall  break 
them  to  the  English  magistrate.  In  consideration  of  all  which,  they 
desire  from  the  English,  that,  in  any  time  of  danger,  they  may  repair 
to  the  English  plantation  for  shelter,  and  that  the  English  will  defend 
them  from  all  unjust  injuries.  But  in  any  quarrels  or  wars  with  other 
Indians  for  which  they  are  to  blame,  they  shall  not  expect  aid  from 
the  English.  And  the  English  planters,  aforementioned,  accepting 
and  granting  according  to  the  tenor  of  the  premises,  do  further  of 
their  own  accord,  by  way  of  free  and  thankful  retribution,  give  unto 
said  sachem  and  company  of  Quinnipiac  Indians,  tzvckr  conts  of  English 
tucking  cloth,  tzvelve  achcmy  spoons,  twelve  hatchets,  tivelvc  hoes,  two  doaen 
of  knives,  t-Li'clvc  porringers,  and  four  cases  French  knives  and  scissors." 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  treaty  practically  put  the  Indians  upon 
their  good  behavior  not  only  with  the  whites,  but  with  one  another, 
and  that  the  Ouinnipiacs  were  pledged  the  protection  which  they  so 
much  needed  in  case  they  deported  themselves  properly.  It  should 
also  be  borne  in  mind  that  while  the  consideration  of  purchase  was 
small,  the  Indians  really  had  n/orc  than  before,  namely:  all  the  priv- 
ileges of  a  "place  to  sit  down,"  i.e.,  a  home,  and  the  right  to  hunt  and 
fish,  unharrassed  by  fears  of  the  Mohawks  or  the  Pequots.  Hence  the 
English  should  not  be  blamed  for  any  act  of  injustice  in  getting  this 
land  apparently  very  cheap.  Thomas  Stanton  served  as  an  interpre- 
ter in  negotiating  this  treaty. 

North  of  the  Ouinnipiacs  was  a  large  tract  of  land  claimed  by  a 
sachem  named  Alontowese,  a  son  of  the  Indian  chieftain,  Sowheag, 
who  lived  at  Middletown.  This  was  also  purchased  by  the  whites — 
Eaton  and  his  associates — December  11th,  1638,  on  much  the  same 
basis  as  the  foregoing,  the  consideration  being  "  eleven  coats  of  truck- 
ing cloth  and  one  coat  of  English  cloth,  made  up  after  the  English 
manner."  The  tract  of  land  thus  alienated  by  Montowese  and  his  as- 
sociate Indian,  Sauseunck,  was  described  as  "  extending  about  ten 
miles  in  length  from  north  to  south,  eight  miles  easterly  from  the 
river  of  Quinnipiac  toward  the  river  of  Connecticut,  and  five  miles 
westerly  toward  Hudson's  river."  Montowese  reserved  a  piece  of 
land  where  he  lived,  where  is  now  the  present  village  of  Montowese, 


14  HISTORY   OF   NKW    HAVEN   CoUXTV. 

in  North  Haven,  "  for  his  men  which  are  ten  and  many  squaws,  to 
plant  in." 

The  territor}'  thus  acquired  by  the  two  purchases  embraced  all  of 
the  old  town  of  Xew  Haven  and  most  of  the  Branfords — an  area  which 
is  now  occupied  by  nine  towns,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  was  at  that 
time  controlled  by  about  sixty  warriors.  After  these  treaties  most  of 
these  Indians  dwelt  on  the  reservations  named  until  the  already  small 
tribes  became  extinct.  Of  the  Quinnipiacs,  Barber  in  his  Historical 
Collections,  of  1836,  said,  "  They  dwelt  in  the  summer  on  the  shore 
for  the  convenience  of  fishing;  and  in  the  winter  in  the  forests,  for 
the  convenience  of  fuel." 

"  They  had  a  place  for  powwowing  in  East  Haven,  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  east  of  the  Harbor  bridge.  The  spot  was  formerly 
a  swamp,  and  is  now  a  meadow." 

"Charles,  the  last  sachem  of  this  tribe,  died  about  one  hundred 
years  ago.  He  was  frozen  to  death  near  a  spring,  about  one  mile 
north  of  the  Congregational  church  in  East  Haven." 

"They  caught  round  clams  with  their  feet,  and  taught  the  English 
to  catch  them  in  this  mianner." 

"  The  Indian  arrow-heads,  frequently  found  here,  are  exactly  like 
some  which  have  been  brought  from  Cape  Horn." 

"  At  Fort  Hill,  or,  as  it  is  now  called.  Beacon  Hill,  there  was  for- 
merly an  Indian  fort  and  an  Indian  burying  ground,  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  hill.  The  name  of  this  spot  was  formerly  Indian  Hill.  The 
above  is  about  all  the  account  we  have  of  the  original  inhabitants." 

So  far  as  known  the  relations  of  these  Indians  to  the  whites  were 
entirely  peaceable,  and  while  there  may  have  been  some  apprehen- 
sions that  the  settlers  might  be  attacked  by  predatory  bands  of  In- 
dians, who  sometimes  visited  this  section,  it  does  not  appear  that  there 
was  occasion  for  serious  alarm.  With  the  possible  exception  of  some 
little  annoyance  in  consequence  of  petty  thefts,  the  planters  were  not 
discommoded  by  these  Indians,  but  learned  from  them  some  of  the 
arts  which  made  life  in  this  new  country  more  agreeable. 

A  band  of  the  Quinnipiacs,  over  whom  was  the  squaw  sachem 
Shaumpishuh,  the  sister  of  Momaugin,  lived  in  the  Menuncatuc  part 
of  Guilford.  On  the  29th  of  September,  1639,  she  deeded  her  interests 
there  to  the  whites,  represented  by  Henry  Whitfield,  Robert  Kitchell, 
William  Leete  and  others,  and  came  to  reside  with  her  brother  at  East 
Haven.  She  brought  with  her  34  of  her  people.  Some  of  the  rest  of 
the  Menuncatucs  took  up  their  abode  on  Indian  Point,  in  Branford, 
where  they  were  allowed  to  remain  by  the  Totoket  settlers,  and  were 
encouraged  in  the  ways  of  civilization.  Thirty-three  more  persons 
■were  allowed  to  "sit  down  "  in  Guilford,  so  that  her  entire  clan  may 
not  have  embraced  more  than  one  hundred  persons. 

Along  the  Hammonassett  the  land  was  claimed  by  Uncas,  chief  of 
.the  Mohegans,  having  become  possessor  of  the  same  by  marriage. 


HISTOKV    UK    NKW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  15 

He  sold  his  interests  there  to  Mr.  Fenwick.  of  Saybrook,  from  whom 
it  passed  to  the  Guilford  planters.  In  Jantiar}-,  160:5,  he  and  his  son, 
Ahaddon,  sold  their  remaining  interests  on  the  north  to  the  settlers 
ot  that  part  of  the  county. 

In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county,  the  Wepowaugs  were  a 
numerous  and  rather  important  tribe,  but  also  without  warlike  pro- 
clivities. They  deeded  their  interests,  February  12th,  1G39,  to  the 
Milford  planters — William  Fowler,  Zachariah  Whitman,  Edmund 
Tapp  and  others,  and  a  number  were  permitted  to  remain  on  the 
reserv-ations  on  the  coast  and  on  Turkey  hill.  They  were  properly 
clans  of  the  Pootatucks,  and  occupied  five  different  settlements.  At 
Derby  was  another  clan,  called  the  Paugas.setts,  and  the  Indians 
higher  up  the  valley,  sometimes  called  the  Xaugatucks.  .sustained  a 
similar  relation.  Many  of  them  removed  to  state  reservations,  btit  a 
number  remained  in  their  respective  localities  until  their  death.* 

It  seems  that  in  all  New  Haven  county  the  aborigines  were  out}'- 
about  a  thousand  in  number  at  the  coming  of  the  whites,  and  declined 
from  year  to  year,  notwithstanding  the  honorable  treatment  they  re- 
ceived at  the  hands  of  their  pale-faced  brethren.  In  all  their  dealings 
with  them  they  were  humanely  treated,  the  agreements  were  faith- 
fully observed,  and  there  does  not  appear  one  act  of  grievous 
wrong  or  bloodshed  charged  against  the  first  white  settlers  of  New 
Haven. 

In  this  period  of  the  acquisition  of  territory  the  settlers  at  Ouinnip- 
iac  were  governed  by  the  terms  of  the  "  Plantation  Covenant,"  all 
the  civil  business  being  transacted  by  the  officers  of  the  joint  stock 
company,  chief  among  whom  were  Davenport  and  Eaton.  But  the 
time  had  now  come,  when  in  the  furtherance  of  the  purpose  to  estab- 
lish a  religious  commonwealth,  a  more  comprehensive  instrument 
should  be  adopted.  Hence  on  the  4th  of  June,  1639,  all  the  free  plant- 
ers convened  in  the  large  barn  of  Robert  Newman,  to  deliberate  upon 
the  plan  for  la\-ing  the  foundations  of  their  religious  and  civil  polity. 
Mr.  Davenport  preached  an  appropriate  sermon,  when  he  propounded 
a  series  of  six  queries  to  the  assembled  freemen,  which  in  his  mind 
embodied  the  proper  basis  upon  which  the  church  and  state  should  be 
erected.  Lest  there  should  be  any  misapprehension  as  to  the  mean- 
ing of  these  propositions,  Robert  Newman  wrote  them  out,  and  after 
reading  them  distinctly,  each  query  was  acted  on  separately,  after  its 
merits  had  been  freely  discussed,  and  all  received  a  unanimous  assent. 
The  articles  of  "  Fundamental  Agreement "  thus  adopted  have  been 
summarized  as  follows : 

"First:  That  the  Scriptures  are  a  perfect  guide  in  the  government 
of  families  and  commonwealths,  as  well  as  in  matters  of  the  church. 

''Second.     That  all  the  free  planters  hold  themselves  bound  by  the 
'plantation  covenant,'  made  soon  after  their  arrival,  and  covenant  to 
*See  town  histories  for  accounts  of  these  Indians. 


16  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

submit  themselves  to  be  ordered,  in  all  the  business  specified  in  that 
covenant,  by  the  rules  held  forth  in  the  Scriptures. 

"  Third.  That  all  the  free  planters  purpose  and  desire  to  be 
admitted  into  church  fellowship  as  soon  as  it  shall  be  possible  for 
them. 

"Fourth.  That  all  the  free  planters  hold  themselves  bound  to 
establish  such  civil  order  as  shall  best  conduce  to  the  securing  of  the 
purity  and  peace  of  the  ordinances  to  themselves  and  their  posterity 
according  to  God. 

''Fifth.  That  free  burgesses  shall  be  chosen  out  of  church  mem- 
bers :  and  the  power  of  choosing  magistrates  and  officers  from  among 
themselves,  of  making  and  repealing  laws,  of  dividing  inheritances, 
of  deciding  differences  which  may  arise,  and  like  business,  should  be 
held  by  these  burgesses. 

''Sixth.  That  twelve  men,  fitted  for  the  work  of  founding  the 
church,  shall  be  chosen,  who  shall  choose  out  of  their  number  the 
seven  best  fitted,  and  the.se  shall  begin  the  church.""- 

One  hundred  and  eleven  persons  subscribed  to  these  articles  of 
agreement. 

In  accordance  with  the  sixth  provision,  in  the  "  Fundamental  Agree- 
ment," the  following  were  chosen  to  lay  the  foundation  of  the  church, 
i.e.,  to  select  the  seven  pillars  upon  which  it  was  to  be  builded : 
Theophilus  Eaton,  John  Davenport,  Robert  Newman,  Matthew 
Gilbert,  Thomas  Fugill,  John  Punderson,  Jeremiah  Di.xon,  Richard 
Melbon,  Nathaniel  Turner,  Ezekiel  Cheever,  William  Andrews.f  The 
seven  first  named  in  this  list  were  in  due  time  selected  and  designated 
as  the  "  Seven  Pillars "  or  free  burgesses,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
organize  the  church  and  the  state.  The  former,  as  the  "  First  Church 
of  Christ,"  was  gathered  and  constituted  August  22d,  1639,  and  was 
composed  solely  of  free  and  accepted  burgesses. 

On  the  2.5th  of  October,  1639,  the  "  Seven  Pillars  "  completed  their 
work,  by  forming  the  civil  government.  A  court  was  organized, 
which  was  composed  of  all  those  who  had  been  received  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  church,  or  who  as  such  church  members  elsewhere 
might  be  admitted  upon  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  "  to  the  civil 
government  here  settled."  They  thus  became  citizens  of  this  little 
commonwealth,  owning  no  allegiance  to  any  other  government  what- 
soever. To  this  court  or  civil  form  of  government  was  now  entrusted 
the  management  of  affairs,  it  having  been  ordained  that  "  all  former 
power,  or  trust,  for  management  of  any  public  affairs  in  this  planta- 
tion, into  whose  hands  soever  formerly  committed  is  now  abrogated 
and  is  henceforward  -utterly  to  cease."  After  proper  exhortation  by 
Air.  Davenport  upon  the  importance  of  selecting  worthy  men  as  their 
rulers,  Theophilus  Eaton  was  chosen  the  first  magistrate  of  the  infant 

*Wm.  H.  Beckford. 

■t-Eleven  names  only  appear  in  the  records. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  17 

republic.  Four  deputie.s  were  chosen  to  assist  him.  "  It  was  clecreed 
by  the  freemen  that  there  should  be  a  general  court  annually,  in  the 
plantation,  on  the  la.st  week  in  October.  This  was  ordained  a  court  of 
election,  in  which  all  the  officers  of  the  colony  were  to  be  chosen. 
This  court  determined  that  the  word  of  God  should  be  the  only  rule 
for  ordering  the  affairs  of  government  in  that  commonwealth. 

"This  was  the  original,  fundamental  con.stitution  of  the  govern- 
ment  of  New  Haven.  All  government  was  originally  in  the  church 
and  the  members  of  the  church  elected  the  governor,  magistrates  and 
all  other  officers.  *  *  *  As  the  plantation  was  enlarged  and  new 
towns  were  settled,  new  orders  were  given  ;  the  general  court  received 
a  new  form,  laws  were  enacted  and  the  civil  polity  of  this  jurisdiction 
gradually  advanced,  in  its  essential  parts,  to  a  near  resemblance  of  the 
government  of  Connecticut."* 

This  model  and  scriptural  foundation  for  the  civil  state  was  also 
adopted  by  the  planters  of  Milford,  when  their  little  republic  was 
established  in  the  fall  of  1639,  and  by  the  planters  of  Guilford,  a  few 
months  later  in  the  same  year.  Both  of  these  plantations  were  essen- 
tially distinct  from  the  Ouinnipiac  plantation,  but  had  from  the  begin- 
ning a  common  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Christian  commonwealth 
idea,  their  forms  of  church  organization  and  civil  polity  being  the 
same  as  that  of  New  Haven.  But  all  their  affairs  were  exclusively 
managed  within  their  own  plantations  until  the  jurisdiction  of  New 
Haven  was  formed  in  1643.  In  August  or  September,  1639.  the 
Milford  planters,  to  the  number  of  54,  left  Ouinnipiac,  and  soon  after, 
Mr.  Whitfield  and  his  followers,  from  Kent  and  Essex,  who  had  come 
to  Quinnipiac  the  previous  summer — 48  planters  in  all — went  in  the 
opposite  direction  to  found  Guilford .+ 

In  September,  1640,  the  Quinnipiac  freemen  held  a  general  court, 
when  the  name  of  the  plantation  was  changed  to  New  Haven.  In 
this  year  Stamford  was  purchased  cf  the  Indians  by  Captain  Turner 
and  was  settled  in  November  of  that  year  under  the  direction  of  New 
Haven.  About  the  same  time  the  town  of  Southold,  on  Long  Island, 
was  settled  by  a  colony  from  Hingham,  England,  which  had  tarried 
at  New  Haven  a  short  period,  and  in  both  colonies  the  New  Haven 
idea  found  lodgement.  In  1640  an  attempt  was  also  made,  by  New 
Haven,  to  plant  a  colony  on  the  Delaware  river,  but  that  venture 
proved  unsuccessful,  and  was  abandoned  in  a  few  years.  After  all 
these  changes,  in  1639-40,  it  was  computed  that  the  population  of  New 
Haven  proper  was  about  460. 

Soon  after  these  colonies  became  apprehensive  of  Indian  attack 
and  realizing  their  defenceless  condition  as  si»gle  or  independent 
communities,  a  plan  for  the  consolidation  under  one  jurisdiction  was 
perfected  in  1643.     New  Haven  being  the  oldest  and  most  influential 

*Trumbiiirs  History  of  Conn.     +See  accounts  of  Milford  and  Guilford. 


18  IIISTORV    OK    NEW    HAVKN    COUNTY. 

town  (as  those  plantations  were  now  soon  called)  it  was  agreed  that 
the  jurisdiction  or  general  colony  should  be  known  by  its  name.  The 
towns  of  New  Haven.  iMilford,  Guilford  and  Stamford  .sent  delegates 
to  the  general  court  at  New  Haven,  and  on  October  27th,  1648.  the 
articles  of  confederation  for  the  jurisdiction  were  adopted.  This 
court  was  composed  of  the  following : 

Magistrates:  Theophilus  Eaton,  Governor;  Stephen  Goodyear, 
Deputy ;  Thomas  Gregson,  William  Fowler,  Edmund  Tapp.  Depu- 
ties: George  Lamberton,  New  Haven  ;  John  Astwood,  John  Sherman, 
Milford  ;  William  Leete,  vSamuel  Di.sbrough,  Guilford  ;  Richard  Gilder- 
sleeve,  John  Whitmore,  Stamford. 

In  1644  Branford  was  settled  under  the  New  Haven  jurisdiction 
and  was  joined  to  the  colony  under  the  same  terms  of  this  fundamental 
agreement  of  October,  1648,  so  that  the  colony  as  long  as  it  existed 
embraced  all  the  .settled  parts  of  the  county.  Its  authority  was  thus 
acknowledged  by  the  towns  of  New  Haven,  Milford.  Branford  and 
Guilford,  the  only  organized  communities,  until  this  colony  was 
absorbed  by  Connecticut  in  1665. 

In  the  same  year  that  the  New  Haven  jurisdiction  was  established, 
a  combination  was  formed  between  the  then  four  colonies  of  New 
England:  Massachusetts,  Plymouth.  Connecticut  and  New  Haven, 
under  the  title  of  "  United  Colonies  of  New  England."  The  alliance 
was  for  the  purpose  of  mutual  defense  against  the  Indians  and  the 
Dutch,  and  was  found  especially  serviceable  in  King  Philip's  war. 
which  seriously  threatened  some  of  the  English  .settlements.  In 
many  respects  this  union  resembled  the  confederation  of  the  thirteen 
colonies,  which  carried  the  war  of  the  revolution  to  a  successful  issue. 
The  first  representatives  from  New  Haven  to  its  general  meeting  were 
Theophilus  Eaton  and  Thomas  Gregson. 

In  several  important  particulars  the  New  Haven  colony  differed 
very  much  from  other  colonies  in  this  country.  In  the  articles  of  con- 
federation '■  It  was  agreed  and  concluded  as  a  fundamental  order,  not 
to  be  disputed  or  questioned  hereafter,  that  none  shall  be  admitted  to 
be  free  burge.sses  in  any  of  the  plantations  within  this  jurisdiction  for 
the  future,  but  such  planters  as  are  members  of  some  or  other  of  the 
approved  churches  in  New  England."  It  will  be  seen  that  the  design 
was  to  make  this  fundamental  agreement  unchangeable  and  unalter- 
able for  all  time,  thus  throwing  a  safeguard  around  the  "  Church- 
State "  which  would  protect  it  against  attempted  changes.  This 
theory  was  very  dear  to  the  founders  of  New  Haven  and  although 
.strange  it  now  appears  to  us,  proved  successful  in  its  application  in 
this  colony.  In  no  other  community  was  there  a  greater  degree  of 
civil  order  and  a  better  exemplification  of  public  moralit}-  than  in 
New  Haven  under  her  colonial  jurisdiction. 

Another  marked  point  of  difference,  aside  from  the  limitation  of 
the   right  of  suffrage,    was  the  absence  of   the   jury  system.     That 


IIISTiiRV    OK   NKW    IIAV1£N   COUNTY.  19 

method  was  here  given  no  place  whatsoever.  It  was  left  for  the 
judges  to  determine  all  questions  of  fact,  evidence  and  law,  and  their 
powers  in  trials  were  scarcely  limited.  But  it  does  not  appear  that 
there  was  any  miscarriage  of  justice  in  con.sequence,  for  the  judges 
were  righteous  men.  No  doubt,  though,  with  a  less  exalted  standard 
■of  morality,  this  sj^stem  would  have  become  a  disturbing  factor. 
Indeed,  as  it  was,  in  some  degree  it  helped  to  mould  opinion  favorable 
to  a  union  with  Connecticut,  where  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  was  given 
an  important  place. 

Soon  after  the  union  of  the  New  England  colonies  difficulties  arose 
between  New  Haven  colony  and  the  Dutch,  which  continued  several 
years.  The  latter  harassed  the  colony  to  a  considerable  extent,  their 
onslaughts  being  more  particularly  directed  against  the  .settlements 
planted  on  the  Delaware,  which  eventuated  in  their  abandonment, 
and  leaving  the  Dutch  in  po.ssession  of  that  territory.  A  warm  dis- 
pute concerning  the  territory  lying  between  New  Haven  and  New 
Netherland  was  also  carried  on,  with  but  little  interruption  until  1664, 
when  the  dominion  of  the  English  over  it  was  recognized.  Pending 
the  consideration  of  these  matters  and  in  consequence  of  them,  the 
New  Haven  colony  had  a  misunderstanding  with  the  colony  of 
Massachusetts,  which  marred  the  harmonious  feeling  which  should 
properly  have  exi.sted  between  them;  but,  in  the  main,  the  colony 
history  for  the  first  twenty  years  was  without  any  extraordinary 
features.  Under  the  wise  direction  of  Governor  Theophilus  Eaton 
and  his  judicious  associates  in  the  general  court,  the  colony  advanced 
in  a  degree  proportionate  with  the  efforts  made  to  extend  its  pros- 
perity. Churches  and  schools  especially  were  in  this  period  placed 
upon  secure  footings.  The  idea  of  a  Christian  commonwealth  was  aLso, 
from  year  to  year,  more  clearly  developed,  and  as  has  been  stated,  as 
long  as  the  several  towns  selected  their  best,  most  prudent  inen  to 
administer  their  affairs,  as  directed  by  usage  and  the  now  accepted 
written  and  definite  system  of  laws,  perfected  by  Eaton,  order  and 
morality  held  supreme  sway.  This  code  of  laws  was  adopted  in  1655, 
five  hundred  copies  being  printed  in  England,  at  the  expense  of  Mr. 
Hopkins,  for  the  use  of  the  colony.  It  is  .said  that  there  are  now  but 
four  copies  of  this  issue  known  to  be  in  existence,  and  so  rare  is  the 
little  book  esteemed  that  it  is  held  to  be  worth  twenty-fold  its  weight 
in  gold.*  This  little  digest  became  famous  as  the  "  Blue  Laws," 
which  have  been  much  criticised  and  held  up  to  ridicule  in  these 
modern  times.  It  is  possible  that  the  scriptural  rules  upon  which 
these  laws  were  based  may  have  been  too  literally  applied  for  the 
conditions  which  existed  in  that  age,  and  which,  of  course,  are  farther 
removed  from  their  primitive  simplicity  in  these  times:  but  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  Eaton  and  his  coadjutors  sincerely  believed  that 

*A  copy  purchased  for  the  State  Library,  a  few  years  ago,  cost  S43H. 


20  HISTORV   OF   XKW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

this  code  would  advance  the  real  good  of  their  community  and  that 
they  were  for  that  purpose  framed. 

Governor  Eaton  undoubtedly  had  clear  ideas  of  civil  government, 
and  very  decided  and  positive  opinions  of  the  divine  nature  of  human 
government  as  built  on  the  word  of  God. .  He  had  a  strong  love  of 
justice  and  as  a  magistrate  exercised  the  greatest  impartiality.  His 
honor  was  inflexible  and  his  public  spirit  was  liberal  and  of  the  most 
comprehensive  kind.  His  conscientious  efforts  for  the  real  good  of 
the  colony  prevented  much  frivolous  and  extravagant  legislation,  and 
through  his  influence,  largely.  New  Haven  early  becarhe  so  zealous  in 
the  cause  of  education  that  it  led  the  other  towns  in  the  state. 

Theophilus  Eaton  was  the  son  of  a  clergyman,  and  was  born  at 
Stratford,  England,  in  1.391.  He  was  bred  as  a  merchant,  was  a  busi- 
ness man  in  London.  At  one  time  he  was  the  agent  of  the  king  of 
England  at  the  court  of  Denmark.  He  accompanied  Mr.  Davenport 
to  America  in  1637,  and  to  Ouinnipiac  in  1638,  sharing  with  him  the 
honor  of  founding  the  colony.  He  was  the  first  magistrate  of  the 
plantation,  and  in  1643  was  elected  the  first  governor  of  the  colony,  to 
which  office  he  was  chosen  yearly  until  his  death  in  January,  1658. 
This  was  a  severe  loss  to  the  colonists,  whose  esteem  of  him  is  best 
shown  by  the  words  they  had  engraved  on  his  monument : 

"  Eaton, — so  famed,  so  wise,  so  just, 
The  Phoenix  of  our  world, — here  hides  his  dust ; 
This  name  forget,  New  England  never  must." 

John  Davenport,  the  other  master  spirit  of  the  colony,  was  born  in 
Coventry,  England,  in  1597.  After  being  educated  at  Oxford,  he 
became  vicar  of  St.  Stephen's  church,  Coleman  street,  London- 
Becoming  a  non-conformist  he  resigned  his  pastoral  office  and  to 
escape  persecution  fled  to  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  later  came  to 
America.  He  became  the  pastor  of  the  "  First  church  "  in  the  colony 
and  was  to  the  church  what  Eaton  was  to  the  state,  although  he  also 
exercised  a  controlling  influence  in  the  latter.  He  and  Eaton  built 
their  hoitses  opposite  each  other  on  the  same  street  and  were  kindred 
spirits  in  every  movement  for  the  benefit  of  the  colony.  After  the 
termination  of  the  New  Haven  jurisdiction  he  lost  hope  in  the  success 
of  the  New  Haven  enterprise.  Believing  that  "Christ's  interests  in 
New  Haven  colony  were  miserably  lost,  his  roots  were  loosened  and 
he  was  ready  to  leave  his  home  and  the  child  he  had  done  so  much  to 
rear."  Just  at  this  time  there  came  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Boston  church  and  he  determined  to  remove  to  that  city,  where  he 
apprehended  he  might  better  serve  the  cause  for  which  he  had  so 
long  contended.  After  thirty  years'  residence  at  New  Haven  he 
removed  to  Boston  in  1668,  but  after  two  years  his  earthly  labors  were 
ended  by  his  death  in  that  city.  "  He  was  a  fine  scholar,  an  able 
preacher,  a  clear-headed,  far-seeing  man,  his  views  and  opinions  found 


HISTORY   OI-"   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  21 

an  ample  vindication  in  subsequent  experience.  The  measures  he 
maintained  were  just ;  those  he  opposed  proved  disastrous  in  the 
extreme."'^ 

In  all  the  period  that  Theophilus  Eaton  was  governor  of  the  New 
Haven  colony,  Stephen  Goodyear  was  chosen  and  served  as  deputy 
governor.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active  of  New  Haven's  business 
men  and  was  engaged  in  many  enterprises  which  proved  of  service  to 
the  colony.  After  Eaton's  death  it  was  proposed  to  elect  him  gover- 
nor, but  his  absence  from  the  colony  on  business,  in  London,  prevented. 
Before  his  return  he  died  in  that  city,  in  June,  ]6o8. 

In  'May,  1658,  Francis  Newman,  of  New  Haven,  was  elected  gover- 
nor, and  William  Leete,  of  Guilford,  deputy  governor.  The  former 
had  for  some  years  been  secretar\-  of  the  New  Haven  jurisdiction  and 
was  well  qualified  from  his  training  and  association  with  Eaton  to 
discharge  his  new  duties.  The  latter  was  trained  to  the  law  and  was 
one  of  the  ablest  of  the  Guilford  planters.  Both  were  reelected  to 
their  several  offices  in  1659  and  1660.  On  the  18th  of  November  of 
the  latter  3'ear  Governor  Newman  died.  In  1661  William  Leete  was 
elected  governor  of  the  colony,  and  Matthew  Gilbert  deputy  governor, 
and  both  were  reelected  in  ^662  and  1663.  In  1664  William  Leete 
was  again  chosen  governor,  and  served  until  the  end  of  the  jurisdic- 
tion. At  the  same  time  William  Jones  was  chosen  the  last  deputy 
governor. 

Early  in  the  administration  of  Governor  Leete  the  colony  was 
excited  by  the  visits  of  two  of  the  regicide  judges,  Edward  Whalley 
and  William  Goff,  who  found  shelter  and  an  asylum  in  New  Haven, 
fpon  the  accession  to  the  throne  of  Charles  the  Second,  son  of  the 
executed  king,  they  fled  for  their  lives  and  arrived  in  Boston  July 
27th,  1660. 

"  Edward  Whalley  came  of  an  old  and  honored  family.  He  was  a 
first  cousin  of  the  lord-protector.  During  and  after  the  civil  war  he 
held  many  important  offices.  He  was  the  keeper  of  Charles  the  First, 
during  the  king's  imprisonment,  and  his  signature  appears  as  the 
fourth  upon  the  death  warrant  of  the  king. 

••  William  Goff  was  the  son  of  Reverend  Stephen  Goff.  a  Puritan 
divine  of  Sussex,  and  pur.sued  a  military  course  similar  to  that  of  his 
friend,  General  Whalley.  Like  his  friend,  he  rose  from  a  private 
soldier  to  a  major-general,  and  was  also  the  trusty  friend  and  associate 
of  Cromwell.  He  gave  valuable  aid  in  purging  the  'Long'  and 
'  Rump '  parliaments,  and  was  one  of  the  strongest  advocates  of  the 
king's  death." 

For  some  time  they  lived  openly  at  Cambridge,  but  being  warned 
by  a  royal  proclamation  fled  toward  New  Haven  March  7th.  1661. 
E>i  route  they  stopped  at  Guilford  and  were  fed  and  sheltered  by- 
Governor  Leete,  but  soon  proceeded  to  New  Haven  where  Mr.  Daven- 

*Webb's  Historical  Conn.,  p.  122. 


22  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

port  first  befriended  them  and  concealed  them  in  his  house.  Their 
pitr.suers  under  the  royal  proclamation  were  soon  at  their  heels  and  in 
order  to  mi.slead  them  they  made  frequent  excursions  into  the  country. 
"  Fearingf  lest  they  should  bring  trouble  upon  those  who  had  aided 
them,  they  offered  to  surrender  themselves  to  Governor  Leete,  but 
he  claiming  he  had  no  proper  warrant,  was  in  no  haste  to  do  .so.  The 
judges  now  showed  themselves  publicly  on  the  streets  of  New  Haven, 
so  as  to  clear  their  friends  from  any  complicity  with  their  conceal- 
ment, then  disappeared  from  view. 

"  When  the  officers  of  the  crown  visited  New  Haven,  the  magistrate 
and  people  showed  them  every  civility,  and  were  officious  in  aiding 
their  search,  while  at  the  same  time  they  did  their  best  to  secrete  the 
refugees.  They  well  said,  '  We  honor  his  Majesty,  but  we  have  tender 
consciences.'  Their  '  honor '  of  his  Majesty  was  not  very  deep,  and 
was  bounded  only  by  their  fears.  Any  open  disobedience  would  have 
cost  them  dear,  so  they  tendered  the  regicides  the  best  aid  they  could 
in  secret."* 

The  judges  fled  to  a  cave  formed  by  several  large  rocks,  on  the 
western  summit  of  West  Rock,  which  is  still  known  as  the  Judges"^ 
Cave,  where  they  remained  for  a  while,  and  also  occupied  several 
places  in  Wood  bridge,  called  the  Lodge  and  Hatchet  harbor,  each 
place  affording  them  temporary  shelter  where  they  were  fed  by 
friendly  hands.  On  the  19th  of  August,  1661,  they  went  to  Milford, 
where  they  abode  several  years,  but  in  1664  they  went  to  Hadley, 
Mass.,  where  they  remained  until  their  death.  There  is  a  tradition, 
which  appears  to  lack  proper  foundation,  that  their  bones  were  sub- 
sequently brought  to  New  Haven  and  buried  on  the  green  near  where 
is  now  the  monument  to  the  memory  of  Colonel  John  Dixwell,  the 
third  of  the  regicide  judges.  He  came  to  New  Haven  about  1670,  and 
lived  here  in  a  very  quiet  manner  as  James  Davids,  until  his  death  in 
1688.  In  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  disclosed  himself  to  the  minister, 
the  Reverend  Pierpont,  and  a  strong  friendship  sprang  up  between 
them.  At  his  death  he  requested  that  a  plain  stone  should  mark  his 
grave,  with  his  initials,  J.  D.,  Esq.,  and  date  of  his  death  and  age, 
"  lest  his  enemies  might  dishonor  his  ashes."  His  fears  appear  to 
have  been  well  founded.  President  Stiles  says,  in  his  "History  of  the 
Judges":  "  Some  officers,  as  late  as  1775,vi.sited  and  treated  the  graves 
with  marks  of  indignity  too  indecent  to  be  mentioned."  The  plain 
stone  slab  still  stands  near  the  Dixwell  monument,  in  the  rear  of 
Center  church  at  New  Haven.  The  latter  was  erected  over  the  bones 
of  Colonel  Dixwell  in  November,  1849,  at  the  expense  of  a  Mr.  Dixwell, 
of  Boston,  who  was  a  descendant. 

The  incidents  and  traditions  connected  with  the  sojourn  of  the 
judges  in  New  Haven  county  would  form  material  for  an  interesting 
romance.  Three  fine  avenues  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  city  of 
New  Haven  perpetuate  the  memory  of  these  regicides. 

*Beckford. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  2:3 

The  residence  of  the  regicides  in  New  Haven  colony  and  the  mani- 
fest sympathy  of  many  of  her  citizens  with  them,  influenced  in  no 
small  degree  the  future  events  of  the  jurisdiction.     Under  these  cir- 
cumstances the  colony  could  not  reasonably  hope  for  much  favorable 
consideration    at   the   hands   of   the  new   king,  Charles  the  Second. 
Governor  Leete  himself,  who  at  heart  countenanced  the  presence  of 
the  judges,  was  one  of  the  first  in  public  authority  to  entertain  "  fears 
that  evil  consequences  might  result  to  the  colony  and  to  him  per- 
sonally from  the  neglect  to  apprehend  the  regicides, "■'•  and   was  will- 
ing to  enter  into  negotiations  to  avert  the  evil,  "and  to  purchase  his 
own  peace."     He  assented  to  a  proposition   of  Governor  Winthrop,  of 
the  Connecticut  colony,  to  obtain  a  royal  patent  which  should  embrace 
all  the  territorj-  of  the  two  colonies,  and  which  would  eventually  unite 
them.     It  was  plain  to  both  of  these  statesmen,  that  such  a  union  mu.st 
prove    advantageous.     Governor    Leete   probably    realized,    too,   that 
under  royal  rule  the  tenure  of  the  colony  would  be  very  uncertain. 
While  it  was  a  fully  organized  body,  so  far  as  its  own  affairs  were  con- 
cerned, being  in  fact  an  independent  little  republic,  its  sole  right  to 
the  soil  upon  which  it  existed  was  based  upon  Indian  treaties  and  the 
sufferance  of  those  who  had  not  yet  chosen  to  assert  their  claims  under 
the    warrant   of   former   kings.     A    prudent   policy   of   estate   would 
demand  a  more  explicit  basis,  which  it  was  purposed  to  secure  in  a 
liberal  and  comprehensive  charter.     The  work  of  procuring  this  was 
very  properly  undertaken  by  Governor  Winthrop.     His  experience  as 
governor  of  Connecticut  since  16,58,  had   impressed  on  him  the  needs 
of  the  colonists,  which  were  further  revealed  to  him  by  his  many  busi- 
ness affairs.     He  was,  moreover,  a  man  of  education  and  large  experi- 
ence as  a  traveler,  which  fitted  him  for  the  work  of  a  diplomat. 

"In  1661,  Governor  Winthrop  made  a  visit  to  England  in  the 
interests  of  the  colony.  He  found  in  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  the  only 
survivor  of  the  original  patentees,  a  warm  friend,  through  whose  in- 
fluence he  was  enabled  to  gain  audience  with  Charles  II.  At  this 
interview,  Winthrop,  with  his  wonted  tact,  first  presented  the  king  a 
ring  that  had  been  given  by  Charles  I.  to  his  grandfather,  and  then 
presented  a  petition  from  the  colony  of  Connecticut  for  a  royal  charter. 
This  charter,  freely  granted  by  the  king,  can  still  be  seen  in  the  office 
of  the  secretary  of  state  at  Hartford,  framed  with  wood  from  the 
Charter  Oak.  Based,  as  this  instrument  was,  upon. the  colonial  consti- 
tution of  1639,  it  was  indeed  a  royal  gift,  and  proved  of  great  value  to 
the  young  colony,  as  evidenced  by  the  many  subsequent  attempts  to 
revoke  it  on  the  part  of  the  siicces.sors  of  Charles  II. "+ 

The  jurisdiction  of  the  charter  extended  over  a  territory  including 
New  Haven,  and  being  nearly  what  is  now  the  present  state.     It  was 
a  most  liberal  document.     "  It  conferred  upon  the  colonists  unqualified 
*Atwater.     tW.  S.  Webb. 


24  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

power  to  govern  themselves.  They  were  allowed  to  elect  all  their 
own  officers,  to  enact  their  own  laws,  to  administer  justice  without 
appeals  to  England,  to  inflict  puni.shments,  to  confer  pardons  and  in 
a  word,  to  exercise  every  power,  deliberative  and  active.  The  king, 
far  from  reserving  a  negative  on  the  acts  of  the  colony,  did  not  even 
require  that  the  laws  should  be  transmitted  for  his  inspection  :  and 
no  provision  was  made  for  the  interference  of  the  English  govern- 
ment, in  any  event  whatever.  Connecticut  was  independent,  except 
in  name."* 

The  charter  bore  date  April  22d,  1662,  but  it  did  not  reach  this 
country  until  some  months  later.  At  the  general  assembly  held  at 
Hartford  October  9th,  1662,  "  the  Patent  or  Charter  was  this  daj^  pub- 
licly read  in  audience  of  the  freemen  and  declared  to  belong  to  them 
and  their  successors." 

In  November,  1662,  Connecticut  made  overtures  of  union  to  the 
New  Haven  colony,  but  inasmuch  as  the  charter  did  not  limit  the 
right  of  suffrage  to  accepted  church  members,  that  question  became 
the  '■  great  bone  of  contention,"  and  a  bitter  controversy  ensued  which 
kept  the  colonists  apart  more  than  two  years.  Davenport  and  his 
adherents  were  very  loth  to  surrender  the  principle  of  a  "  church- 
state  "  for  which  they  had  so  long  labored,  earnestly  maintaining  that 
there  was  no  safetv  in  entrusting  the  civil  affairs  into  the  hands  of 
"an  orderly  citizen,"  possessed  of  a  certain  amount  of  property,  as  was 
the  Connecticut  requirement.  But  this  liberal  provision  in  the  royal 
charter  especially  commended  the  union  to  disaffected  citizens  of  the 
New  Haven  jurisdiction  who  made  individual  application  for  citizen- 
ship in  Connecticut.  Some  of  them,  after  being  received  as  freemen, 
no  longer  recognized  the  New  Haven  authorit}',  which  had,  as  maj' 
easily  be  imagined,  a  demoralizing  effect.  This  plan  was  contrary  to 
the  purposes  of  Governors  Winthrop  and  Leete,  who  had  an  under- 
standing that  the  freemen  of  New  Haven  should  not  be  brought  under 
the  authority  established  by  the  charter  unless  by  their  own  consent. "+ 
meaning,  probably,  their  collective  consent,  which  had  not  been 
obtained.  However,  this  unexpected  issue  had  the  effect  of  hastening 
the  union.  Conservative  men  in  ever}'  town  recognized  the  claims  of 
Connecticut  and  the  advantages  which  would  result  from  having  a 
united  colony  and  counseled  to  that  end,  as  the  only  way  to  terminate 
the  unfortunate  strife  and  contention,  awakened  by  this  matter,  pre- 
vailing in  almost  every  town.  The  exponents  of  the  "church-state" 
idea  made  a  last  vigorous  protest,  which  was  well  considered  and 
plausible,  but  did  not  secure  the  relief  the  colony  needed  and  wanted. 
New  Haven  was  overborne  in  all  the  matters  for  which  she  had 
especially  contended  and  was  at  last,  by  a  variety  of  circumstances, 
forced  to  make  an  unconditional  acceptance  of  the  terms  of  the  charter, 

*Bancro4t.     +Atwater. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  25 

whereas  if  she  had  been  less  obstinate  she  might  have  secured  some 
concessions  to  her  advantage  in  the  matter  of  suffrage.  The  last 
general  court  of  the  jurisdiction  was  held  December  13th,  1664,  when 
it  was  voted : 

"  1.  That  by  this  act  or  vote  we  be  not  understood  to  justify  Con- 
necticut's former  actings,  nor  anything  disorderly  done  by  our  own 
people  upon  such  accounts. 

"  2.  That  by  it  we  be  not  apprehended  to  have  any  hand  in  break- 
ing or  dissolving  the  confederation. 

"Yet,  in  testimony  of  our  lo3'alty  to  the  king's  majesty,  when  an 
authentic  copy  of  the  determination  of  his  commissioners  is  published 
to  be  recorded  with  us,  if  thereby  it  shall  appear  to  our  committee, 
that  we  are  by  his  majesty's  authority  now  put  under  our  Connecticut 
patent,  we  shall  submit,  as  from  a  necessit}*  brought  upon  us  by  their 
means  of  Connecticut  aforesaid,  but  with  a  salvo  jure  of  our  former 
right  and  claim,  as  a  people  who  have  not  yet  been  heard  in  every 
point  of  plea." 

The  action  of  the  royal  commis.sioners  in  assigning  Long  Island  to 
New  York  and  giving  Connecticut  jurisdiction  to  the  \Yestchester  line 
fully  determined  the  matter  and  the  union  was  completed  in  January, 
1665."'-  Mr.  Davenport  remained  in  the  colony  three  years  before  his 
removal  to  Boston,  but  did  not,  in  that  period,  become  a  freeman  in- 
Connecticut.  Abraham  Pierson  and  a  number  of  his  parishioners  at 
Branford  would  not  accept  the  result,  but  removed  to  Newark,  N.  J., 
rather  than  become  citizens  of  a  state  where  the  divine  law  was  not 
given  a  fundamental  place.  Others,  too,  in  consequence  of  the  methods 
employed  to  bring  about  the  union,  cherished  feelings  of  resentment, 
but  the.se  soon  gave  place  to  praise  of  the  better  results  obtained  in 
the  affairs  of  the  united  colonies.  The  administration  of  Governor 
Winthrop  was  judicious  and  conciliating  and  confidence  was  further 
increased  and  friendship  cemented  when  the  two  next  governors, 
leading  citizens  of  New  Haven,  William  Leete,  of  Guilford,  and 
Robert  Treat,  of  Milford,  were  chosen.  The  New  Haven  jurisdiction 
was  reluctantly  given  up,  but  was  soon  forgotten  by  those  who  enjoyed 
the  liberal  provisions  of  the  state  which  displaced  it.  And  in  these 
times  a  few  only  remember  the  fact  m  history  that  for  the  first  twenty- 
six  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  county  its  aft'airs  were  managed 
by  a  distinct  colony,  in  which  was  exemplified  the  highest  form  of 
""  church-state  "  yet  attempted. 

New  Haven  county  was  named  and  some  provision  for  its  manage- 
ment was  made  at  the  general  court,  held  in  the  fall  of  1665.  But  the 
following  May.  the  bounds  of  the  four  original  counties  of  the  state 
were  defined.  New  Haven  county  was  made  to  embrace  the  four 
towns  of  the  old  jurisdiction  east  of  the  Housatonic :    Milford,  New 

*Waiit  of  space  precludes  giving  much  interesting  matter  in  connection  with 
the  closing  days  of  the  jurisdiction. 


26  HISTORY    Oy    NEW    HAVEX    COUNTY. 

Haven,  Branford  and  Guilford,  which  are  properly  the  original  towns 
of  the  county.  They  took  up  the  entire  coast  line  and  their  northern 
bounds  were  not  given,  an  unorganized  .section  intervening  between 
them  and  the  settled  parts  of  Hartford  county.  In  May,  1722.  all  the 
lands  west  of  Farmington,  not  organized,  were  annexed  to  New  Haven 
county  :  and  in  May,  1728,  the  large  town  of  Waterbury,  which  from 
the  time  of  its  settlement  was  in  Hartford  county,  was  also,  on  the 
petition  of  its  inhabitants,  annexed  to  New  Haven  county.  The 
northwestern  bounds  of  the  county  were  .still  further  extended  in  1807, 
when  Southbury  was  annexed  to  New  Haven  county.  Up  to  that 
time  it  was  a  part  of  Litchfield  county.  Several  towns  in  the  state 
were  settled  under  the  auspices  of  towns  in  New  Haven  and  when  in- 
corporated were  annexed  to  this  county  for  convenience  of  legislation. 
New  Milford,  incorporated  in  1712,  was  thus  for  a  number  of  years  a 
part  of  New  Haven  county,  becoming  later  a  part  of  Litchfield  county, 
formed  in  17ol.  The  town  of  Durham,  incorporated  in  May,  1708,  was 
annexed  to  New  Haven  county,  of  which  it  remained  apart  until  1799, 
when  it  was  detached  and  annexed  to  Middlesex  county,  which  was 
formed  in  1785. 

A  number  of  efforts  were  made  to  embody  this  town  (Durham)  and 
Saybrook  and  Killingworth,  in  Middlesex  ;'  Guilford  and  Branford,  in 
•  New  Haven,  into  a  new  county,  with  the  name  of  Guilford.  Bills  to 
that  effect  were  introduced  and  passed  the  lower  house  in  1718,  1728. 
17B6,  1744  and  17.")3.  In  each  case  the  more  conservative  upper  house 
negatived  these  aspirations. 

Movements  were  also  made  to  create  a  new  county,  with  additions 
from  Litchfield,  of  some  of  the  northwestern  towns,  with  Waterbury 
or  Woodbury  as  county  seat.  .Some  minor  changes  in  the  county 
limits  have  been  made,  but  they  remain  essentially  as  above  noted. 

The  26  towns  of  the  county  are  the  following,  which  were  created 
in  the  order  named  : 

1.  New  Haven. — Settled  as  Ouinnipiac,  in  1637-8,  by  Puritans 
from  London,  headed  by  John  Davenport.  Named  New  Haven  by  the 
town  court,  September,  1640.  Originally  the  area  was  about  thirteen 
miles  square,  embracing  territory  out  of  which  have  been  formed 
Wallingford  (including  Cheshire  and  Meriden),  East  Haven,  North 
Haven,  Hamden  and  parts  of  Orange  and  W'oodbridge.  It  is  pre- 
eminently the  mother  town  of  the  county. 

2.  Milford.— Settled  as  Wepawaug,  in  1639, by  Peter  Prudden,  and 
non-conformist  adherents  from  Yorkshire  and  other  points  in  England. 
Named  Milford  in  November,  164().  From  the  original  town  have 
been  formed,  in  part,  Derby  (including  Ansonia,  Seymour  and  Oxford) 
Orange  and  Woodbridge,  the  latter  including  Bethany. 

3.  Guilford.— Settled  in  the  latter  part  of  1639.  as  Menunkatuc,  by 
Henry  Whitfield  and  his  company  of  Puritans  from  Kent  and  Surrey, 


HISTOKV   OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  2T 

England.     Named  Guilford  in    October,   1643.     Originally    the  town 
embraced  Madison. 

4.  Branford. — Settled  under  Xew  Haven  jurisdiction  in  1644,  as 
the  '■  plantation  at  Totoke.t,"  by  non-conformists  from  Wethersfield. 
and  Abraham  Pierson  and  some  of  his  adherents  from  Southampton, 
Long  Island.     Embraced  North  Branford. 

5.  Wallingford. — Settlement  projected  in  1669,  as  Xew  Haven 
village.  Named  Wallingford  in  May,  1670.  Became  a  separate  town 
in  1672.     Subdivided  into  Cheshire  and  Meriden. 

6.  Derby. — Settled  as  Paugasset  by  traders  from  New  Haven,  1654, 
and  planters  from  Milford,  1659.  Town  privileges  were  granted  in 
1675.  and  the  name  of  Derby  applied  to  the  locality. 

7.  Waterbury. — Settled  as  Mattatuck  by  inhabitants  from  Far- 
mington  in  1677.  In  1686  it  was  incorporated  as  a  town  with  the 
present  name  and  became  a  part  of  Hartford  county.  In  112S  Water- 
ijury  was  annexed  to  New  Haven  county.  The  original  area  has 
been  reduced  by  the  formation  of  the  towns  of  Wolcott.  Prcspect, 
Middlebury  and  Naugatuck,  to  each  of  which  she  contributed  terri- 
tory. 

8.  Cheshire. — Settled  under  the  direction  of  Wallingford  as 
"West  Farms."  Organized  as  the  parish  of  New  Cheshire  an,d  incor- 
porated as  a  town  with  the  present  name  in  May,  1780.  A  part  of  the 
western  portion  was  taken  off  to  form  Prospect. 

9.  Woodbridge. — Settled  by  New  Haven  and  Milford  planters. 
Organized  as  the  Society  of  Amity  and  incorporated  in  1784,  as  the 
town  of  Woodbridge.     From  the  original  town  was  set  off  Bethany. 

10.  East  Haven. — Settled  by  the  inhabitants  of  New  Haven  as 
"  East  Farms."  Village  privileges  in  New  Haven  granted  in  1701.  In- 
corporated as  a  town  in  1785. 

11.  Hamden. — Settled  by  New  Haven  and  for  many  years  was  a 
parish  in  that  town.     In  May,  1786,  incorporated  a  town. 

1-2.  North  Haven. — Settled  as  "  North  Farms  "  of  New  Haven. 
Incorporated  a  town,  October.  1786. 

13.  Southbury. — Settled  about  1672,  by  the  pioneers  of  Woodbury- 
Incorporated  as  a  town  in  May,  1787,  and  was  in  Litchfield  county 
until  1807.  Parts  of  the  original  town  were  taken  off  to  form  Oxford 
and  Middlebury. 

14.  Wolcott. — Settled  as  a  part  of  the  original  town  of  Farmington- 
Formed  as  a  parish  out  of  parts  of  that  town  and  Waterbury,  and  was 
first  known  as  Farmingbury.     Incorporated  a  town  in  1796. 

15.  Oxford. — Settled  by  planters  from  Derby  and  Southbury,  from 
which  the  town  was  taken  and  incorporated  in  1798.  Its  area  has  been 
diminished  by  annexation  to  Naugatuck,  Seymour  and   Beacon  Falls- 

16.  Meriden. — Settled  by  Wallingford  as  "  North  Farms."  Taken 
from  that  town  and  incorporated  a  sepaoite  town  in  1806. 


28  HISTORY    (IK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

17.  Middlebury. — Settled  by  inhabitants  from  Woodbury,  Wate:*- 
bury  and  Southbury.  and  taken  from  tho.se  town.s  and  incorporated  in 
1807. 

18.  Orange. — Settled  early  by  planters  from  New  Haven  as 
"  West  Farms,"  and  by  planters  from  Milford  as  "  North  Farms"  or 
"  Bryan's  Farms."  The  former,  organized  as  West  Haven  parish, 
the  latter  as  North  Milford  parish,  were  united  and  incorporated  as 
the  town  of  Orange  in  May,  1822. 

19.  Madison. — Settled  as  East  Guilford  by  the  planters  of  Guilford, 
from  which  it  was  taken  and  incorporated  as  Madison,  in  1826. 

20.  Prospect. — Settled  as  parts  of  Waterbury  and  Cheshire. 
Organized  as  the  parish  of  Columbia.  Incorporated  a  town,  with  name 
of  Prospect,  in  1827. 

21.  North  Branford. — Settled  as  the  northern  part  of  Totoket  or 
Branford,  and  set  off  from  that  town  and  incorporated  in  1831. 

22.  Bethany.— Settled  by  planters  of  Milford  and  New  Haven. 
Was  a  part  of  Woodbridge  until  May,  1832,  when  it  was  incorporated 
a  separate  town.  From  the  west  have  been  taken  parts  to  add  to  the 
towns  of  Naugatuck  and  Beacon  Falls. 

23.  Naugatuck. — Incorporated  in  May,  1844  ;  taken  from  Water- 
bury,  Bethany  and  Oxford.  In  1871,  its  .southern  part  was  taken  off 
to  form  Beacon  Falls.  The  Waterbury  part  was  long  known  as  vSalem 
parish. 

24.  Seymour. — Settled  as  the  northern  part  of  Derby,  and  long 
known  as  Rimmon  Falls  and  Humphreysville.  Incorporated  as  a 
town  with  the  present  name  in  May,  1850.  A  small  part  of  Oxford 
was  later  added. 

25.  Beacon  Falls. — Incorporated  in  May,  1871,  and  taken  from 
Seymour,  Oxford,  Naugatuck  and  Bethany. 

26.  Ansonia. — Settled  as  the  central  part  of  Old  Derby.  Taken 
from  that  town  and  became  a  separate  town  corporation  in  April. 
1889,  thus  being  the  youngest  town  in  the  county. 

The  county  has  within  its  limits  three  thriving  cities,  namely : 

New  Haven. — Incorporated  January  21st,  1784,  the  fifth  city  in  the 
Union  and  the  first  one  to  be  chartered  after  the  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. The  older  cities  in  the  United  States  are  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Albany  and  Richmond. 

Waterbury.— Incorporated  in  1853.     Population  in  1890,  28.646. 

Meriden.— Incorporated  in  July,  1867.     Population   in  1890,  21,652. 

There  are,  also,  in  the  county  the  following  boroughs  :  Ansonia, 
Birmingham,  Fair  Haven  East,  Guilford  (incorporated  in  1815),  Wal- 
lingford  and  West  Haven,  a  full  account  of  which  appears  in  the  towns 
where  they  are  located. 

The  growth  or  decline  of  the  above  towns,  in  the  past  ninety  5-ears, 
is  shown  in  the  following  statistics  of  population  : 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 


29 


Towns. 

IMO. 

]«30. 

18.50. 

1870. 

1880. 

1890. 

New  Haven     -    - 

0,967 

10,678 

22.529 

50.840 

62.882 

80,045 

Bethanv     -      -     - 

914 

1,135 

637* 

550 

Beacon  Falls    -     - 

379 

505 

Bran  ford      -     -     - 

1,932 

2,333 

1,425* 

2,488 

3.047 

4,460 

Cheshire      -     -     - 

2,288 

1,764* 

1,627 

2,344 

2,284 

1.929 

Ansonia  -     -     -     - 

10.342 

Derby      -     -     -     - 

2,051 

2,253 

3,824 

8,020 

11,050 

5,909 

East  Haven      -     - 

1.209 

1,229 

1.678 

2.714 

3.057 

955 

Guilford       -     -     - 

3,845 

2.844* 

2,650 

2.576 

2.782 

2,780 

Hamden       -     -     - 

1,716 

1,669 

2,108 

3,028 

3,408 

3,882 

Madison  -     -     -     - 

1,809 

2,063 

1,814 

1,672 

1,429 

Meriden  -     -     -     - 

1,249 

1,708 

8,525 

10,495 

18.340 

25,428 

}tliddleburv      -     - 

847 

810 

703 

(!90 

687 

5i>6 

Milford    -     -     -     - 

2,674 

2,256* 

2.405 

3,405 

3.347 

8.811 

Naiigatuck  -     -     - 

1.720 

2,832 

4.274 

0,218 

North  Branford    - 

1,013 

1.085 

1.025 

825 

North  Haven   -    - 

1,289 

1,282 

1,328 

1,771 

1,703 

1,862 

Orange    -    -    -    - 

1,341 

1,406 

2,684 

3,341 

4,537 

Oxford    -    -    -    - 

1,453 

1,763 

1,564* 

1,338 

1,120 

902 

Prospect      -    -    - 
Sevmour      -     -     - 

651, 

074 

551 

492 

445 

1,677 

2,121 

2,318 

3.800 

South burv  -    -    - 

1,413 

1,557 

1.484 

1,318 

1,740 

1,089 

Wallingford     -     - 

2,325 

2,419 

2,089 

3.676 

4,686 

6,584 

Waterburv  -     -     - 

2,874 

3,070 

5,187 

13.106 

20.270 

33,202 

Wolcott  -     -     -     - 

952 

844 

608 

491 

493 

522 

Woodbridge     -     - 

2,030 

2,049 

912* 

880 

829 
156,528 

926 

Totals   -     -     - 

37,064 

43,848 

65,841 

121,257 

209,058 

'Diminished  by  the  formation  of  new  towns. 

The  increasfe  of  the  wealth  of  the  towns  is  shown  in  the  following 
comparative  Grand  Lists  of  1885  and  1890  : 


1883. 

l-^'.tO. 

New  Haven           ---___ 

&49, 473,946 

850,739,536 

Ansonia         _______ 

2.879.478 

Beacon  Falls        ------ 

272,357 

192,656 

Bethanv        ------- 

287.586 

279,637 

Branford       ------- 

1.550.705 

1.077.213 

Cheshire       ------- 

1.227.085 

1,077.688 

Derby  -------- 

4, 510. .547 

1,798.727* 

East  Haven           ------ 

(>19.860 

018.009 

Guilford        ------- 

1.414.886 

1.859.959 

Hamden        ------- 

1.079,090 

1.712.211 

Madison         ------- 

744.829 

706.521 

Meriden         ------- 

10,20(>.193 

10.940.919 

Middlebury           ------ 

250.406 

251.498 

Milford          ------- 

1,183,244 

1.2.59,898 

Naugatuck   ------- 

1,793,888 

2,004.578 

North  Branford    ------ 

487,410 

471.315 

North  Haven        ------ 

770.381 

785,194 

Orange          ------- 

2.502.903 

2,598,108 

Oxford           -        - 

365.901 

322.496 

Prospect       ------- 

170,670 

1.54,621 

Seymour       ---.--- 

1.148.705 

1.220,678 

Southbury    ------- 

011.046 

616.284 

Wallingford          ------ 

2,584,234 

2,514.129 

Waterbury  ------- 

9, .520.386 

10.868.893 

Wolcott         ------- 

226,092 

223,905 

Woodbridge 

413,114 

401.867 

♦Ansonia  set  off  in  1889. 


■30  IIISTURV    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

In  the  year  last  given  (1890)  the  Grand  Lists  of  the  Cities  and 
Boroughs,  included  in  the  foregoing  towns,  were  as  follows:  New 
Haven,  $49..-iG.-),l)88 ;  Meriden,  $9,077,129;  Waterbury,  $8,783,923; 
Ansonia,  §2,155,690;  Birmingham,  $1,230,498;  Fair  Haven  East, 
$983,827  ;  Guilford,  695,099  ;  Wallingford,  $1,745,935  ;  West  Haven 
(Orange),  $1,641,570. 

From  the  latest  available  data  on  this  matter  (the  census  of  1880), 
it  appears  that  New  Haven  county  was  the  first  in  the  state  in  the 
amount  of  capital  invested  in  manufactures— $30,275,692  ;  being  about 
$3,000,000  more  than  the  next  highest,  Hartford,  and  about  $13,000,(X)0 
more  than  the  third  on  the  list,  Fairfield  county.  In  manufactured 
products  New  Haven  county  led  by  $15,000,000,  the  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts being  $59,536,504. 

In  amounts  invested  in  agriculture  New  Haven  stood /cw/VA,  being 
•exceeded  by  Hartford,  Fairfield  and  Litchfield.  The  capital  invested 
was  $17,647,923,  and  the  products  were  only  $2,416,763.  In  the  com- 
bined  value  of  capital  invested  in  manufactures  and  agriculture 
Hartford  had  $57,559,868  ;  and  New  Haven  had  but  $47,923,615. 

After  the  union  of  the  New  Haven  and  the  Connecticut  colonies, 
in  1665,  the  meetings  of  the  general  courts  and  the  courts  of  the 
assistants  (or,  in  other  words,  the  colonial  legislature)  were  held  in 
Hartford  only,  convening  in  May  and  October  of  each  year.  This 
•order  was  followed  until  May,  1701,  when  it  was  voted  that  after  the 
next  October  session,  which  was  to  be  held  in  Hartford,  the  May 
sessions  only  should  be  held  in  the  latter  place,  and  the  October  meet- 
ings should  thereafter  be  held  at  New  Haven.  This  arrangement 
was  continued  until  the  constittition  of  1818  abolished  the  October 
sessions,  and  the  annual  sessions  thereafter  alternated  between  Hart- 
ford and  New  Haven  as  semi-capitals  of  the  state.  In  1873  Hartford 
was  selected  as  the  sole  capital  of  Connecticut  and  the  state  house  at 
New  Haven  was  relinquished  to  the  citizens  of  the  town. 

At  the  time  (1701)  that  New  Haven  was  designated  as  one  of  the 
•capitals,  there  were  no  public  buildings  in  the  town  except  the  meet- 
ing house,  where  were  held  most  of  the  ptiblic  assemblages.  The 
particular  courts  were  probably  held  at  public  inns,  or  at  the  houses 
•of  the  magistrates.  It  is  probable  that  the  lower  branch  of  the  legis- 
lature held  its  meetings  at  the  meeting  house  until  a  state  house  was 
provided,  and  the  upper  branch  appears  to  have  been  convened  at 
various  rooms  in  the  town,  among  them  being  the  inn  of  Captain  John 
Miles.  In  October,  1718,  it  convened  in  the  library  room  of  the  new 
college  building.  In  1717,  the  state  made  provision  to  enable  the 
counties  to  erect  court  houses,  and  that  year  also  was  authorized  the 
building  of  the  first  .state  house  at  Hartford.  For  the  court  house  at 
New  Haven,  the  state  appropriated  £300.  The  county  court  at  its 
January,  1718,  session  resolved  : 

"  That  it  is  necessary  for  the  service  of  his  Majesty  that  there  be 


lilSrORV    OF    NEW    HAVEN-    CDLXTV.  31 

adjoined  to  the  present  prison-house  a  timber  house  of  forty-five  feet 
in  length  and  twenty-two  in  breadth,  two  stories  high,  with  chimnies 
at  each  end  :  and  agreed  that  there  be  such  a  building  erected  on 
this  condition;  that  the  town  of  New  Haven  provide  a  suitable  place 
of  land  to  set  it  upon." 

The  town  voted  the  necessary  site  February  2d,  1719,  granting  an 
eighth  of  an  acre  of  land,  in  the  market  place,  at  the  old  prison  house, 
to  be  laid  out  as  should  best  accommodate  the  building.  This  lot  was 
upon  the  public  green  and  near  its  northwest  corner.  Warham 
Mather.  Samuel  Bishop  and  Joseph  Whiting  were  appointed  the  com- 
mittee in  charge  of  the  building.  It  was  completed  for  occupation  in 
the  fall  of  1719,  but  was  more  properly  furnished  later.  Chairs  and 
other  furniture  were  supplied  in  1727.  and  subsequently. 

This  house  appears  to  have  been  used  for  the  meetings  of  the  legis- 
lature and  the  courts  of  the  county  until  1763.  when  the  colony  and 
New  Haven  united  in  erecting  a  fine  new  brick  state  house,  each  con- 
tributing £90~.  9s.,  3d.  to  defray  the  expense  of  the  edifice.  It  also 
stood  on  the  green,  facing  east  on  Temple  street,  on  a  lot  a  little  north 
of  the  site  which  was  afterward  voted  to  Trinity  church.  Jared 
IngersoU  was  one  of  the  building  committee,  and  through  his 
influence  a  bell,  which  had  been  used  in  the  meeting  house,  where  its 
place  was  taken  by  a  new  one,  was  secured  and  placed  in  the  turret  of 
the  state  building.  Originally  this  state  and  county  hottse  was 
gambrel-roofed.  About  1800  it  was  much  enlarged  and  a  roof  of  two 
planes,  meeting  at  the  ridge  pole,  placed  on  it.  Midway  on  the  ridge 
was  the  cupola,  with  the  bell.  The  upper  story  was  used  by  the  state  : 
the  lower  gave  the  necessary  rooms  for  the  county  and  the  town.  In 
1827  the  general  assemblv  re.solved  "that  it  is  expedient  and  necessary 
that  a  new  state  house  for  the  accommodation  of  the  general  assembly 
should  be  built  in  the  city  of  New  Haven,"  and  as  the  county  and 
the  town  would  derive  some  benefit  from  it,  the  state  asked  that  they 
bear  one-third  of  the  expense.  To  this  proposition  the  county  judges 
and  representatives  of  the  county  assented  at  a  meeting  held  July  ."ith, 
1827,  and  measures  were  taken  to  build.  William  Moseley.  Charles 
H.  Pond  and  John  O.  Wilson  were  appointed  to  superintend  the  con- 
struction of  this  house,  which  was  well  located,  on  the  northwestern 
quarter  of  the  green,  a  short  distance  from  College  street.  The  length 
was  placed  north  and  south  and  was  16(1  feet.  The  width  was  90  feet. 
At  each  end  was  a  pediment  supported  by  six  massive  columns.  The 
general  style  of  the  architecture  was  of  the  Doric  order  and  the  walls 
were  of  stone.  The  basement,  which  was  high  above  the  ground,  was 
encrusted  with  vSine  Siuij  marble.  The  other  two  stories  were  stuc- 
coed.  The  legislature  halls  were  in  the  upper  story.  In  the  story 
below  were  the  governor's  parlor,  committee  rooms,  jury  rooms,  and 
the  entire  east  side  was  used  for  court  rooms.  It  was  first  occupied  in 
the  spring  of  1830,  and  for  sixty  years  was  one  of  the  most  conspicuous 


32  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

objects  on  the  green.  It  was  surrendered  to  the  people  of  New  Haven 
in  1874,  and  soon  showed  marks  of  decay,  which,  since  it  was  not  kept 
in  repair,  made  it  unsightly,  and  as  it  was  no  longer  demanded  for 
public  use  it  was  razed  to  the  ground  in  the  summer  of  ]S9().  Its  site 
has  been  sodded  over  and  hardly  a  trace  remains  to  show  its  former 
location. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  when  the  first  state  house  was  located 
at  New  Haven,  there  was  already  on  the  green  an  insecure  prison- 
house  or  jail.  In  1720  the  general  assembly  ordered  this  to  be 
strengthened,  and  the  county  court  concurring,  directed  that  it  be 
enlarged  and  a  keeper's  house  be  built  thereto.  Warham  Mather^ 
John  Hall  and  Joseph  Whiting  were  charged  with  these  improve- 
ments, which  were  also  on  the  the  northwest  part  of  the  green.  The 
first,  or  wooden  state  hou.se,  after  it  was  vacated  by  the  courts  in  1768,. 
was  allowed  to  remain  and  part  of  it  was  used  as  an  office  for  the 
Connecticut /oiiriinl,  irom  1767  until  1772,  and  later  as  a  shop  for  the 
manufacture  of  metal  buttons.  About  the  time  of  the  revolution, 
these  buildings  were  removed  from  that  part  of  the  green  and  the  jail 
or  county  house,  as  it  was  now  called,  was  removed  to  the  other  side 
of  College  street,  where  it  was  enclosed  with  strong  timbers,  set  up  as 
a  stockade,  which  seem  to  have  afforded  the  necessary  security.  In 
the  keeper's  house  proper  the  hospitalities  of  an  inn  were  dispensed 
to  such  as  desired  those  accommodations. 

In  1801  it  was  determined  to  build  a  new  county  jail,  on  the  east 
side  of  Church  street,  where  a  lot  belonging  to  the  Hopkins  Grammar 
School  was  leased  for  a  term  of  999  years.  At  first  it  was  purposed  to 
erect  a  structure  only  two  stories  high,  but  at  the  solicitation  of  James 
Hillhouse  and  other  public-spirited  citizens,  the  plan  was  changed  to 
three  stories.  The  prison  proj^er  was  in  the  rear  and  was  at  first  also 
three  stories  high,  but  was  rebuilt  when  the  cell  system  was  adopted, 
two  tiers  of  cells  being  constructed.  Over  the  keeper'shouse,  in  front, 
and  in  the  third  story  was  the  debtors'  prison,  where  those  confined 
were  treated  with  considerable  attention,  notwithstanding  the  windows 
were  grated  with  iron  bars.  Here,  also,  the  prison  keeper  was  privil- 
eged to  act  as  the  entertainer  of  the  public.  In  1856  the  county- 
began  the  building  of  a  new  jail,  on  Whalley  avenue,  when  the  lease 
for  the  lot  on  Church  street  was  sold  to  the  city  of  New  Haven  for 
$25,000,  upon  which  its  fine  hall  was  completed  in  1S62. 

The  county  jail  now  in  use  was  occupied  in  1857.  It  is  built  on  a 
desirable  site  of  four  acres  of  land,  on  Whalley  avenue,  which  have 
been  well  improved  for  this  use.  About  two  acres  are  covered  with 
buildings,  which  have  been  arranged  to  accommodate  three  hundred 
prisoners.  The  prison  is  under  the  general  care  of  the  county  com- 
missioners and  is  well  maintained.  The  commitments  during  a  year 
are  many  but  a  large  proportion  are  sent  there  for  drunkenness  or 
crimes  allied  with  that  habit.     In  1873  the  prisoners  committed  were 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    IIAVKX    COUNTY.  33 

1,890,  and  the  jail  expenses  $16,417.  In  1878,  prisoners  committed, 
1,922;  expenses,  $23,931.2;).  In  1883,  prisoners  sent  up,  2,224; 
expenses,  $20,103.  In  1888  the  commitments  reached  2,910,  but  two 
years  later  under  the  restraining  influence  of  the  licen.se  law  the 
number  committed  was  only  2,60.").  In  the  latter  year  the  commit- 
ments for  drunkenness  were  about  200  less  than  in  1888.  The  cost  to 
the  county,  including  some  extraordinary  expenses,  was  that  year 
more  than  $49,000.     In  1890  it  was  about  one-fifth  less. 

The  New  Haven  County  Temporary  Home  for  Dependent  and 
Neglected  Children,  was  established  under  the  provisions  of  an  act 
passed  creating  these  institutions.  This  home  was  opened  January 
1st,  1884,  in  a  building  leased  for  that  purpose,  at  Tyler  Station,  in  the 
town  of  Orange.  In  the  spring  of  1886,  a  permanent  home  was 
founded  on  Sheldon  avenue,  where  a  spacious  lot  is  occupied. 

The  house  has  at  various  times  been  improved  to  adapt  it  to  the 
wants  and  comforts  of  the  inmates.  It  is  now  capacitated  to  accom- 
modate 75  children.  From  fifty  to  sixty  have  there  found  refuge  at 
one  time,  and  since  the  institution  was  opened  360  have  been  received 
under  its  care.  About  one-half  of  that  number  were  from  New  Haven, 
the  remainder  being  from  18  other  towns  in  the  county,  which  availed 
themselves  of  the  shelter  here  afforded  to  children  in  distress  until 
other  provision  could  be  made  for  them.  About  one-half  of  those 
yearly  admitted  are  provided  with  homes  in  proper  families. 

The  home  is  maintained  at  an  outlay  of  about  $7,000  per  year,  and 
is  managed  by  the  county  commissioners  and  a  member  each  of  the 
state  boards  of  health  and  charities. 

We  have  seen  that  the  county  united  with  the  town  and  the  state 
in  building  state  houses  on  the  public  green,  the  last  one  being  erected 
in  1830.  This  was  occupied  for  court  purposes  until  December,  1862, 
when  the  county  secured  a  ten  years'  lease  of  rooms  in  the  new  city 
hall  for  court  chambers  and  offices.  In  1870  the  city  authorities  noti- 
fied the  county  commissioners  that  their  lease  could  not  be  renewed, 
which  necessitated  action  to  secure  new  quarters.  The  commissioners 
were  authorized  June  2d,  1871,  to  purchase  a  lot  and  build  a  court 
house  in  the  city  of  New  Haven.  The  Doctor  Jonathan  Knight  lot, 
directly  north  of  the  city  hall,  was  purchased  for  $48,000,  upon  which 
the  main  edifice  was  erected  in  1872-3,  at  a  cost  of  $120,000.  About 
$14,000  more  was  expended  in  furnishing  the  building,  the  aggregate 
cost  being  about  $182,000.  It  fronts  60  feet  on  Church  .street  and 
extends  to  the  rear  120  feet.  The  house  is  three  stories  high,  and  its 
front,  which  is  ornate,  is  built  of  Nova  Scotia  stone.  The  large  door- 
way is  in  the  gothic  style  and  is  flanked  by  very  fine  pillars  of  Scotch 
granite.  In  the  third  story  of  this  house  is  the  Yale  Law  School, 
which  is  here  furnished  quarters  in  consideration  of  the  free  use  of 
its  valuable  law  library  by  the  courts  and  members  of  the  bar  of  New 
Haven  county.  Its  collections  are  very  extensive  and  are  being  con- 
3 


34  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

stantly  enlarged,  the  8l(),()()0  fund  donated  by  Governor  James  E. 
English  in  1873,  being  used  for  that  purpose.  The  two  other  floors  of 
the  building  contain  the  chambers  of  the  superior  and  common  pleas 
courts,  commissioners'  rooms,  well-appointed  offices,  and  the  adjuncts 
of  modern  halls  of  justice. 

In  the  course  of  two  years  additional  accommodations  were  required, 
when  the  George  Hoadley  property,  on  the  north  of  the  court  house, 
was  purchased,  in  1883,  and  on  the  rear  of  the  same,  but  connected 
with  the  main  edifice,  an  addition  was  built,  chief!}'  to  accommodate 
the  criminal  courts  of  the  county.  Its  interior  is  admirabh"  arranged 
to  that  end.  The  entire  cost  of  this  improvement  was  about  $100,000. 
The  building  was  first  occupied  by  the  October  term  of  the  court,  in 
1884,  and  it  has  been  found  to  well  serve  its  purpose.  The  lot  in 
front  will  permit  the  still  further  enlargement  of  the  court  house, 
which  is  not  only  one  of  the  most  valuable,  but  in  its  arrangements  is 
surpassed  bj-  but  few  others  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Union. 

In  1838  the  general  assembly  enacted  a  law  that  the  county  court 
should  thereafter  consist  of  one  judge  and  two  associate  members  of 
the  quorum,  to  be  called  county  commissioners.  Some  of  the  specific 
duties  of  the  latter  were  to  take  care  of  the  county  property  and  to 
regulate  or  assist  in  the  regulation  of  the  sale  of  liquor.  These  duties 
have  always  been  attached  to  the  office.  In  other  capacities  they  were 
sort  of  associate  judges.  In  1841  another  act  constituted  the  board  of 
county  commissioners  much  as  it  now  is,  the  powers  and  duties  since 
that  time  having  been  increased  or  curtailed  at  the  fancy  of  the  several 
legislatures.  By  bestowing  enlarged  powers  the  office  is  now  rela- 
tively more  important  than  formerl}-. 

The  commissioners  appointed  by  the  general  as.sembly,  when  the 
board  was  composed  of  two  members  only,  are  named  in  the  list  of 
county  judges.  Under  the  act  of  1841  and  those  of  a  subsequent  date, 
the  commissioners  have  been  the  following:  1842,  Selah  Strong, 
De  Gros.se  Maltby,  James  D.  Wooster ;  1843-4,  William  H.  Ellis, 
George  Loudon,  ]\Ialachi  Cook  ;  1845-6,  Edward  A.  Cornwall,  Greene 
Kendrick,  Hoadley  Bray :  1847,  James  S.  Brooks,  Loyal  F.  Todd, 
Samuel  Wise  ;  1848-9.  Philemon  Hoadley,  Samuel  C.  Johnson,  Leonard 
Bronson  ;  1850,  Leonard  Bronson,  Reynold  Webb,  Philo  Pratt ;  1851, 
David  S.  Fowler.  Timothy  V.  Meigs'  Millard  Spencer;  1852,  Fitch 
Smith,  Timothy  V.  Meigs,  Perry  Averill ;  1853-4,  Augustus  Hall, 
Orrin  Plumb,  Franklin  C.  Phillips  ;  1855,  John  Durrie,  Archibald  E. 
Rice,  Selah  Lee  ;  1856,  Benjamin  F.  Libby,  Joshua  Kendall,  William 
C.  Bushnell;  1857,  Albert  B.  Wildman,  Joshua  Kendall,  Archibald  E. 
Rice:  1858-60,  Albert  B.  Wildman,  Edwin  B.  Munson,  Archibald  E. 
Rice;  1861,  Alfred  Daggett,  Josiah  M.  Colburn.  Hoadley  Bray;  1862, 
Edmund  Parker,  Archibald  E.  Rice,  George  Rose  ;  1863-6,  Parker, 
Rice  and  Charles  Ball ;  1868-71,  Archibald  E.  Rice,  Richard  Dibble, 
Charles  P.  Brockett ;  1872,  Rice,  Brockett  and  Nathan  Andrews  ;  1873, 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVKN   COUNTY.  35 

Rice,  Andrews  and  Carlos  Smith  :  1874.  Andrews.  Smith  and  Jesse 
Cooper;  1875,  Cooper,  Smith  and  John  W.  Bassett  :  1876,  Cooper- 
Bassett  and  Linus  Birdsey :  1877,  Bird.sey,  John  W.  Lake  and  Charles 

A.  Tomlinson ;  1878.  Lake,  Hiram  Jacobs,  Marcus  E.  Baldwin  ;  1879. 
Lewis  B.  Perkins,  Jacobs  and  Baldwin  ;  1880-1,  the  same  ;  1882-3, 
Jacobs,  Baldwin  and  George  F.  Perry;  1884,  Jacobs,  Perry  and  Albert 

B.  Dunham  ;  1885-91,  Jacobs,  Dunham  and  Cecil  A.  Burleigh. 

The  first  civil  organization  in  the  county  was  the  Court  of  Twelve 
Free  Burgesses,  selected  by  the  planters  of  Quinnipiac,  June  4th, 
1639,  which  was  empowered  to  select  or  appoint  the  proper  magis- 
trates. That  duty  was  performed  October  25th.  1639,  when  Theophilus 
Eaton  was  chosen  the  magistrate  of  the  plantation  court,  with  Robert 
Newman,  Matthew  Gilbert,  Nathaniel  Turner  and  Thomas  Fugill,  as 
deputy  magistrates.  The  last  named  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  court 
and  Robert  Seeley  was  selected  as  the  marshal. 

Scarcely  was  this  court  organized  before  its  attention  was  engaged 
in  an  important  trial,  which  resulted  in  the  conviction  of  the  Indian 
Nepaupuck,  accused  of  the  murder  of  Abraham  Finch,  of  Wethersfield. 
Nepaupuck  having  been  so  charged,  came  into  the  town  voluntarih*, 
but  on  being  taken  into  custody  by  the  new  marshal,  managed  to 
escape.  He  was  recaptured  on  the  26th  of  October,  1639,  and  the 
trial  proceeded.  Testimony  against  him  was  given  by  some  of  his 
fellow  Indians,  but  the  evidence  of  his  guilt  was  more  clearly  con- 
firmed by  the  confession  which  he  himself  made,  October  28th.  The 
following  day  he  was  sentenced  to  death.  The  penalty  was  not  long 
dela\-ed  for.  October  30th.  1039,  the  Indian's  head  was  cut  off,  and,  in 
order  to  make  his  fate  serve  as  an  example  to  the  other  Indians,  it 
was  placed  on  a  pole  and  exposed  on  the  market  place,  on  the  present 
New  Haven  green.  The  eft'ect  was  salutarv.  For  many  vears  the 
colony  was  spared  the  pain  of  carrying  out  another  capital  punish- 
ment. The  market  places  in  the  several  towns  were  utilized  for  jail 
sites  and  there,  also,  were  put  the  instruments  for  inflicting  minor 
puni.shment~ihe  pillory  and  the  whipping  post.  In  mo.st  instances 
they  were  continued  until  after  the  first  quarter  of  the  present  century. 
The  one  on  New  Haven  green  was  not  removed  until  1831. 

Each  of  the  other  plantations,  Milford  and  Guilford,  also  had  its 
courts  organized  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  of  New  Haven  ;  and 
after  the  New  Haven  jurisdiction  was  formed,  in  1643,  these  planta- 
tion or  particular  courts  were  continued  and  were  allowed  to  take 
cognizance  of  certain  matters.  From  them  appeal  could  be  taken  to 
the  general  court,  composed  of  the  deptities  and  magistrates  of  the 
jurisdiction,  which  convened  semi-annually  at  New  Haven.  This 
colonial  court  consisted  of  two  branches,  viz. :  that  of  the  deputies 
elected  by  the  several  towns  semi-annually  or  annually,  and  whose 
functions  were  mainly  legislative  ;  and  the  branch  composed  of  the 
governor,  depitty  governor  and   three   or   more   magistrates,   all  of 


36  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

whom  were  distinguished  for  their  sound  judgment,  probity  and 
patriotism.  This  was  the  judicial  part  of  the  court.  It  was  presided 
over  by  the  governor  or  deputy  governor,  sitting  with  the  magistrates 
from  the  several  plantations,  five  members  constituting  a  quorum.  It 
was,  from  the  nature  of  the  constitution,  the  last  court  of  redress.  In 
all  these  courts,  particular  and  colonial,  there  was  no  jury  and  the 
principles  of  action  and  justice  were  based  upon  the  Mosaic  law  of  the 
Bible.  Especially  were  the  laws  relating  to  the  observance  of  the 
Lord's  day  strictly  enforced. 

In  1655  the  code  of  laws  prepared  by  Governor  Theophilus  Eaton 
was  adopted  as  the  first  general  statutes  of  the  colony.  Most  of  the 
laws  were  very  stringent  and  some  of  them  arbitrary.  After  the 
restoration  of  Charles  II.  they  became  derisively  known  as  the  "  Blue 
Laws,"  and  have  been  held  up  to  ridicule  as  unnatural  and  unreason- 
able, when  in  fact  they  were  just  about  such  laws  as  any  crude  govern- 
ment would  use  if  it  attempted  to  exercise  a  paternal  care  over  its 
subjects.  They  were,  in  the  main,  the  ^losaic  laws,  expressed  in 
different  words,  in  some  instances,  and  while  they  may  have  been 
based  upon  righteous  principles  they  were,  undoubtedly,  better 
adapted  for  a  patriarchal  form  of  government,  in  a  semi-civilized 
coimtry,  than  for  a  republic  whose  people  have  been  trained  to  enjoy 
enlarged  liberties  and  increased  freedom  of  thought  and  action.  In 
1673  a  new  code  of  laws  was  approved  and  printed  for  the  use  of  the 
courts  in  the  united  colonies.  The  laws  in  this  digest  were  less  stern 
than  in  the  former  ones,  many  of  the  harsh  features  having  been 
eliminated. 

In  May,  1666,  the  general  court  of  Connecticut  colony  ordered  that 
the  court  of  magistrates  of  the  jurisdiction  should  be  abolished  and 
that  a  county  court  should  take  its  place.  It  was  directed  that  this 
court  should  hold  sessions  in  June  and  November  of  each  year,  and 
that  it  should  be  presided  over  by  no  less  than  two  assistants  of  the 
general  court  (members  of  the  upper  house  of  the  general  assembly) 
and  two  or  more  commissioners,  five  persons,  as  before,  forming  a 
quorum.  The  commissioners  were  legislative  appointees  and  took  the 
place  of  the  magistrates  first  elected  by  the  burgesses.  The  office  was 
filled  annually  until  1698,  when  justices  of  the  peace  were  first 
appointed,  from  which  were  selected  or  appointed  the  justices  of  the 
quorum.  The  first  justices  of  the  peace  for  New  Haven  county  were, 
as  reported  in  the  state  records:  "  Mr.  Tho.  Trowbridge,  Sen""  of  the 
Quorum ;  Capt.  Tho.  Clarke,  Mr.  Josiah  Rossiter,  of  the  Quorum ;  Mr. 
Will  Malbie,  of  the  Quorum :  Capt.  Tho.  Yale,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Osborn, 
Mr.  John  Ailing,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Johnson."  The  number  of  justices 
appointed  in  subsequent  years  varied,  and  at  first  they  were  appointed 
for  the  county  as  an  entire  body,  and  not  by  towns,  as  became  the 
later  practice. 

The  a.ssistants  from  New  Haven,  i.e.,  members  of  the  upper  house 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  37 

of  the  general  assembly,  from  the  time  of  the  union  in  1665  until  1698, 
when  they  ceased  to  preside  over  the  county  court,  were  as  follows: 
William  Leete,  Guilford,  1665-76  :  William  Jones,  New  Haven,  1665- 
98;  Benjamin  Fenn,  Milford,  1665-73;  Jasper  Crane,  Branford,  1665- 
68;  Alexander  Bryan,  Milford,  1668-79  ;  James  Bishop,  New  Haven, 
1668-92  ;  Robert  Treat,  Milford,  1675-98  ;  Thomas  Topping,  Branford, 
1674-85;  Matthew  Gilbert,  New  Haven,  1677-78;  Andrew  Leete, 
Guilford,  1678-98  ;  Moses  Mansfield,  New  Haven,  1692-98. 

The  last  named  was,  in  1698,  appointed  the  first  county  judge. 
That  office  was  filled  by  yearly  appointments  until  1855,  when  the 
county  court  was  abolished.  The  judge  had  the  assistance,  in  presid- 
ing over  the  county  court,  of  justices  of  the  quorum,  selected  from 
the  list  of  from  four  to  eight  yearly  appointed,  until  1838,  when  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  quorum  was  abolished,  and  two  commissioners 
were  appointed  to  act  with  the  judge  in  holding  the  county  coiirts. 

In  1841  the  office  of  commissioner  was  divorced  from  the  county 
court  and  established  as  a  separate  office.  The  county  judge  was  now 
the  sole  presiding  officer  until  the  court  ceased  to  exist  in  1855. 

The  count}^  court  transacted  all  judicial  business,  including  the 
probating  of  wills,  until  1714,  when  the  New  Haven  county  probate 
court  was  established,  John  Ailing  being  the  first  judge.  In  1719  the 
division  of  the  county  into  other  probate  districts  began. 

In  the  county  court  were  first  practiced  the  usages  of  the  English 
courts,  and  the  trial  by  jury  was  first  given  a  proper  place,  not  only  in 
this  court  but  in  other  courts  in  the  county,  held  by  justices. 

In  1869  the  New  Haven  court  of  common  pleas  was  established  with 
powers  much  like  those  which  had  pertained  to  the  old  county  court, 
and  enlarged  jurisdiction.  Its  business  increased  very  rapidly  and 
it  has  been  found  necessary  to  divide  the  court  into  two  branches, 
viz.:  the  civil  side  and  the  criminal  side,  and  to  appoint  two  judges 
for  the  same.  Another  relief  for  the  overtaxed  condition  of  the  busi- 
ness was  found  in  the  creation  of  the  Waterbury  district,  which 
embraces  parts  of  this  county  and  some  of  the  adjoining  county,  and 
sessions  of  the  common  pleas  courts  and  superior  courts  are  held 
there. 

In  addition  to  the  superior  court  of  the  state  another  court  of 
appeal,  the  supreme  court  of  ei'rors,  has  been  created,  and  New  Haven 
county  and  Fairfield  county  are  embraced  in  the  Third  judicial  dis- 
trict, courts  being  alternately  held  at  Bridgeport  and  New  Haven. 

In  most  of  the  towns  justices  courts  have  been  continued,  but  in 
1784  a  city  court  was  established  in  New  Haven:  and,  later,  city  and 
police  courts  were  created  for  Waterbury  and  Meriden.  Borough  and 
town  courts  have  been  established  in  Wallingford,  Derby  and 
Ansonia.* 

The  following  have  been  the  judges  of  the  count}-  court  and  the 

*See  accounts  of  those  towns. 


38  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

justices  of  the  quorum,  as  appointed  by  the  general  assembly,  the  first 
name  after  each  date  being  that  of  the  judge:  1698-1703,  Major 
Moses  Mansfield,  Jeremiah  Osborn,  John  Ailing,  Thos.  Clark,  William 
Maltby,  Ebenezer  Johnson,  Eleazer  Stent  ;  1704-6,  John  Ailing, 
Nathan  Andrews  ;  1707-8,  John  Ailing,  William  Maltby,  Thos.  Clark, 
Ebenezer  Johnson,  Samuel  Eells,  Abraham  Fowler,  Nathan  Andrews  ; 
1709-12,  ■ ■,  Nathan  Andrews,  William  Maltby,  Abraham  Brad- 
ley, Abraham  Fowler,  Thomas  Yale,  Jo.seph  Treat,  Jonathan  Law;  1713- 
17,  Jonathan  Law,  Joseph  Treat,  Abraham  Bradley,  Warham  Mather, 
Samuel  Bishop,  James  Wadsworth,  Ebenezer  Johnson  ;  1718,  Jona- 
than Law,  Ebenezer  Johnson,  Joseph  Treat,  Warham  Mather, 
Abraham  Bradle\%  Samuel  Bishop  ;  1719,  James  Wadsworth,  John 
Hall  ;  1720-4,  James  Wadsworth,  x\braham  Fowler,  Warham  Mather, 
John  Hall,  Samuel  Bishop,  Ebenezer  Johnson,  Samuel  Clarke  ;  172.')-9, 
John  Hall,  Warham  Mather,  James  Hooker,  Samuel  Bishop,  Andrew 
Ward,  John  Riggs ;  1730-5,  Samuel  Eells,  Samuel  Bishop,  James 
Hooker,  Roger  Newton,  John  Riggs;  1736-7,  Samuel  Eells, 
Samuel  Bishop,  James  Hooker,  John  Riggs,  John  Russell, 
Samuel  Hill ;  1738-9,  Roger  Newton,  Samuel  Bishop,  James 
Hooker,  John  Riggs,  John  Russell,  Samuel  Hill ;  1740-1, 
Roger  Newton,  Samuel  Eells,  Lsaac  Dickerman,  John  Riggs, 
John  Russell,  Samuel  Hill;  1742-6,  Roger  Newton,  Benjamin 
Hall,  John  Fowler,  John  Southmaid,  Samuel  Hill  ;  1747-50,  Roger 
Newton,  Benjamin  Hall,  John  Fowler,  John  Hubbard,  Samuel  Hill ; 
1751-3,  Roger  Newton,  John  Russell,  John  Fowler,  John  Hubbard, 
Samuel  Hill ;  1754-6,  Roger  Newton,  Benjamin  Hall,  John  Hubbard, 
John  Fowler,  Elihu  Chauncey ;  1757-60,  Roger  Newton,  Benjamin 
Hall,  Timothy  Stone,  John  Hubbard,  Elihu  Chauncey;  1761-5,  Roger 
Newton,  Thomas  Darling,  Timothy  Stone,  John  Hubbard,  Elihu 
Chauncey  ;  1766,  Roger  Newton,  John  Hubbard.  Thomas  Darling, 
Elihu  Chauncey,  Roger  Sherman  ;  1707-70,  Roger  Newton,  Nathaniel 
Hill,  John  Hubbard,  Thomas  Darling,  Elihu  Chauncey;  1771-2, 
Benjamin  Hall,  John  Hubbard,  Elihu  Chauncey,  Thomas  Darling, 
John  Fowler,  Nathaniel  Hill :  1773,  James  Abraham  Hillhouse, 
Thomas  Darling:  1774-6,  Elihu  Chauncey,  John  Fowler,  vSamuel 
Bishop,  Jr.,  James  Wadsworth,  Jr.;  1777,  Elihu  Chauncey,  Samuel 
Bishop,  Jr.,  James  Wadsworth,  Jr.,  Samuel  Barker,  Joseph  Hopkins; 
1778-81,  James  Wadsworth,  Samuel  Bishop,  Andrew  Ward,  Samuel 
Barker,  Joseph  Hopkins  ;  1782-6,  James  Wadsworth,  Samuel  Bishop, 
Joseph  Hopkins,  Andrew  Ward,  James  Beard  ;  1787-9,  James  Wads- 
worth, Samuel  Bishop,  Joseph  Hopkins,  Andrew  Ward,  Gideon  Buck- 
ingham ;  1790-9,  Samuel  Bishop,  Joseph  Hopkins,  Andrew  Ward, 
Gideon  Buckingham,  Simeon  Bristol;  1800-1,  Samuel  Bishop,  Joseph 
Hopkins,  Gideon  Buckingham,  vSimeon  Bristol,  Nathaniel  Rossiter ; 
1802-5,  Simeon  Bristol,  Gideon  Buckingham,  Nathaniel  Rossiter, 
Dwyer  White,  John  Kingsbury  ;  1806,  Elizur  Goodrich,  Gideon  Buck- 


HISTORY    OF   NKW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  39 

ingham,  John  Kingsbury,  D\v\-er  White, George W.  Stanley:  1807-10, 
Elizur  Goodrich,  Gideon  Buckingham,  John  Kingsbury,  Dvvyer  White, 
Xoah  Webster  ;  1811 ,  Elizur  Goodrich,  Nathaniel  Griffing.  John  Kings- 
bury, Dwyer  W^hite,  Noah  Webster:  1812-14,  Elizur  Goodrich,  Nath- 
aniel Griffing,  John  Kingsbury,  Dwyer  White,  Bennet  Bronson  :  1815- 
10,  Elizur  Goodrich,  John  Kingsbury,  Nathaniel  Griffing,  Dwyer 
White,  Burrage  Beach  :  1817-18,  Elizur  Goodrich,  John  Kingsbury, 
Dwyer  White,  Nathaniel  Griffing,  Isaac  Mills:  1819,  John  Kingsbury, 
Chas.  H.  Pond,*  Isaac  Mills:  1820-2,  Isaac  Mills,  Abel  Wheeler,  John 
Humphreys  :  1828-4,  Isaac  Mills,  John  Humphreys,  Noyes  Darling : 
1825-7,  Bennet  Bronson,  John  Humphreys,  Jr.,  Noyes  Darling :  1828- 
30,  Bennett  Bronson,  Jared  Bassett,  Noyes  Darling  ;  1831-4,  Noyes 
Darling,  William  Hinman.  Jared  Bassett :  1885,  Noyes  Darling. 
Walter  Booth,  Samuel  Meigs;  1886,  Noyes  Darling,  Jared  Bassett, 
William  Hinman  ;  1837-8,  Noyes  Darling,  Charles  H.  Pond.  Malachi 
Cook;  1839.  Samuel  J.  Hitchcock,t  Joseph  Barber,  Abijah  Carrington; 
1840-1.  Samuel  J.  Hitchcock,  Selah  Strong,  DeGrosse  Maltby. 

County  judges  only  :  1842,  Samuel  J.  Hitchcock  :  1843-4,  Noyes 
Darling:  1845-6,  Joseph  Wood;  1847,  John  C.  Palmer;*  1848-9, 
Edward  Hinman  :  ISnO.  Henry  Dutton :  1851,  Alfred  Blackman  ;  1852, 
Samuel  Ingham  (acting  judge) ;  1853-4,  Harris  B.  Munson ;  1855, 
Stephen  W.  Kellogg. 

The  following  have  been  the  judges  of  the  common  pleas  court, 
since  its  establishment:  1870-1,  Samuel  L.  Bronson;  1872-3,  Henry 
E.  Pardee:  1874,  Henry  Stoddard;  1875-6,  William  C.  Robinson; 
1877,  William  B.  Stoddard:  1878-81,  Lynde  Harrison:  1882-5,  David 
Torrance;  1885.  John  P.  Studley,  Lucius  P.  Deming. 

In  addition  to  the  assistants  named,  as  presiding  over  the  county 
court.  1665  to  1698,  they  were,  also,  the  superior  court  in  those  times, 
and  later.     The  assistants,  from  1698  to  1818,  credited  to  New  Haven 
county  were  :  Robert  Treat.  Milford,  1698-1708;  Andrew  Leete,  Guil- 
ford.   1698-1703;    Moses    Mansfield.  New    Haven,    1698-1704;    Josiah 
Rossiter,    Guilford.    1701-11 ;    John    Ailing,    New    Haven.    1704-17 
Samuel  Eells,  Milford,  17O9-40":  Abraham  Fowler,  Guilford,  1712-29 
Jonathan  Law,^  Milford,  1717-50  ;  John    Hall,  Wallingford,  1722-30 
Joseph  Whiting,  New  Haven,  1733-45  ;  Roger  Newton,  Milford,  1736- 
40;    Benjamin    Hall,    Wallingford,    1751-66;    Roger  Sherman,    New 
Haven,  1766-89  ;    James  A.   Hillhouse,  New  Haven,  1773-5  ;  James 
Hillhouse.  New    Haven.    1789-91  :    Charles  Chauncey,    New    Haven, 
1780-93;  Jonathan  Ingersoll.  New    Haven,  1792-8;    David   Daggett, 
New  Haven,  1797-1814:  Elizur  Goodrich,  New  Haven.  1808-18;  Isaac 
Beers,  New  Haven.  1808-9  :  Jonathan  Ingersoll,  New  Haven.  1811-19  : 

*Two  Justices  of  the  Quorutn  only  by  Constitutional  Amendment. 
tDesignated  Coimty  Commissioners. 
*0i  Middletown.  acting  Judge. 
^Chief  Judge  ITi.j-ll. 


40  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

William  Bristol,  New  Haven,  1818 ;  Peter  Webb,  New  Haven,  1818 ; 
David  Tomlinson,  Oxford,  1818 ;  Simeon  Baldwin,  New  Haven, 
1806-18. 

Other  judges  of  the  superior  court  have  been  the  following:  Asa 
Chapman,  New  Haven,  1818-25;  William  Bristol,  New  Haven,  1819- 
26;  David  Daggett,*  New  Haven,  1826-34;  Joel  Hinman.f  New 
Haven,  1842-70;  Henry  Dutton,+  New  Haven,  1861-6;  Edward  I. 
Sanford,^  New  Haven,  1867 ;  David  Torrance,  Derby,  1885-90,  when 
he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  errors  for  eight 
years. 

The  marshals  of  New  Haven  colony  and  the  jurisdiction  were 
appointed  as  follows  :  October  25th,  1639,  Robert  Seeley;  November 
7th,  1642,  Thomas  Kimberley;  May  28th,  1662,  Abraham  Doolittle, 
who  served  until  the  end  of  the  jurisdiction.  The  term  marshal  was 
now  dropped  and  that  of  sheriff  taken,  to  designate  those  serving  as 
such  officials.  The  sheriffs  of  the  county  and  the  years  of  their  elec- 
tion or  appointment  have  been  as  follows:  November,  1667,  John 
Ailing;  June,  1675,  Samuel  Miles;  June,  1679,  John  Cooper;  November, 
1687,  John  Hudson;  I  May,  1689,  Joshua  Hotchkiss;  October,  1722, 
John  Trowbridge; — ,  Moses  Mansfield; — ,  Jonathan  Fitch;  October,1796, 
Jehu  Brainerd;  October,  1804,  Nathaniel  Rossiter;  June,  1819,  Charles 
H.  Pond;  June,  1834,  Eraustus  Osborn;  June,  1837,  Samuel  Cooke;^[ 
June,  1839^  Charles  W.  Curtis;  June,  1842,  Norris  Willcox;  June,  1857, 
David  S.  Fowler;  June,  1863,  Gideon  O.  Hotchkiss;  October,  1871, 
Charles  S.  Scott  vice  Hotchkiss,  deceased  ;  June,  1875,  John  C.  Byxbee; 
June,  1884,  Robert  O.  Gates  ;  June,  1891,  Charles  A.  Tomlinson. 

The  following  have  been  the  king's  or  state's  attorneys  of  New 
Haven  county :  1720,  William  Adams;  1744,  Elihu  Hall;  1757,  Jared 
Ingersoll;  1765,  James  A.  Hillhouse;**  1776,  Charles  Chauncey;  1789, 
Jonathan  Ingersoll;  1798,  Pierpont  Edwards;  1802,  Naphtali  Daggett; 
1805,  Jonathan  Ingersoll;  1811,  David  Daggett;  1816,  Nathan  Smith; 
1835,  Ralph  I.  Ingersoll;  1845,  Dennis  Kimberley;  1849,  Charles  A. 
Ingersoll:  1853,  Jonathan  Stoddard;  1854,  Eleazer  K.  Foster;  1877, 
Orville  H.  Piatt;  1879,  Tilton  E.  Doolittle. 

The  clerks  of  the  courts  for  New  Haven  county  have  been:  1798, 
Abraham  Bishop;  1801,  Dwyer  White;  1806,  John  Lynde;  1807,  Dwyer 
White;  1821,  Cornelius  Tuthill;  1825,  John  Beach;  1835,  Robinson  S. 
Hinman;  1839,  John  Beach;  1842,  Robert  H.  Osborn;  1844,  John  S. 
Rice;  1847,  Henry  J.  Lewis;  1850,  Robert   H.  Osborn;  1854,  Alfred  H. 

*Chief  Judge  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  1833-4. 
tjudge  of  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  1861-70. 
|Was  also  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors. 
§Has  since  served  as  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court. 
lAppointed  by  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  and  his  Council. 

•[Office  vacated  on  account  of  amendment  to  constitution,  and  Sheriff  there- 
after elected  by  freemen. 

**Died  December,  1775,  Benjamin  Douglass  appointed. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  41 

Terry;  1800,  Arthur  D.  Osborn;  1SS2.  Jonathan  Ingersoll;  1890. 
Edward  A.  Anketell. 

In  the  earliest  period  of  the  civil  government  of  the  colony,  the 
powers  relative  to  the  settlement  of  estates  were  vested  in  the 
particular  courts.  In  May,  1666,  they  were  transferred  to  the  several 
county  courts,  and  in  1698  to  the  respective  judges,  with  two  ju.stices 
of  the  quorum.  In  May,  1714,  it  was  provided  that  the  courts  of  pro- 
bate should  be  holden  by  one  judge,  wath  a  clerk  in  each  county.  The 
first  probate  districts,  less  than  a  county,  were  formed  in  October,  1719. 
The  districts  which  were  co-extensive  with  the  several  counties  have 
never  been  re-established;  but  their  limits  have  been  reduced  by 
forming  new  districts  from  them.  The  following  are  the  probate  dis- 
tricts in  New  Haven  county,  with  the  dates  of  their  organization: 

The  New  Haven  or  original  district  is  composed  of  New  Haven. 
North  Haven.  East  Haven,  Hamden,  Orange,  Seymour  and  Wood- 
bridge.  The  town  of  Orange  (incorporated  in  1822)  was,  up  to  that 
period,  as  parts  of  Milford  and  New  Haven,  included  in  those  districts, 
but  when  it  became  a  town  the  whole  was  placed  wholly  in  the  New 
Haven  district.  In  IS.'iiO  Seymour  was  incorporated  and  annexed  to 
the  New  Haven  district.  Up  to  that  time  the  territory  w^as  included 
in  the  Derby  district.  East  Haven  remained  in  the  New  Haven  dis- 
trict until  1868,  when  the  town  was  created  a  separate  district  and  so 
continued  until  188.3,  when  it  again  became  a  part  of  the  New  Haven 
district. 

The  Guilford  district  was  established  in  1719,  to  embrace  Guilford, 
including  the  present  towns  of  Madison,  Branford  and  North  Bran- 
ford,  after  the  latter  town  was  formed  in  1881,  except  the  society  of 
Northford,  which  became  a  part  of  the  Wallingford  district.  It  also 
embraced  some  towns  in  what  is  now  ISIiddlesex  county."  The  juris- 
diction was  reduced  further  by  the  formation  of  the  Madison  district, 
in  1834,  and  the  Branford  district  in  1850. 

Wallingford  district  was  established  in  1776.  and  included  at  that 
time,  Wallingford  (embracing  Cheshire  and  Meriden)  and  the  societ}- 
of  Northford.  This  district  has  been  reduced  by  the  formation  of  the 
Cheshire  district  in  1829,  and  the  Meriden  district  in  1836.  It  is  now 
composed  of  Wallingford  and  the  Northford  society,  in  North 
Branford. 

Waterbury  district  was  next  formed,  in  the  order  of  time.  It  was 
established  in  1779,  to  include  the  then  towns  of  Waterbury,  Water- 
town  and  Plymouth.  The  latter  was  set  off  in  1833,  and  Watertown 
in  1834.  When  Wolcott  was  incorporated  a  town,  in  1796,  it  was 
annexed  to  this  district,  and  }>Iiddlebury  has  always  been  in  this  juris- 
diction. Naugatuck  was  created  atown  in  1844,  out  of  parts  of  Water- 
bury, Bethany  and  Oxford,  and  the  whole  was  annexed  to  the  Water- 
bury district;  but  in   1862  this  town  (Naugatuck)  became  a  separate 

*  See  sketch  of  Guilford. 


42  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

district.  leaving  Waterbury  to  include  itself,  Middlebury  and  Wolcott 
as  the  present  district. 

Cheshire  district  was  established  in  1S29,  to  include  Cheshire  and 
Prospect.  The  former  was  taken  from  the  Wallingford  district,  the 
latter  from  Wallingford  and  Waterbury  districts.  It  remains  as  con- 
stituted. 

Milford  district  was  established  in  1832,  and  was  taken  from  the 
New  Haven  district.     It  is  confined  to  the  town  of  Milford. 

Madison  district  was  established  in  1SH4,  to  include  the  town  of 
Madison.     Until  that  time  the  town  was  in  the  Guilford  district. 

Meriden  district,  composed  of  that  town,  was  established  in  1836, 
and  was  taken  out  of  the  Wallingford  district. 

Oxford  district  was  established  in  1846.  Its  jurisdiction  is  confined 
to  that  town,  organized  in  1798,  and  until  the  date  of  establishment,  it 
was  in  the  New  Haven  district. 

Branford  district  was  established  in  1850,  to  include  the  town  of 
Branford,  and  was  taken  from  the  Guilford  district.  Until  1719, 
Branford  and  all  the  eastern  section  of  the  county  were  in  the  New 
Haven  district. 

Bethany  district  was  established  in  1834,  with  bounds  confined  to 
the  town  of  Bethany,  which  up  to  that  time  was  in  the  New  Haven 
district.  A  small  part  was  attached  to  Naugatuck  district  in  1871,  when 
Beacon  Falls  was  formed. 

Derby  district  was  established  in  1858,  to  embrace  the  town  as  it 
was  at  that  time,  including  the  present  town  of  Ansonia.  A  part  of 
Huntington  was  later  added.  The  office  for  the  records  is  at  Birming- 
ham, and  the  district  is  now  composed  of  Derby  and  Ansonia. 

Naugatuck  district  was  established  in  1862,  and  embraced,  at  that 
time,  the  town  of  Naugatuck,  which  was  taken  from  the  Waterbury 
district.  When  Beacon  Falls  was  incorporated,  in  1871,  that  town  was 
annexed  to  this  district.  Its  territory  was  previously  in  the  districts 
of  Oxford  and  Bethany. 

The  town  of  Southbury  has  been  in  the  probate  district  of  Wood- 
bury, in  Litchfield  county,  since  1719.  The  town  itself  was  a  part  of 
Litchfield  county  until  1807,  when  it  became  a  part  of  New  Haven 
county. 

Durham,  in  Middlesex  county,  was  a  part  of  New  Haven  county 
until  1799.  It  was  in  the  Guilford  probate  district  until  1752,  when  it 
was  assigned  to  the  Middletown  district. 

The  judges  of  the  New  Haven  probate  district,  from  its  organiza- 
tion have  been  the  following:  1714-17,  John  Ailing;  1717-27,  Warham 
Mather;  1727-48,  Joseph  Whiting;  1748-73,  John  Hubbard;  1773-86, 
John  Whiting;  1786-1802,  Samuel  Bishop;  1802-19,  Elizur  Goodrich; 
1819-24,  Isaac  Mills;  1824-9,  William  W.  Boordman;  1829-34,  Charles 
A.  Ingersoll,  1st  term;  1834-5,  Nathaniel  R.  Clark,  1st  term;  1835-8, 
Charles  A.  Ingersoll,  2d  term;  1838-42,  Nathaniel   R.  Clark,  2d  term; 


HISTORY   (:)F   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTV.  43 

1842-3,  Robinson  S.  Hinman  (died  in  office  and  Alfred  Blackman,  of 
Waterbury  district,  filled  the  term  of  office,  1843-4);  1844-6,  Eleazer 
K.  Foster,  1st  term:  1846-7,  Ezra  vStiles;  1847-50,  Eleazer  K.  Foster, 
2d  term;  1850-4,  Frederick  Croswell;  1854-7,  Cyprian  Wilcox;  1857-63, 
Luzon  B.  Morris;  1863-4,  Levi  B.  Bradley;  1864-6,  Francis  Way- 
land,  Jr.;  1866-76,  Levi  B.  Bradley.  2d  term;  1876-87,  Samuel  A.  York: 
1887 — ,  A.  Heaton  Robertson. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  county  but  little  attention  was  paid 
to  the  location  and  construction  of  highways.  The  settlers  along  the 
coast  were  long  content  with  the  means  of  communication  by  water 
way,  which  were  largely  used  the  first  one  hundred  years,  especially 
in  the  transportation  of  goods  or  commodities  used  in  the  trade 
between  the  different  towns.  The  interior  towns  found  no  trouble  in 
reaching  the  centers  on  the  sound  shore  by  means  of  the  paths  over 
the  common  lands,  which  often  had  the  same  general  course  as  the 
Indian  trails,  leading  to  those  localities.  Even  in  the  settled  parts  of 
the  towns,  commons  were  left  for  these  main  paths  (for  such  they  were, 
no  wagons  being  used  for  a  long  time),  and  when  one  became  unfit 
for  use,  another  was  made  on  the  twenty  or  forty  rods  wide  of  land 
available  for  that  purpose.  Gradually  these  commons  were  narrowed 
bv  encroachments,  and  the  records  of  some  of  the  towns  show  that  a 
few  planters  were  so  unmindful  of  the  interests  of  the  public  that  they 
extended  fences  across  some  of  these  paths,  and  public  action  was 
necessary  to  have  them  restored  to  their  original  use.  From  nearly 
every  village  these  paths  radiated  to  the  outlying  farms  or  to  other 
villages,  and  in  course  of  time  some  were  accepted  and  improved  as 
highways.  In  other  cases  new  and  better  roads  were  located,  when 
once  localities  became  more  distinct,  and  were  maintained  by  the 
sanction  of  the  colony  or  by  the  different  counties. 

Of  the  former  class  one  of  the  best  known  was  the  road  which  con- 
nected New  Haven  and  Hartford  and  whose  name  is  still  perpetuated 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  county,  as  is  shown  by  the  titles  of  principal 
streets  in  Wallingford  and  Meriden.  But  even  this  highway  was 
obstructed  and,  in  1759,  the  general  assembly  directed  that  a  com- 
mittee should  be  appointed  "  with  all  care  and  diligence  to  view  and 
observe  said  road  now  used  in  the  various  crooks  and  notable  turns 
thereof,  and  them  duly  to  note,  and  also  with  all  care  to  find  out  how 
and  where  it  may  be  practicable  to  .shorten  or  better  said  way  in  whole 
or  in  part.""  A  view  of  the  committee  resulted  in  an  order  to  the 
towns  to  have  the  evils  corrected,  and  the  course  of  the  road  was  some- 
what modified.  At  other  times  the  courses  of  these  early  roads  were 
also  changed  to  conform  to  the  existing  order  of  things,  as  the  changes 
of  localities,  etc.;  and,  no  doubt,  a  better  knowledge  of  road  building 
also  had  much  to  do  in  brmging  about  the  modification  of  some  of  the 
early  county  roads. 

*  Colon V  Records,  1759. 


44  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

It  should  be  stated  that  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  villages  these 
early  roads  were  often  called  lanes  from  the  fact  that  they  there 
passed  between  the  enclosed  lots  of  the  planters.  Thus  at  New  Haven 
the  names  of  "  Long  lane  "  applied  to  the  lower  part  of  the  highway 
leading  to  Hamden,  Cheshire  and  northward ;  "  Neck  lane  "  to  the 
road  on  the  Neck*  to  Wallingford  and  Meriden,  or  to  Middletown. 
The  latter  is  now  the  well  known  upper  part  of  State  street.  The 
road  to  Guilford  and  the  east  was  first  called  and  long  known  by  the 
name  of  Totoket  path.  It  first  entered  the  village  of  New  Haven  by 
tneans  of  a  ferry  at  Red  Rock,  whence  was  a  way  to  "  Neck  lane,"  and 
thence  by  its  bridge  across  Mill  river.  A  cartway  bridge  was  there 
built  soon  after  1642,  and  such  a  structure  has  there  since  been 
maintained.  Its  site  became  historic  as  being  the  place  where  the 
regicides,  Goffe  and  Whalley,  lay  concealed  while  excited  constables, 
sent  to  apprehend  them,  rode  with  loud  clamor  across  the  bridge  under- 
neath  which  lay  hidden  the  men  they  vainly  sought.  On  the  evening 
of  July  5th,  1779,  this  spot  was  also  made  the  point  of  rendezvous  for 
the  militia,  called  hither  by  the  invasion  of  the  British,  but  whose 
service  in  battle  the  next  day  was  not  needed  in  consequence  of  the 
peaceful  evacuation  of  the  enemy. 

Neck  lane  has  remained  one  of  the  most  important  thoroughfares 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  county,  notwithstanding  some  of  the  travel 
•over  it,  from  the  east,  was  given  more  direct  entrance  by  the  bridges 
at  Dragon  Point  and  below,  across  the  Quinnipiac.  The  former  was 
completed  in  1793,  and  was  first  a  toll  bridge,  owned  by  Henry 
Daggett,  James  Prescott  and  Thomas  Punderson.  The  state  sanc- 
tioned the  aid  of  a  lottery  and,  in  1825,  the  proprietors  having  been 
disbursed,  the  bridge  became  free.  A  handsome  iron  bridge  now 
occupies  the  site.  But  an  earlier  bridge  across  the  Quinnipiac  was  on 
the  road  to  Middletown,  which  was  called  the  Long  bridge,  and  in 
1784,  when  New  Haven  was  incorporated  a  city,  it  was  made  the  initial 
point  in  its  bounds.  In  1814  it  became  the  property  of  the  Middle- 
town  turnpike,  whose  highways  crossed  the  meadows  at  this  point. 
It  is  still  in  use. 

The  longest  and  most  important  bridge  across  the  Quinnipiac  in  the 
county  is  below  the  confluence  of  Mill  river  with  that  stream,  which 
is  here  quite  wide.  It  was  built  by  a  company  organized  for  that  pur- 
pose and  which  was  encouraged  in  this  enterprise  by  a  grant  of  wharf 
privileges  by  the  proprietors  of  New  Haven,  in  the  belief  that  these 
improvements  would  advance  the  commercial  interests  of  the  town. 
The  bridge  was  begun  in  1796,  and  was  completed  two  years  later.  Its 
length,  including  the  causeway  on  the  east  side,  was  about  half  a  mile 
and  the  width  was  27  feet.     A  draw  in  the  bridge  permitted  the  ascent 

*  The  point  of  land  between  Mill  and  Quinnipiac  rivers  was  early  called  the 
"Neck."  The  lower  part  of  the  "Neck"  received  the  name  of  "  Grape  Vine 
Point."    These  terms  have  been  perpetuated. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  45 

of  vessels  to  Fair  Haven,  more  than  a  mile  above.  Below  the  west  end 
valuable  wharves  were  constructed,  which  were  made  the  terminus  of 
the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  railroad,  in  1839,  and  ultimately  the 
franchises  of  the  bridge  company  became  the  property  of  the  rail- 
road company,  which  after  i8r^2.  used  the  wharves  for  freight  pur- 
poses only.  The  bridge  became  of  minor  importance  and  was 
allowed  to  become  dilapitated  and  insecure.  In  188."),  the  railway 
company  replaced  it  with  the  fine  iron  bridge  which  had  been  in 
use  at  Stratford.  The  following  year  the  town  of  New  Haven  pur- 
chased the  bridge,  and  the  right  of  way  to  it  of  the  railway  company, 
and  since  that  time  it  has  also  been  a  free  bridge.  A  fine  draw,  eighty 
feet  wide,  permits  large  schooners  to  pass  through.  Near  the  same 
time  a  fourth  bridge  was  built  across  the  Quinnipiac,  about  midway 
between  the  above  two  bridges.  It  is  an  expensive  wrought  iron 
structure,  extending  from  Red  Rock,  on  the  east,  to  the  foot  of  Ferry 
street,  on  the  west,  and  was  built  by  the  towns  of  New  Haven  and 
East  Haven.  It  is  also  provided  with  a  large  draw  and  has  from  the 
beginning  been  free  to  the  public. 

Near  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  the  ferries  acro.ss  the 
Housatonic,  at  Derby,  and  on  the  old  New  York  post  road,  were  dis- 
placed by  toll  bridges,  which  were  freed  to  the  public  within  the  last 
few  decad&s.  These  bridges,  after  being  owned  by  the  adjoining 
towns,  became  the  joint  property  of  New  Haven  and  Fairfield  counties 
in  1889.  The  lower,  or  the  old  Washington  bridge,  which  is  a  long 
wooden  structure,  has  been  placed  in  good  repair  by  the  county  com- 
missioners. The  bridge  between  Shelton  and  Birmingham,  an  old 
covered  wooden  structure,  was  replaced  by  a  fine  iron  bridge  in  the 
summer  of  1891.  The  contract  was  awarded  by  the  commissioners. 
April  1st,  1891,  to  the  East  Berlin  Bridge  Company  for  §54,000.  The 
structure  is  500  feet  long,  27  feet  roadway  with  walks  on  each  side  7 
feet  wide,  and  makes  a  fine  appearance. 

One  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  bridge  sites  in  the  county  is  on 
the  West  river,  where  the  old  Milford  path  crossed  that  stream.  It  is 
probable  that  a  foot  bridge  was  placed  there  in  1639,  and  as  early  as 
1642  and  since  that  time  the  bridge  at  that  point  has  afforded  passage 
for  vehicles.  With  the  growth  of  New  Haven  came  the  demand  for 
new  streets  southwestward,  but  they  were  laid  out  convergent  to  that 
point,  and  this  was  the  only  bridge  on  that  part  of  the  stream  until 
the  Kimberley  avenue  and  bridge  were  built  in  1848.  The  latter 
affords  a  far  more  direct  route  to  West  Haven  and  is  also  u.sed  by  the 
street  railway  line  between  Savin  Rock  and  the  city.  But  the  old 
West  bridge,  as  it  has  been  called  from  the  beginning,  retains  much 
of  its  importance  and  has  been  carefully  kept  up.  In  1876  a  substan- 
tial iron  structure  was  there  placed  in  position.  A  notable  improve- 
ment at  that  place,  a  hundred  years  ago,  was  the  West  Meadow  dyke, 
which  was  built  in  1769.  bv  the  elder  Nathan   Beers,  who  was  killed 


46  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

by  the  British  when  the\'  invaded  New  Haven  ten  years  later.  He 
was  a  man  of  wealth  and  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  meadows 
which  were  of  the  nature  of  salt  marshes.  By  constructing  the  dyke 
and  placing  tide  gates  at  the  bridge  he  reclaimed  many  acres  of  land 
above  the  bridge,  which  became  valuable  as  fresh  water  meadows, 
after  the  tidal  water  was  by  those  means  kept  out.  When  the  British 
landed  at  West  Haven,  in  1779,  they  attempted  to  enter  New  Haven 
by  this  road,  but  were  prevented  by  a  small  battery  placed  at  the 
bridge,  which  covered  the  causeway  across  the  meadows.  They  then 
bore  to  the  left  and  crossed  the  river  on  Thompson's  bridge,  on  the 
old  Derby  road,  at  the  present  village  of  Westville.  A  bridge  at  that 
point  was  first  built  in  1702,  for  the  use  of  footmen  and  soon  after  was 
changed  to  a  cart  bridge.  It  is  probable  that  those  using  the  Derby 
path  earlier  than  this  were  obliged  to  ford  the  stream,  and  that  means 
of  crossing  was  used  many  years  later,  at  other  points  on  the  stream. 

We  have  seen  how  the  main  roads  of  the  county  developed  from 
foot  and  bridle  paths  until  some  of  them  were  accepted  po.st  roads, 
and  as  such  received  more  care  than  others.  In  1767  the  general 
assembly  ordered  the  selectmen  to  set  up  milestones  on  these  colonial 
roads,  showing  the  distance  from  the  county  towns  and  in  other  ways 
directed  their  improvement,  but  without  securing  many  beneficial 
results.  Many  of  the  roads  through  the  country  towns  remained 
neglected  on  account  of  the  lack  of  means  to  improve  them,  and  the 
work  of  placing  them  in  a  better  condition  or  of  creating  a  better  class 
of  new  thoroughfares,  was  left  for  the  turnpike  companies,  of  which  a 
number  were  incorporated  to  build  in  this  county,  between  the  years 
1795  and  1825.  The  movement  in  favor  of  these  improved  thorough- 
fares was  especially  strong  in  Litchfield  count}-,  which,  unlike  New 
Haven  did  not  have  the  advantage  of  communication  b}-  water  and 
found  it  difficult  to  transport  its  products.  The  second  turnpike  com- 
pany in  the  state  was  chartered  in  1795,  to  build  a  toll  road  from 
Woodbury  to  John  Wooster's  house  at  Rimmon  Falls,  at  that  time  in 
Derby,  but  now  Seymour.  It  was  located  through  Southbury  Main 
street,  thence  across  the  hills  to  Southford  and  Oxford  village  and 
down  the  Little  river  to  the  point  named.  The  road  was  not  fully 
completed  until  1800,  and  was  popularly  known  in  the  section  as  the 
Oxford  turnpike.  It  was  maintained  as  a  toll  road  about  half  a 
century;  but  the  eastern  section,  in  later  years,  became  a  plank  road 
on  which  toll  was  charged  until  within  a  few  years  ago.  On  account 
of  the  relation  of  this  road  to  a  scope  of  countr}-  long  without  railroads, 
it  remained  for  a  long  time  the  principal  highway  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  Near  the  same  time  (1801)  the  Rimmon  Falls  Turnpike  Com- 
pany built  a  road  six  miles  in  length,  through  the  then  upper  part 
of  Derby  and  the  southern  part  of  Woodbridge  to  Thompson's  bridge, 
at  Hotchkisstown,  now  Westville,  by  means  of  which  entrance  was 
^  secured  into  New  Haven,  after  joining  the  "Straits"  turnpike. 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUXTV.  47 

The  latter  turnpike  was  built  by  a  compan}'  chartered  in  October, 
1797,  to  build  from  New  Haven  court  house  to  Litchfield  court  house, 
a  distance  of  36  miles.  It  passed  through  the  eastern  part  of  Wood- 
bridge,  along  ^lill  river,  thence  northwest  through  Bethan}-  to  the 
waters  of  Beacon  brook  and  through  the  defile  of  that  stream,  between 
the  present  towns  of  Beacon  Falls  and  Xaugatuck,  commonly  called 
the  "Straits,"*  from  which  the  road  took  its  name.  At  that  place  a 
hamlet  now  sprung  up  which  was  called  Straitsville.  From  the  latter 
place  the  turnpike  followed  the  old  county  road  iintil  near  Xaugatuck 
village,  when  a  more  direct  line  was  taken  to  Salem  Bridge,  where  the 
river  was  crossed  and  the  road  passed  upon  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  through  Middlebury  into  Watertown  and  points  beyond.  A 
futile  effort  was  made  to  have  the  road  built  upon  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  from  Salem  Bridge  to  Waterbury,  but  the  influence  of  Water- 
town  was  too  strong  to  permit  the  change  of  route.  Subsequently  a 
turnpike  was  built  from  Waterbury  to  Xaugatuck,  where  a  junction 
was  made  with  the  "Straits"  turnpike:  and  still  later  another  turn- 
pike was  built  from  the  Salem  bridge  to  Humphreysville,  also  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  where  connection  was  made  with  the  Oxford  and 
Rimmon  Falls  turnpikes.  The  "Straits"  turnpike  and  its  lateral 
branches  were  very  much  used  until  the  completion  of  the  Xaugatuck 
Valley  railway,  in  1849.  It  was  the  first  road  of  that  nature  built  into 
the  citv  of  Xew  Haven,  and  its  course  northwest  continues  one  of  the 
main  public  highways. 

The  Derby  Turnpike  was  another  of  these  improved  highways, 
from  the  northwest.  The  company  was  chartered  in  1798,  to  build 
from  Derby  Landing  to  Xew  Haven,  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  and 
there  is  a  well  accepted  tradition  that  one  of  the  hopes  of  the  builders 
was  that  by  this  means  traffic  from  the  east  might  be  diverted  to 
Derby  Landing,  which  at  that  time  smartly  rivaled  Xew  Haven  as  a 
shipping  point.  Instead,  however,  of  this  being  the  case  its  projectors 
liad  the  mortification  of  seeing  long  lines  of  teams  pass  by  their  ware- 
houses to  Xew  Haven,  which  under  the  stimulus  of  the  turnpike 
system  was  now  greatly  prospering. +  The  building  of  the  Derby 
turnpike  through  the  northern  part  of  Milford  mow  Orange)  was 
strongly  opposed  by  the  inhabitants  of  that  town,  who  protested  that 
it  was  not  just  to  use  their  highways  for  that  purpose.  The  main  part 
of  the  road,  however,  has  been  maintained  since  1802,  when  it  was 
completed,  and  it  now  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  turn- 
pike in  the  state.  Since  the  completion  of  the  Derby  railroad  in  1871, 
its  use  has  been  greatly  abridged.  Although  having  only  a  small 
mileage,  it  still  serves  a  useful  purpose. 

In  the  same  period  the  Milford  turnpike  was  completed.     It  entered 

*  Also  spelled  in  some  records  Streights  and  Straights,  but,  no  doubt,  in- 
accurately. 

+  See  History  of  Derby. 


48  HISTORY    OF   N[-:\V    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  city  of  New  Haven  by  way  of  the  West  bridge  and  West  lane, 
which  course  was  confirmed  to  it  by  the  general  assembly  in  1804. 
Forming  as  it  did  a  part  of  the  great  post  line  to  New  York  it  was  for 
many  years  a  very  important  improvement.  In  this  county  it  passed 
through  the  present  towns  of  Orange  and  Milford,  after  leaving  New 
Haven,  and  passed  out  of  the  county  over  Washington  bridge,  across 
the  Housatonic.  It  declined  soon  after  the  completion  of  the  New 
York  &  New  Haven  railway. 

The  Cheshire  Turnpike  Company  was  also  chartered  in  ISOO,  and 
liberty  was  granted  to  build  from  New  Haven  through  the  present 
towns  of  Hamden  and  Cheshire  to  Southington.  At  Whitney  lake  an 
intersection  was  made  with  the  Hartford  turnpike,  the  road  to  that 
place  being  kept  up  at  the  joint  expense  of  the  two  companies.  The 
Cheshire  pike  was  much  used  until  1848,  forming  a  part  of  a  main  line 
of  travel  north  and  east,  after  passing  into  Hartford  county,  and  now 
constitutes  one  of  the  best  public  highways  in  the  central  part  of  this 
county. 

But  perhaps  the  most  important  turnpike  was  the  one  built  by  the 
Hartford  &  New  Haven  Turnpike  Company,  which  received  its 
charter  in  1798.  Among  its  projectors  were  men  of  wealth,  influence 
and  enterprise,  James  Hillhouse  becoming  the  president  of  the  com- 
pany soon  after  its  organization.  The  length  of  this  road  was  nearly 
35  miles  and  originally  it  extended  north  through  Mill  lane  (now 
Orange  street)  to  the  old  grist  mill,  at  Whitneyville,  thence  northeast 
toward  the  Quinnipiac,  passing  up  the  west  side  of  that  stream  and 
leaving  Wallingford  well  to  the  right,  but  passing  through  Yalesville 
and  Meriden  center,  and  thence  into  Hartford  county.  For  a  number 
of  years  it  was  a  great  stage  route  but  rapidly  lost  its  importance  after 
the  completion  of  the  railroad,  in  1839,  whose  course  is  almost 
parallel. 

The  success  of  these  turnpikes  encouraged  the  formation  of  other 
companies  to  build  to  points  on  the  east.  In  1813  was  chartered  the 
Middletown,  Durham  &  New  Haven  Turnpike  Company,  and  the 
following  year  the  road  was  completed.  It  entered  the  city  of  New 
Haven  by  means  of  the  long  causeway  across  the  Quinnipiac  meadows 
and  the  bridge  there  (called  at  this  time  Lewis')  and  was  a  very  desir- 
able road  to  the  localities  named.  At  an  intermediate  point  it  was 
intersected  by  the  Guilford  &  Durham  turnpike,  and  travel  from  the 
Pettipaug  turnpike  was  also  poured  into  it.  But  it  never  attained  the 
importance  of  some  of  the  other  roads. 

Several  companies  were  chartered  to  build  turnpikes  ea.st,  near  the 
shore,  but  they  were  never  successfully  organized.  And,  indeed,  it 
was  hardly  necessary  as  the  nature  of  the  soil  in  that  locality  made 
the  construction  of  good  roads  an  easy  matter.  In  later  years  a  turn- 
pike  was   constructed    from    Middletown    to  Waterbury,  by  way  of 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  49 

Meriden,  but  it  failed  to  meet  the  expectations  of  those  interested  and 
was  not  maintained  many  years. 

The  effect  of  these  roads  upon  some  parts  of  the  county,  however, 
was  very  marked  and  beneficial,  and  they  may  be  credited  with  intro- 
ducing the  era  of  increased  travel  and  business  activity  in  all  of  the 
principal  towns  to  which  they  were  built.  By  uniting  with  other 
systems  comparatively  easy  communication  was  established  with 
nearly  all  the  chief  points  in  the  county.  How  extensive  were  these 
ramifications  is  shown  from  an  extract  from  President  Dwight's 
writings,  in  1814,  when  the  foregoing  six  turnpikes  were  in  use  ; 

"One  through  Berlin,  and  by  a  branch  through  Aliddletown,  also 
to  Hartford,  and  thence  in  four  different  ways  to  Boston,  &c.;  another 
to  Farmington,  and  thence  through  Litchfield  to  Albany,  and  thence 
to  Niagara,  and  by  branch  to  Hudson  and  Catskill,  and  thence  to  the 
Susquehannah  River,  &c.:  by  another  branch  up  Naugatuc  River 
through  Waterbury  and  Norfolk  to  vStockbridge  and  Albany:  the 
fourth  through  Humphreysville  to  Southbury,  and  thence  to  Cornwall; 
the  fifth  through  Derby  to  New  Milford;  the  sixth  to  Stratford  Ferry 
and  thence  to  New  York."* 

The  introduction  of  the  .steamboat  m  ISlo,  and  the  establishment 
of  many  lines  of  stages  in  connection  aided  largely  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county.  New  Haven  and  the  coast  towns  especially  were 
quickened  by  these  influences,  which  attracted  population  and  many 
industries.  Meantime,  the  resources  of  the  interior  of  the  state  and 
the  hill  towns  of  this  county  demanded  other  methods  of  transporta- 
tion than  the  limited  capacity  of  the  freight  wagon:  and  as  the 
canal  was  at  that  time  in  great  favor  elsewhere,  it  was  strongly  urged 
as  an  improvement  which  would  prove  equally  useful  in  this  county. 
The  discussion  of  the  matter,  several  3'ears,  led  to  the  incorporation 
of  the  Farmington  Canal  Company,  in  1822,  which  was  authorized  to 
build  a  water  way  for  boats  from  the  state  line,  through  Farmington 
to  New  Haven.  The  subscription  books  were  opened  the  following 
year  and  many  of  New  Haven's  business  men  were  active  in  the  sup- 
port of  the  measure:  James  Hillhouse,  Henry  Farnam  and  Joseph 
E.  Sheffield,  three  of  the  leading  men  of  New  Haven,  being  especially 
active  in  its  promotion  and  served  as  officers  of  the  companj'.  In 
1825  a  final  survey  of  the  route  to  be  taken  was  made  by  Judge 
Benjamin  Wright,  of  New  York,  when  it  was  determined  to  come 
down  the  valley  of  Mill  river  rather  than  along  the  Quinnipiac,  where 
some  had  projected  the  line.  On  the  4th  of  July,  1825,  the  work  of 
construction  was  commenced  and  was  vigorously  pushed  forward 
under  the  superintendence  of  James  Hillhouse.  But  progress  was 
slow  and  the  canal  was  not  completed  to  Farmington  until  three  years 
later.  Two  years  earlier,  in  1826,  with  a  view  of  making  the  canal  a 
more  important  thoroughfare  the  stocks  of  the  Farmington   Company 

*  Dwight's  Travels,  Vol.  I.,  p.  197. 
4 


50  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COQNTV. 

and  those  of  the  Hampshire  &  Hampden  Company,  in  Massachusetts, 
had  been  blended,  and  Northampton  on  the  Connecticut  river  was 
selected  as  the  northern  terminus.  To  that  point  the  canal  was  com- 
pleted after  much  trouble  and  many  vicissitudes  of  fortune  in  1S:^0, 
Henry  Farnam  last  serving  as  chief  engineer,  and  James  Goodrich 
being  the  president  of  the  company. 

The  canal  fairly  served  the  purposes  of  the  builders,  but  at  best 
was  never  a  paying  enterprise,  when  extraordinary  losses,  caused  by 
freshets,  practically   bankrupted  the  foregoing  companies.     With  a 
depleted    treasury  and  an  impaired  credit,   nothing  could  save  the 
property  but  the  reorganization  of  the  companies.     This  was  done  in 
1836,    when  the  management  passed    to    the    New   Haven    &    Nor- 
thampton Company,  which  liquidated  the  debts  of  the  old  companies 
and  had  left,  on  the  basis  of  the  new  organization,  about  $120,000  as  a 
working  capital.     But  even    this  was    soon   exhausted  in    repairing 
other  damages  by  freshets  and  the  new  company  soon  found  itself  in 
financial  straits.     In  this  emergency  the  credit  of  the  company  was 
sustained  by  the  city  of  New  Haven,  which  in  1840  relinquished  its 
claims  for  loans  made,  and  agreed  to  pay  $3,000  per  year  for  a  term  of 
years,  for  so  much   of  the  water  as  it  would  need  for  domestic  use. 
With  this  assistance  the  cost  of  operation  was  met  by  the  receipts 
until  1843,  when  another  freshet  inflicted  damages  to  the  extent  of 
$20,000  and  the  company  again  found  itself  in  a  crippled  condition, 
notwithstanding   the    increase   of    patronage   consequent    upon    the 
establishment  of   business  communication  between  New  York  city, 
Vermont  and   New   Hampshire,  by  means  of  this  canal,  had  greatly 
augmented  its  traffic.     Another  impetus  to  the  use  of  the  canal  had 
been  given  in  1838,  when  a  line  of  packet  boats  was  placed  on  it  by 
Nathaniel  A.  Bacon  and  others.     They  were  gayly  painted  and  com- 
fortable in  their  arrangements,  which  permitted  the  trip  from  New 
Haven  to  Northampton  to  be  made  with  considerable  ease  and  in  26 
hours  time.     But  the  success  of  the  railroad  had  doomed  the  future 
of  the  canal,  and  as  early  as  1845,  the  stockholders  contemplated  the 
abandonment  of  the  water  way  and  the  change  to  a  railway.     At  the 
instance  of  Superintendent  Farnam,  Alexander  C.  Twining  made  a 
survey  along  the  route  for  a  railway,  which  was  found  to  be  so  feasible 
that  in  February,  1846,  the  directors  of  the  canal  were  instructed  to 
petition   for  a  charter.     This  was  .secureditafcd,  in  January,  1847,  the 
work  of  building  a  railroad  was  commenced.     The  canal  was  soon 
after  abandoned,  except  a  portion  in  the  townpf  Hamden,  which  was 
kept  up  longer  on  account  of  its  water  supply.     From  first  to  last  this 
enterprise  caused  a  loss  to  those  who  had  become  interested  of  more 
than  a  million  of  dollars.     Its  principal  compensatmg  effects  were  the 
creation  of  several  new  water  powers,  in  Hamden  and  in  New  Haven. 
In  the  latter  place  the  channel  of  a  sluggish  little  creek  was  improved 
for  a  canal  bed  and  where  is  now  the  city  market  house,  a  large  brick 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  51 

grist  mill  was  erected  in  1836,  which  obtained  its  power  from  the 
canal.  This  spot  was  later  selected  for  the  depot  of  the  railway  com- 
panies and  was  used  until  the  consolidation  of  interests  and  increased 
traffic  demanded  larger  facilities  in  new  buildings.  In  New  Haven 
county  the  canal  passed  almost  centrally,  from  .south  to  north,  through 
New  Haven,  Hamden  and  Cheshire,  and  those  towns  most  directly 
shared  its  benefits. 

After  di.scussing  the  propriety  of  building  a  railway  to  connect 
Hartford  and  New  Haven  from  1830  for  .several  years,  in  which  a 
number  of  absurd  propositions  were  considered,  a  practical  result  was 
obtained  in  May,  1833,  when  the  general  assembly  chartered  the 
Hartford  &  New  Haven  Railroad  Company.  James  Brewster  pre- 
sented the  memorial  and  was  named  as  one  of  the  corporators.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  early  mainstays  of  the  company.  The  capital 
stock  was  fixed  at  but  S500,(X)(),  with  privilege  to  increase  to  Sl.<'0(),oOO, 
and  was  to  be  exempt  from  taxation  until  the  profits  of  the  company- 
should  permit  the  payment  of  a  dividend  of  five  per  cent,  per  annum. 
Several  years  were  consumed  in  effecting  an  organization  and  in 
making  surveys,  under  the  direction  of  A.  C.  Twining;  and  it  was 
not  until  April,  1836,  that  a  section  was  located  for  construction— the 
block  of  eighteen  miles  from  New  Haven  to  Meriden.  In  locating 
its  route  the  company  had  some  difficulty  in  selectmg  what  was 
deemed  the  proper  course.  Three  main  routes  were  considered:  the 
eastern,  by  way  of  Middletown;  the  western,  through  New  Britain, 
and  the  middle,  through  Wallingford  and  Meriden  Center.  The 
latter  was  selected  to  the  great  di.sgust  of  the  competing  towns,  but 
even  then  some  obstacles  were  encountered.  Some  non-progre.ssive 
citizens  interposed  such  serious  objections  that  the  survey  was  finally 
located  through  West  Meriden.*  In  a  general  way  the  course  is  along 
the  old  Colony  road  to  the  Hartford  line.  The  .Meriden  section  was 
completed  in  1838,  under  the  direction  of  engineer  E.  H.  Brodhead, 
and  for  a  year  that  village  was  the  northern  terminus.  In  this  period 
the  second  section  was  built,  the  first  train  running  into  Hartford 
December  14th,  1839. 

By  the  terms  of  the  charter  the  New  Haven  terminus  was  fixed  at 
the  west  end  of  Tomlinson  bridge,  which  property  and  franchises  had 
been  purchased  by  those  interested  in  the  railway  company.  A 
wharf  was  completed  before  1839,  for  the  landing  of  steamboats,  by 
which  means  direct  communication  to  New  York  was  established. 
For  a  number  of  years  that  arrangement  was  maintained,  the  pas.sen- 
ger  station  being  at  that  point;  and  to  this  day  a  con.siderable  freight 
traffic  is  transacted  at  the  warehouses  of  the  company  on  Tomlinson's 
wharves  and  at  other  slips  on  New  Haven  harbor,  in  connection  with 
vessels  sailing  to  all  parts  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  A  very  large  pro- 
portion of  the  coal  and  lumber  trade  is  thus  handled. 

*See  sketch  of  Meriden. 


52  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  Hartford  &  New  Haven  Company  acquired  a  number  of 
extensions  and  lateral  lines,  by  purchase  or  by  consolidation.  In 
1847  it  absorbed  the  Springfield  &  Hartford  road  and  subsequently 
the  Middletown,  New  Britain  and  Windsor  Locks  extensions,  which 
much  increased  its  usefulness  and  importance.  Through  its  influence 
the  northeastern  part  of  the  county  was  rapidly  developed  and  much 
business  created  at  Wallingford  and  at  Meriden,  where  fine  stations 
are  maintained. 

We  have  stated  that  the  success  of  the  Hartford  railway  induced 
the  proprietors  of  the  canal  to  decide  to  convert  their  property  into  a 
railway,  to  be  built  on  or  near  the  tow  path.  Accordingly  an  amend- 
atory act  was  secured  in  1846,  to  incorporate  the  Farmington  Canal 
Railroad,  under  which  the  road  was  built  by  the  old  company.  It  was 
completed  to  Plainville  in  January,  1848.  A  purpose  to  build  an 
extension  to  Waterbury  from  some  point  in  Cheshire  was  defeated,  it 
was  supposed,  in  the  interests  of  rival  railway  companies,  projected 
about  the  same  time.  Soon  after  it  was  built  it  was  leased  for  a  term 
of  years  to  the  New  York  &  New  Haven  Company,  and  under  that 
management,  it  was  forced  into  a  subordinate  position,  in  which  there 
was  no  development  and  the  property  became  much  dilapitated. 
Through  the  sale  of  stock  the  company  passed  under  the  present  con- 
trol in  1881,  and  as  the  Northampton  division  of  the  consolidated 
roads,  the  old  Canal  railway  has  been  greatly  improved  and  its  useful- 
ness extended.  Cheshire  and  Mt.  Carmel  are  the  principal  stations 
in  the  county  outside  of  New  Haven  city. 

The  New  York  &  New  Haven  Railroad  Company  was  chartered  by 
the  general  a.s.sembly  of  Connecticut,  in  1844,  to  build  a  railway  be- 
tween the  points  named.  The  New  York  legislature  failed  to  grant  a 
sanctioning  charter,  but  after  some  effort  an  agreement  was  reached 
with  the  Harlem  railroad,  which  secured  the  right  to  enter  into  New 
York  city  by  that  line.  In  May,  1846,  the  New  Haven  company  was 
authorized  to  form  a  connection  with  the  Harlem  road,  in  the  locality 
of  Williams  Bridge.  The  whole  of  the  capital  stock  was  subscribed 
in  1846,  and  the  location  of  the  route  was  approved  the  following 
spring.  The  work  of  construction  was  now  actively  begun  by  Alfred 
Bishop  and  S.  G.  Miller,  who  had  a  number  of  sub-contractors  working 
at  different  points  simultaneously.  A  small  army  of  Irishmen  was 
employed  as  workmen,  and  a  large  proportion  remained  and  became 
citizens  of  the  county.  On  the  28th  of  December,  1848,  the  road  was 
so  far  completed  that  cars  began  running  into  New  Haven  and  soon 
after  a  regular  train  service  was  established.  Ground  was  leased  of 
the  canal  company,  below  Chapel  street,  upon  which  (for  those  times) 
an  elaborate  depot  was  erected,  in  1849.  In  May,  the  same  year,  the 
Hartford  &  New  Haven  railroad  also  began  running  its  trains  into 
this  depot  and  a  through  service  was  now  established.  This  building 
was  used  until  1874,  when  the  present  commodious  and  well  arranged 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  53 

station,  at  the  foot  of  Meadow  street,  was  occupied.  It  .stands  on 
ground  which  has  been  reclaimed  out  of  New  Haven  harbor,  and  the 
yards  on  one  side  extend  to  that  body  of  water.  Here  more  than 
seventy  trains  from  all  parts  of  the  East,  North  and  West,  arrive  and 
depart  daily,  and  fourteen  trains  per  day  will  quickly  bear  the  pas- 
sengers to  New  York  city,  distant  73  miles. 

It  is  said  that  business  increa.sed  so  rapidly,  on  the  completion  of 
the  New  York  road,  that  the  managers  found  it  difficult  to  supply 
cars  fast  enough  and  that  there  were  soon  four  trains  each  way.  A 
great  impetus  was  also  given  to  all  kinds  of  business  and  many  new 
enterprises  were  begun  along  the  railroad.  Soon  after  occurred  two 
events  in  the  history  of  the  road  which  checked  its  prosperity  and 
which  brought  sorrow  and  distress  to  many  a  home.  The  first  was 
the  "  Norwalk  Disaster,"  May  6th,  185'S.  An  express  train  from  New 
York  heavily  laden  with  passengers,  many  being  distinguished  physi- 
cians returning  from  a  medical  convention  held  in  New  York,  pa.ssed 
the  station  without  stopping  and  plunged  through  an  open  draw  into 
the  Norwalk  river.  Car  followed  car,  in  the  fearful  leap,  piling  on  or 
crashing  into  each  other,  killing  44  persons  outright  and  injuring 
others  so  seriously  that  death  soon  ensued  or  left  them  crippled  for 
life.  It  was  a  dreadful  scene  and  produced  great  excitement,  as  many 
of  the  men  killed  were  widely  known  and  their  loss  was  greatly 
mourned.  The  company  was  put  to  great  expense  to  .settle  the  claims 
arising  from  this  calamity,  which  involved  in  one  form  or  another 
nearly  half  a  million  of  dollars.  Naturally  a  suspension  of  dividends 
followed  which  gave  the  opportunity  for  the  second  calamity — the 
perpetration  of  the  great  "Schuyler  Fraud."  From  the  time  the 
company  was  organized  Robert  Schuyler  was  the  trusted  president 
and  agent  of  the  company  and  was  ranked  among  the  foremost  of 
New  York's  capitalists.  His  great  credit  and  honorable  position  gave 
him  the  opportunity  to  carrj'  out  his  selfish  scheme,  which  was  the 
overissue  of  the  stock  of  the  company  to  the  amount  of  §1,000,000  and 
selling  the  same,  as  a  pledge  of  collateral  securit)-,  through  the  bank- 
ing house  of  R.  &  G.  L.  Schuyler.  Hundreds  of  per.sons  bought  these 
stocks  in  good  faith  and  the  settlement  with  those  holding  them  in- 
volved lone  and  tedious  litigation.  In  most  cases  a  satisfactorv  settle- 
ment  was  made  by  giving  the  holders  one  good  for  two  spurious 
shares  of  stock,  thus  making  the  holders  and  the  company  equal  losers 
in  this  unfortunate  affair.  On  the  di.scovery  of  this  swindle,  Schuyler 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  company,  July  3d,  1854,  exonerating  his  brother 
and  then,  it  is  supposed,  fled  from  the  country,  and  it  is  believed  that 
he  soon  after  died  abroad. 

Under  these  adverse  circumstances  the  company  labored  many 
years,  but  under  the  presidency  of  William  D.  Bishop,  which  began  in 
1867  and  continued  twelve  years,  the  present  consolidated  system  was 
begun  and  carried  to  completion  by  his  successor,  George  H.  Watrous, 


54  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

until  this  has  become  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  successful  railway 
corporations  in  the  Union.  By  the  action  of  both  companies  the  New- 
York  &  New  Haven  and  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  companies  were, 
on  the  Cth  of  August,  1872,  merged  as  a  body  corporate  under  the 
name  of  the  New  York,  New  Haven  &  Hartford  Railroad  Company, 
by  which  title  the  consolidated  roads  have  since  been  known.  vSince 
November  1st,  1870,  the  Shore  Line  railway  has  been  a  part  of  the 
system,  by  lease;  the  Canal  road  since  1881,  by  purchase;  and  the 
Boston  &  New  York  Air  Line,  by  lease  since  1879,  and  by  purchase 
since  1882.  A  few  years  ago  the  Naugatuck  railroad  also  passed 
under  the  management  of  this  system,  which  thus  includes  all  the  rail- 
ways of  the  county  except  a  few  named  in  the  following  pages.  In 
1890  the  president  of  the  corporation  was  Charles  P.  Clark,  and  the 
general  offices  were  maintained  at  New  Haven,  which  is  the  center  of 
the  system. 

The  Naugatuck  Railroad  Company  was  chartered  in  1843,  to  build 
a  railroad  in  the  Naugatuck  valley  •'  from  some  suitable  point  in  the 
town  of  Plymouth,  or  in  the  town  of  Waterbury,  to  Derby  and  thence 
to  the  city  of  New  Haven,  or  to  the  town  of  Milford,or  to  the  town  of 
Bridgeport."  The  road,  as  is  elsewhere*  related,  was  completed  to 
Waterbury,  June  11th,  1849,  and  to  Winsted  September  24th,  1849. 
The  southern  terminus  is  practically  at  Bridgeport,  but  in.stead  of 
building  a  line  from  Derby  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  to  that  place, 
as  was  at  one  time  contemplated,  a  junction  was  made  with  the  New 
York  &  New  Haven  railroad  on  the  east  side  of  the  Housatonic 
bridge,  and  its  lines  are  used  to  Bridgeport.  The  Naugatuck  road 
more  than  anv  other  one  agent  has  been  the  means  of  making  the 
valley  what  it  now  is,  a  bu.stling,  thriving  hive  of  industry.  In  this 
county  well  patronized  stations  are  maintained  at  Derby,  Ansonia, 
Seymour,  Beacon  Falls,  Naugatuck,  Union  City  and  Waterbury.  The 
road  has  the  distinction  of  passing  through  the  most  picturesque  part 
of  the  county,  and  its  High  Rock  Park,  in  the  town  of  Beacon  Falls, 
has  become  a  popular  resort. 

The  Shore  Line  Division  of  the  Consolidated  System  is  the  out- 
growth of  the  New  Haven  &  New  London  Railroad  Company,  char- 
tered in  1848,  to  construct  a  road  between  the  points  named,  and  by 
uniting  with  an  eastern  road  to  New  London  produce  a  shore  line 
to  Boston.  After  some  delay  in  organizing  the  company  proceeded 
to  build  and  the  road  was  opened  to  the  Connecticut  river  July  22d, 
1852.  In  1856  the  above  lines  were  consolidated  under  the  name  of 
the  New  Haven,  New  London  &  .Stonington  Railroad  Company,  under 
which  title  operations  were  carried  on  until  June,  18(34,  when  the  com- 
pany was  re-organized  under  the  name  of  the  Shore  Line  Railway. 
The  road  never  had  proper  terminal  facilities  at  New  Haven  and  failed 
to  meet  the  expectations  of  its  builders.     Hence  it  was  leased,  Novem- 

*  See  accounts  of  the  Naugatuck  Valley  towns. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  55 

ber  1st,  1870,  to  the  New  York,  New  Flaven  &  Hartford  Compan}-,  at 
an  annual  rental  of  $1()(),()00,  and  has  since  become  a  pleasant  and 
important  thoroughfare  to  Boston.  This  line  has  also  aided  in  the 
development  of  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county  and  stations  are 
maintained  in  all  the  towns  through  which  it  pas.ses:  East  Haven, 
Madison,  Guilford  and  Branford.  In  Branford  village  one  of  the 
finest  stations  in  all  southern  Connecticut  has  lately  been  erected  to 
accommodate  the  heavy  travel,  consequent  upon  visits  to  the  summer 
resorts  along  the  coast. 

The  other  road  of  the  Consolidated  System  is  known  as  the  Boston 
&  New  York  Air  Line.  It  is,  in  New  Haven  county,  located  through 
the  towns  of  North  Haven  and  Wallingford  and  has  a  direct  north- 
ea.sterly  course  to  Middletown.  It  was  partially  completed  in  August, 
187(1,  but  was  not  in  thorough  running  order  until  1873.  Its  construc- 
tion, owing  to  the  opposition  of  rival  roads,  was  attended  with  much 
difficult}-,  the  project  having  been  under  way  since  184(3.  when  a  com- 
pany was  chartered  to  build  a  road  in  that  course.  A  charter  to  an- 
other company  in  1855  was  also  unproductive  of  the  desired  results, 
although  considerable  work  was  done.  Under  a  third  charter,  granted 
in  1867,  the  road  was  completed  by  the  New  Haven,  Middletown  & 
Willimantic  Railroad  Company,  whose  franchises  were  sold  imder 
foreclosure  in  1875,  when  the  Air  Line  company  succeeded  to  the 
ownership.  As  has  been  stated  it  was  leased  in  1879,  for  99  j^ears,  to 
the  Consolidated  road  and  as  part  of  that  great  system  has  greatly  in- 
creased in  importance.  The  towns  named  have  been  provided  with 
shipping  facilities,  two  stations  being  maintained  in  North  Haven  and 
one  in  Wallingford. 

The  railroads  in  the  county  not  managed  by  the  foregoing  corpora- 
tion are  the  Meriden,  Waterbury  &  Connecticut  River,  the  New 
Haven  &  Derby,  and  the  New  England  roads.  The  first  is  largely 
a  Meriden  enterprise  and  is  fully  noted  in  a  sketch  of  that  town  in 
this  book.  It  extends  from  Cromwell,  on  the  Connecticut  river, 
through  Meriden  to  Waterbury.  At  the  former  place  facilities  are 
afforded  for  transporting  freight  by  water.  It  has  been  but  recently 
built  but  has  already  become  a  valuable  link  between  two  of  the  most 
thriving  cities  in  the  count}*,  and  will  add  to  the  prosperity  ot  the 
northern  section  of  New  Haven.  Its  route  in  New  Haven  is  through 
]\Ieriden,  Cheshire,  Prospect  and  Waterbury.  In  each  town  shipping 
facilities  are  provided. 

The  New  England  railroad  extends  through  the  northwestern  part 
of  the  county,  after  passing  through  the  city  of  Waterbury,  having  a 
general  southwesterly  course.  It  thus  passes  through  the  towns  of 
Naugatuck,  Middlebury,  Oxford  and  Southbury,  affording  railway 
communications  to  towns  long  deprived  of  them.  The  extension 
from  Waterbury  west  to  the  Hud.son  river  was  completed  in  1881. 

The  New   Haven  &  Derby  railroad,  as  completed  in  July,  1871, 


56  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

seven  years  after  the  companj^  was  incorporated,  was  but  thirteen 
miles  in  length.  It  extended  from  New  Hnven  through  the  town  of 
Orange,  to  Ansonia.  In  the  past  few  years,  however,  this  road  has 
become  a  part  of  the  Housatonic  system  and  has  been  extended  by 
that  corporation  to  its  main  line  at  Botsford  and  forms  part  of  their 
through  line  to  the  West.  Its  importance  to  the  county  has  thus  been 
greatly  increased  and  New  Haven,  which  liberally  subsidized  the 
company,  has  in  a  measure  been  compensated  by  an  outlet  independent 
of  the  associated  roads  in  the  other  system. 

Of  the  26  towns  in  the  county  all  have  railways  within  their  bounds 
except  Bethany,  North  Branford,  Wolcott  and  Woodbridge.  But  the 
center  of  any  of  these  towns  is  within  six  miles  of  a  railway  station 
and  no  section  of  the  county  is  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  world  b}' 
lack  of  proper  communication. 

Military  training  was  one  of  the  features  of  the  social  life  of  the 
colonists.  From  the  beginning  they  were  apprehensive  of  a  possible 
Indian  attack,  which  induced  them  to  take  all  the  precaution  at  their 
command.  Every  male  citizen,  between  the  ages  of  16  and  60,  who 
was  capable  of  bearing  arras,  except  such  as  were  excused,  was 
required  to  train  for  military  service.  For  many  years  soldiers  were 
on  duty  every  night  and  every  Sunday  one-fourth  of  those  in  the 
"  train  band  "  were  paraded  before  the  meeting  house,  thus  passing 
each  soldier  in  review  once  a  month.  Thrice  in  the  spring  and  the 
same  number  of  times  in  the  fall  every  arms-bearing  man  was  required 
to  turn  out  at  the  general  training.  These  wei-e  occasions  of  great 
interest  and  the  training  was  witnessed  by  nearly  the  entire  popula- 
tion of  each  plantation.  In  consequence  of  this  general  military  ser- 
vice many  of  the  early  planters  bore  the  titles  of  officers,  which  con- 
ve3-ed  the  idea  of  honorable  distinction  and  were  almost  invariabh- 
used  in  speaking  of  them,  or  in  recording  their  names  in  public  or 
church  affairs.  At  New  Haven,  Nathaniel  Turner  was  the  first  captain 
of  the  "  trained  band,"  and  Robert  Seeley  was  the  lieutenant.  There 
were  usually  four  sergeants,  each  of  whom  commanded  a  squadron. 
The  market  place  or  green  was  generally  the  appointed  place  for  the 
training.  The  arms  at  first  were  muskets,  pistols  and  swords.  The 
ammunition  was  carried  in  bandoleers — a  sort  of  leather  belt,  with 
pockets,  which  was  slung  across  the  shoulder. 

In  1644,  liberty  was  granted  to  begin  an  artillery  company,  which 
was  completely  organized  in  March,  1645,  when  it  was  accepted  into 
service.  Richard  Malbon  was  the  first  captain.  Since  that  day  these 
two  arms  of  the  service  have  been  maintained  in  the  county.  Guil- 
ford, also,  very  early,  had  a  company  to  man  "  the  great  guns."  About 
this  time  the  available  force  of  the  towns  in  the  county  was  less  than 
200  men.  In  1653,  when  there  was  prospect  of  war  with  the  Dutch, 
two  pieces  of  artillery  were  placed  on  the  New  Haven  green  and  two 
more  were  mounted  at  the  harbor  so  as  to  command  the  inlet.     Later 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN"    COUNTY.  ;)7 

the  former  guns  were  placed  on  a  frigate,  which  was  to  cruise  along 
the  coast  from  Stamford  to  the  Connecticut  river.  This  was  the 
county's  first  naval  service. 

The  first  attempt  at  the  organization  of  the  cavalry  service  was 
made  in  1653.  when  it  was  ordered  by  the  jurisdiction  that  sixteen 
horses  should  be  provided  for  the  five  towns  in  the  colony. 

The  first  actual  service  of  any  troops  from  the  county  was  in  King 
Philip's  war,  commencing  in  the  fall  of  1675,  and  ending  with  the 
defeat  of  that  noted  chieftain,  August  12th,  1676.  Major  Robert  Treat, 
of  Milford,  was  in  command  of  the  Connecticut  forces,  which  rendez- 
voused at  New  London.  In  the  movement  against  the  Indians,  Gov- 
ernor Winslow.  of  Plymouth  colony,  was  at  the  head,  with  Treat 
second  in  command  of  the  limited  forces. 

In  the  fight  at  Xarragansett  Fort.  Connecticut  had  300  men  in  the 
engagement.  SO  of  whom  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  loss  included 
four  of  the  five  captains,  commanding  the  colony  troops.  The  meri- 
torious conduct  of  Major  Treat  in  this  campaign  no  doubt  secured  for 
him  his  election  as  governor,  some  years  later. 

In  1680  New  Haven  county  reported  623  trained  soldiers.  Seven- 
teen years  later  a  company  was  equipped  and  placed  under  command 
of  Captain  Ebenezer  Johnson,  of  Derby,  in  response  to  a  call  of  Gov- 
ernor Fletcher,  of  New  York,  where  an  attack  by  the  French  was 
feared.  The  organization  of  "  train  bands  "  was  continued,  with  the 
increase  of  population,  a  troop  of  horses  being  authorized  for  New 
Haven  in  1702.  In  1739  the  aggregate  number  of  trained  men  in  the 
county  was  2,302,  comprising  several  regiments.  The  county  fur- 
nished men  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars — 1755  to  1760 — her  quota 
always  being  promptl}'  supplied.  In  1774  the  first  company  in  the 
count}%  independent  of  the  colonial  militia,  was  formed.  It  was  called 
the  "Second  Company.  Governor's  Guard,"  the  first  having  been 
formed  at  Hartford  some  three  years  earlier.  The  New  Haven  com- 
pany soon  became  very  efficient  and  was  an  important  factor  in  the 
early  history  of  the  revolution. 

The  action  of  the  British  parliament,  in  passing  the  stamp  act  in 
1765,  greatly  excited  the  people  of  the  county.  This  feeling  was 
aggravated,  no  doubt,  by  the  action  of  one  of  her  citizens,  Jared  Inger- 
soll,  a  worthy  and  honorable  man,  who  accepted  the  office  of  "  stamp 
distributor"  for  the  colony.  A  meeting  was  held  at  New  Haven.  Sep- 
tember 17th,  1765,  when  Mr.  IngersoU  was  requested  to  resign  his 
office.  But  he  declined  to  do  so,  until  he  had  first  learned  what  were 
the  wishes  of  the  general  assembly  on  this  matter.  To  properly  ascer- 
tain them,  he  at  once  left  for  Hartford,  on  this  mission,  but  in  pa.ssing 
through  Wethersfield  he  was  subjected  to  so  many  indignities  that  he 
very  prudently  resigned,  no  doubt  preventing  personal  violence 
which  was  threatened.     From  this  time  on  .sentiment   against   British 


58  HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Oppression  was  steadily  cultivated  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  the 
preponderance  of  feeling  was  against  the  royalist  cause. 

At  this  time  there  was  living  at  New  Haven  an  apothecary  who 
became  an  important  figure  in  the  struggle  for  American  independ- 
ence which  followed,  and  had  he  been  less  avaricious  and  more  honor- 
able he  would  to-day  be  revered  as  a  distinguished  patriot  instead  of 
being  execrated  as  a  base  traitor.  Benedict  Arnold,  this  important 
personage  in  American  history,  was  born  at  Norwich,  January  3d, 
1740.  Coming  to  New  Haven  soon  after  he  had  attained  his  age,  he 
married  Margaret  Mansfield  at  her  father's  house,  on  Crown  street. 
As  early  as  1765  he  had  a  drug  and  general  trader's  store  at  New 
Haven,  first  on  George  street  and  later  on  Water  street.  The  sign 
which  indicated  his  place  of  business  is  .still  preserved,  and  may  be 
seen  in  the  rooms  of  the  New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society.  He 
was  shrewd  and  enerjj^etic  and  reached  out  in  trade  in  various  lines, 
being  part  owner,  also,  of  three  small  vessels — "  The  Fortune,"  "  Three 
Brothers,"  and  "  Charming  Sally,"  which  were  in  the  West  Indies 
trade.  The  scope  of  his  business  may  be  seen  from  the  following 
advertisement,  which  he  inserted  in  the  Connecticut  Gazette: 

"  Benedict  Arnold  wants  to  buy  a  number  of  large,  genteel,  fat 
horses,  pork,  oats  and  hay.  And  has  to  sell  choice  cotton  and  salt,  by 
quantity  or  retail;  and  other  goods  as  usual. 

New  Haven,  January  24,  1706." 

About  this  time  Arnold  got  into  trouble  with  one  of  the  crew  of 
the  vessel  in  which  he  himself  had  sailed  as  a  supercargo.  He  was 
accused  by  Peter  Boole,  the  seaman,  of  bringing  in  contraband  goods, 
whereupon  he  chastised  the  sailor  and  secured  a  retraction  by  force, 
with  a  promise  that  the  seaman  was  at  once  to  leave  town.  As  he  did 
not  do  this,  Arnold  made  up  a  party  and.  in  his  own  words:  "Took 
him  to  the  Whipping  Post,  where  he  received  near  forty  lashes  with  a 
small  cord  and  was  conducted  out  of  town;  since  which,  on  his  return,, 
the  affair  was  submitted  to  Colonel  David  Wooster  and  Mr.  Enos 
Allen  (gentlemen  of  reputed  good  judgment  and  understanding)  who 
were  of  opinion  that  the  fellow  was  not  whipped  too  much  and  gave 
him  50s.  damages  only." 

This  action  on  the  part  of  Arnold  was  censured  by  many,  so  that 
he  was  impelled  to  write  a  letter  to  the  public,  January  29th,  1766,  in 
which  he  endeavored  to  justify  his  conduct,  and  from  which  the  above 
extract  has  been  taken.  It  reveals  the  unscrupulous,  bold  and 
audacious  nature  of  the  man.  However,  by  reason  of  his  energy  he 
was,  in  the  course  of  the  next  ten  years  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  town  of  New  Haven,  and  was  placed  in  command  of 
the  Governor's  Guard.  No  doubt,  he  was,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
an  impulsive,  enthusiastic  patriot,  but  would  not  brook  any  restraint. 

The  battle  of  Lexington  was  fought  Wednesday,  April  19th,  1775. 
The  news  of  it  reached  New  Haven  Friday  noon,  April  21st,  and  ere- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  59 

ated  intense  excitement.  Captain  Benedict  Arnold  immediately  called 
out  his  company,  the  Governor's  Guard,  and  proposed  that  they  should 
at  once  start  for  Lexington  to  join  the  American  forces  as  volunteers. 
About  forty  of  the  men  consented  to  march  with  him.  He  requested 
the  town  authorities  to  furnish  them  the  desired  ammunition,  but  they 
refused  to  do  so.  The  next  morning  he  paraded  his  men  before  the 
council  chamber  and  forming  them  in  front  of  the  building  demanded 
the  ammunition  or  the  keys  of  the  powder  house,  or  he  would  order  the 
company  to  break  it  open  and  help  themselves.  This  threat  was 
heeded  and  the  required  ammunition  was  supplied,  after  Colonel  David 
Wooster,  of  the  colony  militia,  had  vainly  ejideavored  to  restrain  the 
impetuosity  of  the  young  man,  advising  him  to  wait  for  orders  from 
the  proper  authority  before  starting  for  the  scene  of  conflict.  Arnold 
answered  the  veteran  of  three  score  and  four  years :  "  None  but 
Almighty  God  shall  prevent  m}-  marching."* 

The  company  marched  immediately  and,  stopping  at  Wethersfield 
the  second  night,  received  many  attentions  from  the  inhabitants  of 
that  place.  The  guards  reached  the  headquarters  of  the  Massachu- 
setts forces,  at  Cambridge,  April  29th,  and  took  up  their  quarters  in  the 
deserted  mansion  of  Lieutenant  Governor  Oliver,  who  had  been 
obliged  to  flee  on  account  of  bis  attachment  to  the  cause  of  the  Briti.sh. 
The  Guards  were  uniformed  and  equipped  like  the  British  Life  Guard 
and  the  company  had  the  most  soldierly  appearance  of  all  the  Amer- 
ican forces.  On  one  occasion  the  men  were  complimented  by  a  British 
officer,  who  said  "  they  were  not  excelled  by  any  of  his  Majesty's 
troops."  After  remaining  at  Cambridge  about  three  weeks  most  of 
the  Guards  returned  to  New  Haven,  but  Captain  Arnold  having  been 
sent  by  General  Washington  with  a  force  of  1,000  men  to  penetrate 
into  Canada,  about  a  dozen  of  the  New  Haven  men  accompanied 
him  and  shared  with  him  the  privations  and  perils  of  that  hazardous 
and  fruitless  campaign.  In  the  repulse  at  Quebec  Arnold  was  with 
Montgomery  and  had  his  leg  shattered.  Two  years  later,  in  April, 
1777,  he  aided  in  driving  the  British  from  Danbury,  so  much  harras- 
sing  the  retreating  forces  of  Governor  Tryon  that  the  British  lost  170 
men  killed  and  wounded.  The  .same  year  Arnold  was  made  a  major 
general  and,  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  performed  splendid  and  succes.s- 
ful  service.  In  the  fall  of  1780,  Arnold  turned  traitor  to  his  country, 
and  the  following  year  added  to  his  baseness  by  leading  a  British 
expedition  against  New  London,  September  6th,  which  he  captured 
and  burned,  at  a  loss  of  half  a  million  dollars,  and  stormed  Forts 
Trumbull  and  Griswold.  The  Americans  lost  in  all  85  men,  killed  in 
the  assault.  As  all  this  was  done  in  his  native  county,  the  memory  of 
Arnold  is  very  properly  execrated  by  all  loyal  sons  of  Connecticut. 
When  the  people  of  New  Haven  heard  of  his  treason  they  held  a 
public  demonstration,  in  October,  1780,  in  which  they  expressed  their 

*  History  of  City  of  New  Haven,  p.  4i. 


60  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

disapproval,  by  caricaturing  Arnold  in  many  base  ways,  hanging  him 
in  effigy  and  consigning  him  to  the  lowest  depths  of  infamy.* 
Naturally,  in  view  of  these  ceremonies.  New  Haven  was  very  appre- 
hensive that  his  revenge  would  fall  upon  it  and  that  his  expedition 
would  be  directed  against  this  county  rather  than  against  other  points 
in  the  colony.     He  never  returned  to  New  Haven. -f- 

Another  character  of  the  county,  in  that  revolutionary  period,  but 
who  was  the  very  opposite  of  Arnold,  was  the  first  major  general  of 
the  Connecticut  troops,  David  Wooster.  He  was  born  at  Stratford, 
March  2d,  1710,  soon  after  the  removal  of  his  parents  to  that  town 
from  the  old  town  of  Derby.  In  1738  he  graduated  from  Yale  and  the 
following  year  entered  the  provincial  army.  In  1745  he  was  a  captain 
under  Colonel  Burr  at  the  capture  of  Louisburg.  Subsequently,  in 
the  French  war,  he  was  commissioned  colonel  and  later  brigadier  of 
the  colonial  militia.  After  the  war  he  located  at  New  Haven,  where 
he  and  one  of  his  classmates,  Aaron  Dav,  eno-agfed  in  merchandising, 
in  which  avocation  he  was  when  the  revolution  began.  In  the  spring 
of  1775,  he  was  commissioned  major  general  and  commander-in-chief 
of  the  six  regiments  of  Connecticut,  raised  for  the  patriot  cause.  In 
June,  1775,  Colonel  Wooster  marched  with  his  New  Haven  regiment 
for  New  York,  and  afterward  led  it  to  Lake  Champlain  and  Canada, 
where,  after  General  Montgomery's  death,  he  was  chief  in  command. 
Returning  to  Connecticut  in  the  summer  of  1776,  he  was  commissioned 
the  first  major  general  of  the  militia  of  the  colony,  and  devoted  him- 
self to  the  protection  of  the  coast,  which  was  threatened  by  the 
British  in  the  winter  of  1776-7.  In  the  latter  part  of  April,  1777,  he 
received  word  that  the  British  had  landed  in  Fai-rfield,  the  object  of 
the  invasion  being  the  destruction  of  the  military  stores  at  Danbury. 
In  the  engagements  which  followed,  in  that  locality,  he  was  wounded 
fatally  at  Ridgefield.  April  27th,  1777,  and  died  at  Danbury  May  2d. 
He  was  buried  at  the  latter  place  and  in  1854  his  grave  was  marked 
by  a  fine  monument,  erected  by  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  which  he 
was  an  exemjjlary  member. 

In  these  battles  a  number  of  New  Haven  troops  were  engaged  and 
another  merchant  of  that  town,  David  Atwater,  Jr.,  was  killed  when 
the  British  embarked  at  Compo  Hill,  April  28th,  1777. 

While  the  county  was  active  in  furnishing  men  and  means  to  carry 
on  the  war  against  the  British  foe,  in  other  parts,  the  defenceless  con- 
dition of  its  shores  occasioned  no  little  anxiety.  In  1775  a  number  of 
cannons  were  loaned  the  town  of  New  Haven  by  patriotic  citizens  of 
New  York,  a  powder  mill  was  built  at  Westville  and  other  prepara- 

*See  Coiin.  Journal,  Oct.  19,  1780. 

t  Major  General  Arnold  visited  his  home  at  New  Haven  in  May,  17T8,  when 
his  bravery  was  properly  recognized  by  a  triumphal  greeting.  After  his  treachery 
his  property  here  was  disposed  of  by  two  commissioners  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose by  the  County  Court. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  61 

tions  were  made  to  meet  the  exigencies  occasioned  by  a  state  of  war. 
On  the  14th  of  November,  177.1,  a  beacon  was  erected  on  Indian  hill 
in  East  Haven  and  a  system  of  alarms  was  established,  whereby  the 
news  of  an  attack  could  be  conveyed  to  the  towns  of  the  interior. 
Cannons  were  also  placed  in  position  along  the  Milford  and  Guilford 
coast  and  a  watch  was  kept  over  all  places  where  a  landing  might  be 
effected.  As  long  as  the  British  were  in  po.ssession  of  New  York  and 
Long  Island,  their  predatory  excursions  were  frequent  and  but  little 
feeling  of  safety  could  be  entertained. 

In  the  spring  of  1777,  the  British  collected  a  large  quantity  of  stores 
at  Sag  Harbor,  on  Long  Island,  and  May  21st,  1777,  an  expedition  of 
200  men  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Meigs,  left  Sachem's  Head, 
in  Guilford,  to  destroy  them.  This  plan  was  well  carried  out.  the 
expedition  having  accomplished  its  object  within  24  hours  without 
loss  of  life  to  the  Americans  but  inilicting  much  damage  to  the  enemy. 
Vast  quantities  of  hay  and  a  number  of  vessels  were  burned,  five  of 
the  enemy  were  killed  and  90  taken  prisoners.  It  was  doubtful, 
though,  whether  this  was  a  wise  movement,  as  the  enemy  soon 
retaliated.  In  less  than  a  month  the  British  landed  at  Leete's  Island, 
in  Guilford,  where  they  burned  some  buildings  and  in  the  skirmish 
which  followed  two  Americans  were  killed  and  three  wounded.  Later 
the  British  also  invaded  the  east  part  of  Guilford  (now  Madison),  but 
were  repulsed  after  a  brief  skirmish  * 

All  through  1777-8,  it  was  feared  that  the  British  would  land  at 
New  Haven  and  pillage  or  destroy  the  town.  Great  precautions  were 
taken  to  prevent  such  an  occurrence,  and  the  town  rested  reasonably 
secure  until  the  summer  of  1779,  when,  unexpectedly,  the  British 
appeared,  invaded  the  town  and  pillaged  it,  the.se  acts  forming  the 
most  stirring  events,  on  the  soil  of  the  county,  in  the  history  of  the 
revolution.     A  brief  account  of  them  only  can  here  find  place.f 

About  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  July  r)th,1779,  a  British  fleet, 
consisting  of  the  men  of  war  "  Camilla"  and  "  Scorpion,"  with  tenders, 
transports,  etc.,  48  vessels  in  all,  commanded  bv  Commodore  Sir 
George  Collier,  appeared  off  New  Haven  harbor.  On  board  were 
about  3,000  soldiers,  under  the  command  of  Major  General  Tryon  and 
Brigadier  General  Garth.  The  purpose  of  the  expedition  was  soon 
apparent,  as  narrated  by  President  Stiles : 

"  Alarm  guns  were  fired  and  Lieut.  Col.  vSabin  ordered  to  beat  to 
arms.  With  a  telescope  on  the  top  of  the  tower  of  the  college  steeple, 
we  plainly  saw  the  boats  putting  off  from  the  shipping  for  shore  a 
little  after  sunrise.  All  then  knew  our  fate.  Perhaps  one-third  of  the 
adult  male  inhabitants  flew  to  arms  and  went  out  to  meet  them.  A 
quarter  moved  out  of  town,  doing  nothing:  the  rest  remained  unmoved, 

*See  History  of  Guilford. 

t  Compiled  from  Ccnin-cticut  Jininml,  President  Stiles'  Diary.  Barber's  Collec- 
tions, Howe's  Narratives,  Atwater's  New  Haven  History,  etc.,  etc. 


62  HISTORY   OF   XEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

partly  Tories,  partly  timid  Whigs.  Sundry  of  the  Tories  armed  and 
went  forth  to  fight  the  foe.  Abovtt  ninety  or  one  hundred  men  finally 
stayed  in  town. 

"At  five  in  the  morning  General  Garth's  division  landed  at  West 
Haven  and  marched  to  the  meeting-house,  one  mile,  and  formed  upon 
the  Green,  where  they  halted  two  hours.  About  nine  or  ten,  General 
Tryon  landed  his  division  at  Five-Mile  Point.  Both  divisions  were 
engaged  in  their  respective  operations:  Tryon  approaching  the  town 
on  the  east  side  of  the  harbor  and  Garth  on  the  west.  Colonel  Sabin 
with  two  pieces  of  artillery  went  to  West  Bridge.  Captain  James 
Hillhouse,  with  twenty  or  thirty  brave  young  men,  together  with  many 
others,  crossed  West  Bridge,  went  over  Milford  Hill,  and  thence  with- 
in a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  Green  where  the  enemy  were  paraded. 
Upon  their  beginning  the  march,  Captain  James  Hillhouse  fired  upon 
the  advance-guard  so  as  to  drive  them  in  to  the  main  body.  But 
-coming  in  force,  the  enemy  perceived  others  besides  Hillhouse's  party 
had  by  this  time  passed  the  bridge  and  reached  the  hill,  perhaps  to 
the  number  of  150  men.  These  kept  up  a  galling  fire,  especially  on 
their  outguards  or  skirmi-shers,  extending  perhaps  to  about  forty  rods 
each  side  of  the  column;  and  yet  the  column  marched  vigorously,  but 
in  a  huddled  confusion— about  thirty  companies,  in  three  divisions. 

"  On  Alilford  Hill  their  Adjutant,  Colonel  Campbell,  was  slain. 
Sundry  more  were  wounded.  Rev.  Dr.  Napthali  Daggett  (ex-President 
of  Yale  College)  was  captured.  Our  artillery  at  the  bridge  (Ailing- 
town),  was  well  served  by  Captain  Phineas  Bradley,  and  prevented 
the  enemy  passing  the  causeway  and  so  into  town  that  wa3^  So  they 
turned  off  and  continued  their  route  round  to  Derby  Bridge  (now 
Westville  Bridge).  As  they  came  along  our  people  divided:  some 
crossed  the  bridge;  others  kept  to  the  enemy's  left,  and  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Aaron  Burr  (afterwards  Vice-President  U.  S.).  harassed 
the  enemy's  inarch.  When  it  was  seen  that  they  were  aiming  for 
the  bridge  (Westville),  Captains  Hillhouse  and  Bradley,  with  the 
artillery,  crossed  the  fields  to  meet  them.  The  main  body  crossed  the 
bridge,  the  rest  fording  the  river.  Then,  on  the  enemy  rising  the  hill 
on  this  side  and  taking  the  road  to  town,  we  gave  them  a  hearty  fire 
and  took  a  number  of  prisoners;  also,  on  the  other  side  we  took  a 
number. 

"The  northern  militia  and  those  from  Derby  by  this  time  pressed 
in  and  passed  on  all  sides,  and  some  behaved  with  amazing  intrepidity. 
One  captain  drew  up  and  threw  his  whole  company  (the  Derby  com- 
pany, probably)  directly  before  the  enemy's  column, _and  gave  and 
received  their  fire.  We  fought  upon  a  retreat  into  the  town.  Just  at 
the  northwest  Ditch  Corner  entrance  to  town  the  battle  became  very 
severe  and  bloody  for  a  short  time,  when  a  number  were  killed  on 
both  sides.  [This  was  just  beyond  Broadway,  where  the  fire  alarm 
tower  now  stands,  on   Goffe  street.]     The  enemy,  however,  passed  on 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTV.  63 

in  force  and  entered  town  a  little  past  noon.  From  that  time  the 
town  was  given  up  to  ravage  and  plunder,  from  which  only  a  few 
houses  were  protected. 

"  While  these  things  were  transacting  on  this  side  of  the  harbor 
General  Tryon  was  pursuing  his  desolation  on  the  East  Haven  side. 
Upon  landing  he  set  fire  to  Mr.  Morris's  elegant  seat.  He  was 
molested  by  the  fort  on  Black  Rock,  three  miles  from  town,  under  the 
command  of  Lieut.  Bishop,  and  by  a  field-piece  under  the  command  of 
the  gallant  Lieut.  Pierpont.  [This  was  where  Fort  Hale  was  later 
built.]  The  fort  was  at  length  evacuated  and  the  enemy  reached 
Beacon  Hill  in  the  afternoon.  The  militia  collected  from  every  part, 
and  at  Ditch  Corner  there  was  inces.sant  firing  all  the  afternoon." 

These  were  of  the  nature  of  skirmishes  with  the  outposts.  The 
last  stand  the  patriots  made  was  at  the  corner  of  Chapel  and  York 
streets,  when,  after  the  British  had  brought  on  a  cannon  and  fired 
■down  the  street,  the  small  band  of  resisting  patriots  dispersed. 
General  Garth  now  marched  his  men  unmolested  to  the  green  where 
be  awaited  the  appearance  of  General  Tryon.  In  the  meantime  the 
advance  of  the  latter  up  the  east  side  of  the  harbor  had  been  several 
hours  delayed  by  the  small  garrison  at  the  earth  work  at  Black  Rock 
— where  its  force  of  19  men  and  three  pieces  of  artillery  had  success- 
fully held  the  enemy  back  "  as  long  as  reason  or  valor  dictated,  and 
then  the  men  made  good  their  retreat."  About  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon  General  Tryon  crossed  the  river  to  counsel  with  General 
Garth  in  regard  to  future  movements.  The  latter's  men  having  now 
possession  of  the  town  had  freely  helped  themselves  to  every  species 
•of  property  and  finding  large  quantities  of  liquor  in  the  cellars  and 
stores  of  the  traders  were  becoming  very  drunk  and  unmanageable. 
General  Garth  feared  that  it  would  be  unsafe  to  remain,  but  General 
Tryon  ordered  that  the  troops  should  not  embark  until  the  next  day. 
The  stubborn  resistance  to  the  advance  of  General  Garth  had  almost 
persuaded  that  general  to  burn  the  town,  but  from  that  purpose  he 
was  turned  by  several  circumstances.  The  means  of  retreat  were  too 
uncertain,  and  the  primary  intent  of  the  expedition  was  not  rapine 
and  pillage.  The  real  purpo.se  appears  to  have  been  to  overawe  the 
inhabitants  by  the  exhibition  of  superior  force  and  thus  command 
allegiance  to  the  King.-  This  object  would  have  been  entireh' 
defeated  by  such  extreme  measures.  There  is  also  a  tradition  that 
soon  after  resting  on  the  green  General  Garth  ascended  the  belfry  of 
the  state  house  to  take  an  observation  of  the  place,  which  impressed 
him  so  favorably  that  he  exclaimed:  "  It  is  too  beautiful  to  burn," 
and  that  he  then  resolved  to  spare  it,  after  having  destroyed  the  public 
stores.     This  purpose  was  carried  out   in  the  main,  although  in  the 

♦Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Connecticut,  by  Commodore  Collier  and 
General  William  Tryon,  on  board  of  the  "  Camilla."  on  Long  Island  sound.  July 
4th,  177a. 


64  HISTORY -OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

retreat  some  private  dwellings  were  also  burned.  "  In  New  Haven  and 
East  Haven  together  eight  dwellings,  six  stores,  five  barns  and  eight 
vessels  were  burned."  "  The  public  buildings,  as  those  of  Yale  College, 
the  State  House,  the  places  of  public  worship  were  injured  little  if  at 
all."* 

But  owing  to  the  drunken  condition  of  the  British  soldiery  a  num- 
ber of  houses  were  plundered  and  many  pathetic  incidents  of  brutality 
are  recorded,  especially  "  towards  feeble  old  men  and  helpless  females," 
which  were  not  justifiable  acts  of  war.  The  revelry  of  the  British 
soldiers  continued  until  next  morning  and  probably  hastened  their 
departure.  About  sunrise  the  march  to  their  vessels  in  the  harbor 
began  and  some  of  the  soldiers  were  still  so  drunken  that  they  had 
to  be  pushed  forward  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  or  be  urged  on  by 
the  officer's  swords.  Not  a  shot  was  fired  by  the  patriots  to  check 
their  retreat  out  of  the  town,  but  in  East  Haven  where  most  of  the 
enemy  embarked,  having  crossed  on  the  ferry  (at  Tomlinson's  bridge) 
the  militia  annoyed  them  until  they  had  set  sail  on  Tuesday  evening, 
July  6th.  On  the  morning  of  the  Sth  the  fleet  anchored  off  the  village 
of  Fairfield. 

"  At  the  departure  of  the  British,  thousands  of  the  country  people 
flocked  into  New  Haven.  Some  of  them,  in  the  confusion,  were  base 
enough  to  add  to  the  general  loss  by  robbing  the  citizens  of  what  was 
left.  The  soldiers  already  had  taken,  with  a  few  exceptions,  all  the 
money,  jewelry,  clothing,  and  provisions  which  they  could  find, 
besides  destroying  a  great  amount  of  household  furniture  and  other 
things.  Alany  of  the  families  lost  everything  their  houses  contained. 
Most  of  the  tories,  who  were  protected  by  the  British,  were  obliged  to 
leave  New  Haven  with  them,  so  even  they  lost  much  of  their 
property. "t 

Among  the  Tory  families  which  left  with  the  British  was  that  of 
Joshua  Chandler,  whose  son,  William,  piloted  General  Garth's  division 
from  West  Haven.  Another  son,  Thomas,  piloted  General  Tryon  to 
Beacon  hill.     In  all,  about  forty  inhabitants  were  carried  away. 

The  loss  of  the  British  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  was  74 
men.  Among  their  killed  was  Adjutant  Campbell,  a  young  man  of 
noble  qualities,  who  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  command.  He  was 
with  General  Garth's  division  and  had  breakfasted  at  the  village 
tavern,  at  West  Haven,  before  beeinningf  the  advance  on  New  Haven. 
At  West  Haven  lived,  as  the  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church,  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Williston,  an  outspoken  patriot.  When  the  British 
appeared  some  Tory  neighbors  directed  them  to  the  house  of  the 
minister.  While  attempting  to  escape  to  the  woods,  near  his  place, 
be  broke  his  leg  jumping  over  the  fence  around  the  lot.  Some  urged 
that  he  be  killed,  but  when  the  affair  came  to  the  ears  of  Campbell 
he  ordered  that  Air.  Williston  be  carried  into  the  house  and  directed 

*Pres.  Stiles.      tBeckford. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  65 

his  own  surgeon  to  set  the  fractured  limb,  and  set  a  guard  so  that  no 
one  would  molest  the  minister.  Campbell  was  a  true  soldier,  humane 
and  just,  even  in  the  heat  of  a  conflict. 

When  the  British  began  their  march  up  INIilford  hill,  north  of 
West  Haven  village,  a  sharp  skirmish  took  place,  but  Campbell,  tall 
and  erect  of  person,  elegant  and  conspicuous  in  appearance,  continued 
riding  in  the  advance  of  the  column.  A  young  man  named  Johnson, 
who  was  among  the  skirmishers,  hidden  behind  a  stone  wall,  singled 
him  out  for  his  aim,  raised  his  musket  and  shot  him  through  the 
breast.  He  was  carried  into  a  house  by  the  roadside,  where  he  soon 
after  died,  attended  by  his  servant,  who  afterward  carried  his  effects 
into  the  town  and  sold  them.  It  is  said  that  when  the  people  of  the 
neighborhood  returned,  after  the  troops  had  passed,  they  found  his 
body  stripped  of  his  clothing;  but  they  gave  him  a  decent  burial  near 
the  house  in  which  he  lay.  His  grave  was  unmarked  until  October, 
1831,  when  J.  W.  Barber,  with  his  own  hands  set  up  a  stone  at 
the  spot,  near  the  present  village  of  Allington,  marked  Campbeli., 
1779. 

The  lapse  of  years  has  increased  rather  than  diminished  •  the 
estimate  of  the  fine  qualities  of  Adjutant  Campbell,  and  on  the  /5th  of 
July,  1S91,  a  new  and  more  expressive  monument  was  placed  over  the 
same  spot  by  citizens  of  New  Haven  and  other  points  in  the  Union. 
Although  he  fell  as  an  enemy,  his  worth  as  a  man  merited  this  tender 
and  grateful  recognition,  and  henceforth  we  preserve  his  grave  as 
friends. 

Near  this  same  spot,  the  eccentric  Professor  Napthali  Daggett  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  British,  who  carried  him  into  New  Haven,  where 
he  was  released.  The  part  he  took  in  this  engagement  was  thus 
related  by  Honorable  Elizur  Goodrich,  who  was  at  that  time  a  college 
student  and  had  accompanied  Captain  James  Hillhouse  to  meet  the 
advancing  enemy. 

"I  well  remember  the  surprise  we  felt,  as  we  were  marching  over 
West  Bridge,  towards  the  enemy,  to  see  Dr.  Daggett  riding  furiously 
by  us  on  his  old  black  mare,  with  his  fowling  piece  in  his  hand  ready 
for  action.  We  knew  the  old  gentleman  had  studied  the  matter  thor- 
oughly, and  had  settled  in  his  own  mind  as  to  the  right  and  propriety 
of  fighting  it  out,  but  we  were  not  quite  prepared  to  see  him  come 
forth  in  so  gallant  a  style  to  carry  his  principles  into  practice.  Giving 
him  a  hearty  cheer  as  we  passed,  we  turned  at  the  foot  of  Milford  Hill 
towards  West  Haven,  while  he  ascended  a  little  to  the  west,  and  took 
his  station  in  a  copse  of  wood,  where  he  appeared  to  bereconnoitering 
the  enemy  like  one  who  was  determined  to  bide  his  time.  As  we 
passed  on  toward  the  south,  we  met  an  advance  guard  of  the  enemy, 
and  from  our  stand  at  a  line  of  fence,  we  fired  on  them  several  times, 
and  then  chased  them  the  length  of  three  or  four  fields  as  they 
retreated,  until  we  found  ourselves  involved  with  the  main  body,  and 
5 


66  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY. 

in  daneer  of  bein^  surrounded.     It  was  now  our  turn  to  run,  which 
we  did  for  our  lives. 

"  Passing  by  Dr.  Daggett,  in  his  station  on  the  hill,  we  retreated 
rapidly  across  West  Bridge,  which  was  instantly  taken  down  by  per- 
sons who  stood  ready  for  that  purpose,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
entering  the  town  from  that  road.  In  the  meantime,  Dr.  Daggett,  as 
we  heard  afterwards,  stood  his  ground  manfully  while  the  British 
column  advanced  to  the  foot  of  the  hill,  determined  to  have  the  battle 
to  himself,  as  we  had  left  him  in  the  lurch,  and  using  his  fowling- 
piece  now  and  then  to  excellent  effect,  as  occasion  offered,  under  cover 
of  the  bushes.  But  this  could  not  last  long.  A  detachment  was  sent 
up  the  hillside  to  look  into  the  matter,  and  then  the  commanding 
officer  coming  suddenl}',  to  his  great  surprise,  on  a  single  individual 
in  a  black  coat  blazing  away  in  this  style*  cried  out : 

"'  What  are  you  doing  there,  you  old  fool,  firing  on  his  Majesty's 
troops  I' 

"  '  Exercising  the  rights  of  war."  rejoined  the  old  gentleman. 
•'  The  very  audacity  of  this  reply,  and  the  mixture  of  droller}'  it 
contained,  seemed  to  amuse  the  officer,  and  he  said  : 

"  '  If  I  let  you  go  this  time,  will  you  ever  fire  again  on  the  troops 
of  his  Majesty?' 

"  'Nothing  more  likely,'  rejoined  the  old  gentleman  in  his  dry  way. 
"  This  was  too  much  for  flesh  and  blood  to  bear,  and  it  is  a  wonder 
they  did  not  put  a  bullet  through  him  on  the  spot." 

Dr.  Daggett  was  thereupon  taken  into  custody  and  subjected  to 
many  indignities  by  the  brutal  soldiers,  who  beat  him  over  the  head, 
kicked  him  in  his  bowels  and  insulted  him  in  many  ways.  After 
stripping  him  of  his  shoes  he  was  forcibly  marched  along  and  reached 
the  green  more  dead  than  alive.  On  the  26th  of  July,  1779,  he  wroie 
an  account  of  his  cruel  treatment  which  has  been  preserved  among 
the  state  papers,  and  is  a  very  interesting  document.  He  died  in 
1780,  his  death  being  hastened  by  the  injuries  he  received  on  this 
occasion. 

The  Connecticut  Journal  ol  July  7th,  1779,  published  the  following 
as  the  loss  of  the  Americans  at  the  invasion  of  New  Haven  : 

"  Killed — John  Hotchkiss,  Caleb  Hotchkiss,  Jun.,  Ezekiel  Hotchkiss, 
Captain  John  Gilbei^t,  Michael  Gilbert,  John  Kennedy,  Joseph  Dorman, 
Asa  Todd,  Samuel  Wooden,  Silas  Wooden,  Benjamin  English.  Isaac 
Pardis,  Jeduthan  Thompson,  Aaron  Rus.sel  (a  lad),  Jacob  Thorp,  and 
Pomp   (a   negro),   all  of  New    Haven ;    Eldad    Parker,    Wallingford; 

Bradley,  Derby;  Timothy  Ludlenton,  Guilford;  John  Baldwin, 

Gideon  Goodrich,  Branford;  and  one  person  whose  name  is  unknown. 
"  Wounded — Rev.  Dr.  Daggett,  Nathan  Beers  (since  died  of  his 
woundsi,  David  Au.stin,  Jun.,  Elizur  Goodrich,  Jun.,  Joseph  Bassett, 
Captain  Caleb  Mix,  Thomas  Mix,  and  Israel  Wooden.  Taken — John 
Austin,  Abraham  Pinto.  Jeremiah  Austin,  Nathan  Drummer,  Edmund 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  67 

Smith,  and   Elisha  Tuttle  (since  dead  of  his  wounds,  whose  tongue 

was  cut  out  by  the  enemyj.  all  of  New  Haven;  At  water  and  a 

negro,  of  Wallingford:  and  Benjamin  Howd,  of  Branford.  The  total 
number  of  the  "martyrs'  was  twenty-four  killed,  fifteen  wounded, 
and  nine  captured." 

Man}'  of  the  above  were  in  Captain  John  Gilbert's  company  and 
lost  their  lives  at  "  Ditch  Corner,"  as  is  related  elsewhere.*  The 
Hotchkisses  were  among  the  first  killed.  They  lived  at  Westville 
(then  called  Hotchkis.stown ),  and  early  hastened  to  check  the  advance 
of  the  British,  Benjamin  English,  an  aged  and  infirm  man,  was  killed 
in  his  own  house,  in  the  town.  Nathan  Beers  was  also  shot  without 
provocation,  in  his  own  dwelling,  and  was  too  feeble  to  offer  resist- 
ance. Elisha  Tuttle  was  a  "distracted"  man  and  was  probably  mal- 
treated in  so  base  a  manner  by  the  English  when  they  were  crazed 
with  drink. 

Among  tho.se  carried  away  as  prisoners  were  John  Whiting,  judge 
of  the  probate  court  and  county  clerk.  Captain  John  Mix,  Captain 
Elijah  Foster,  Hezekiah  Sabin,  Sr.,  Thomas  Barrett,  Jerre  Townsend 
and  Adonijah  Sherman. 

The  British  destroyed  the  defenses  at  Black  Rock  Fort,  which 
Colonel  Thompson  had  built  in  177o-6,  and  carried  with  them  as 
public  property  six  field  pieces  and  an  armed  privateer.  It  was  esti- 
mated that  the  total  value  of  the  propert}-  destroyed  in  the  raid  was 
i^'24.893,  7s.,  6d.  The  largest  individual  loss  was  sustained  by  Amos 
Morris,  of  IMorris  Cove,  whose  farm  buildings  were  destroyed. 

Early  in  September,  1781,  three  of  the  enemy's  vessels  again 
appeared  off  the  coast  at  West  Haven  and  landed  loU  men,  who  cap- 
tured the  sentinels  maintained  at  that  point,  and  made  a  short  raid  in 
so  quiet  a  manner  that  but  a  few  people  were  aware  of  their  presence. 
"  They  took  off  four  of  the  inhabitants  and  about  thirty  head  of  cattle 
and  horses." 

The  remaining  events  of  the  war  were  so  far  removed  that  they 
but  little  affected  the  county.  Some  of  her  citizens,  however,  served 
in  the  southern  campaigns  and  Colonel  David  Humphreys,  of  Derby, 
had  the  honor  of  receiving  the  colors  of  the  British,  at  the  surrender 
at  Yorktown.  At  this  time  he  was  an  aid-de-camp,  on  the  staff  of 
General  Washington.  Other  citizens  of  Derby,  the  Hulls,  Thompsons, 
Tomlinsons,  etc.,  rendered  fitting  service  in  the  revolution,  as  did  also 
the  citizens  of  other  towns  in  the  county.  Besides  at  the  points  indi- 
cated in  the  foregoing  pages,  there  were  no  maneuvers  of  the  enemy 
on  the  soil  of  the  county,  but  in  the  progress  of  the  early  campaigns, 
the  troops  of  the  continental  army  moved  east  or  west  through  New 
Haven.  La  Fayette,  while  thus  marching,  encamped  in  Southbury  and 
Middlebury,  and  it  is  claimed  that  General  Washington  also  visited 
the  former  town  during  the  war. 

*  See  History  of  Hamden. 


68  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  declaration  of  peace,  with  the  acknowledgment  of  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  colonies,  was  everywhere  hailed  with  delight  and 
appropriately  celebrated.  An  account  of  the  affair  at  New  Haven  has 
been  taken  from  the  Connecticut  Journal  oi  May  1st,  1783,  as  follows: 

"  Thursday  last  was  ob.served  as  a  day  of  festivity  and  rejoicing  in 
this  town,  on  receipt  of  indubitable  testimony  of  the  most  important, 
grand,  and  ever  memorable  event — the  total  cessation  of  hostilities 
between  Great  Britain  and  these  United  States,  and  the  full  acknowl- 
edgment of  their  sovereignty  and  independence.  Accordingly,  the 
day,  with  the  rising  sun,  was  ushered  in  by  the  discharge  of  thirteen 
cannon,  paraded  on  the  'green  '  for  that  purpose,  under  elegant  silk 
colors,  with  the  Coat-of-Arms  of  the  United  States  most  ingeniously 
represented  thereon,  which  was  generously  contributed  upon  the  occa- 
sion by  the  ladies  of  the  town.  At  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  the 
inhabitants  met  in  the  brick  Meeting-House  for  divine  .service,  where 
was  convened  a  very  crowded  assembly.  The  service  was  opened 
with  an  anthem;  then  a  very  pertinent  prayer,  together  with  thanks- 
giving, was  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stiles,  President  of  Yale  College; 
after  was  sung  some  lines,  purposely  composed  for  the  occasion,  by 
the  singers  of  all  the  congregations  in  concert.  Then  followed  a  very 
ingenious  oration,  spoken  by  Mr.  Elizur  Goodrich,  one  of  the  Tutors 
of  the  College;  after  which  a  very  liberal  collection  was  made  for  the 
poor  of  the  town,  to  elevate  their  hearts  for  rejoicing.  The  service 
was  concluded  with  an  anthem. 

"  A  number  of  respectable  gentlemen  of  the  town  dmed  together 
at  the  Coffee-House.     After  dinner  several  patriotic  toasts  were  drank. 

"  At  three  o'clock  were  discharged  thirteen  cannon — at  four, 
twenty-one  ditto — at  five,  seven  ditto — at  six,  thirteen  ditto — at  seven 
were  displayed  the  fire-works,  with  rockets,  serpents,  &c. — at  nine 
o'clock,  a  bonfire  on  the  Green  concluded  the  diversions  of  the  day. 
The  whole  affair  was  conducted  with  a  decorum  and  decency  uncom- 
mon for  such  occasions,  without  any  unfortunate  accident;  a  mp.st 
pacific  disposition  and  heartfelt  joy  was  universally  conspicuous,  and 
most  emphatically  expressed  by  the  features  of  every  countenance." 

Soon  after  the  war  the  city  of  New  Haven  became  noted  for  her 
commercial  enterprise  and  her  trade  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century  was  very  considerable.  The  embargo  act,  of  December  22d, 
1807,  greatly  affected  this  commerce  and  the  occupation  of  hundreds 
of  men  in  all  parts  of  the  county,  and  especially  along  the  coast,  so 
that  the  measures  which  brought  on  the  war  of  1812  were  unpopular  and 
poorly  supported.  Soon  after  the  war  was  declared  Colonel  David 
Humphreys  raised  a  company  of  cavalry  and  offered  its  service  to  the 
governor.  The  company  was  accepted  and  Colonel  Humphreys  was 
not  long  after  appointed  major  general  of  the  state  militia,  which  he 
commanded  during  the  war.  He  took  measures  for  the  defense  of 
the  coast  of  the  state  and  various  points  were  fortified.     In  1814  the 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  69 

defenses  at  New  Haven  harbor  were  strengthened  and  in  addition  to 
Fort  Hale*  new  earthworks  were  built  on  Beacon  hill,  which  received 
the  name  of  Fort  Wooster.  Concerning  this  fortification  the  Connec- 
ticut Journal  oi  October  4th,  1814,  said  : 

"  This  work  has  progressed  with  great  rapidity  and  is  now  nearly 
completed.  The  inhabitants  of  the  neighboring  towns  deserve  and 
receive  the  thanks  of  the  public,  for  volunteering  their  aid  in  this 
patriotic  labor.  On  Wednesday  and  Thursday  last,  one  hundred  men 
from  Cheshire,  under  the  direction  of  Andrew  Hull,  Esq.,  labored 
with  great  industry  and  effect  at  the  fortifications  for  two  days.  On 
their  return  through  the  city,  in  wagons,  with  music  playing,  they 
were  saluted  with  a  discharge  of  artillery  and  cheered  by  the  citizens, 
who  had  collected  in  great  numbers  on  the  public  square.  On  Thurs- 
day one  hundred  men  from  the  town  of  North  Haven,  under  the 
direction  of  their  reverend  pastor.  Dr.  Trumbull,  the  venerable 
historian  of  Connecticut,  eighty  years  of  age,  volunteered  their  ser- 
vices and  spent  the  day  in  the  same  patriotic  work.  This  aged  minister 
addressed  the  throne  of  grace  and  implored  the  Divine  blessing  on 
their  undertaking.  On  Friday  the  same  number  from  Hamden,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Jacob  Whiting,  with  great  industry  labored 
at  the  same  work,  and  were  saluted  and  cheered  on  their  return.  The 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Meriden,  with  a  patriotism  not  exceeded 
by  their  neighbors,  have  volunteered  their  aid  for  Wednesday  next. 
It  is  confidently  hoped  that  our  fellow  citizens  of  other  towns  in  this 
vicinity  will,  in  the  course  of  the  present  week,  complete  the  works 
which  are  now  nearly  finished.  Parties  who  are  willing  to  give  their 
assistance  in  this  preparation  for  the  common  defense  are  desired  to 
give  notice  to  the  committee  of  the  time  when  it  will  be  agreeable  to 
them  to  give  their  attendance.  The  enemy  is  hovering  on  the  coast. 
Where  the  next  blow  will  be  attempted  no  one  can  tell.  Preparation 
to  repel  invasion  cannot  too  speedil}'  be  made." 

The  second  war  with  Great  Britain,  so  far  as  it  affected  New  Haven, 
was  almost  wholly  maritime.  The  commerce  of  the  city,  already 
greatly  impaired  by  the  embargo  act,  was  now  almost  wholly  sus- 
pended, leaving,  as  a  natural  result,  many  seamen  unemployed.  Some 
of  these  were  adventurous  and  freely  engaged  in  privateering,  little 

*  After  the  revolution  Black  Rock  Fort  received  this  name  in  honor  of  Cap- 
tain Nathan  Hale,  the  "Martyr  Spy"  of  the  revolution.  He  graduated  from 
Yale  in  1773.  Joining  the  patriots  early  in  the  struggle,  he  commanded  a  com- 
pany in  Colonel  Knowlton's  regiment,  of  Ashford.  After  the  retreat  of  the 
Americans  from  Long  Island,  in  August,  1776,  he  was  sent  by  General  Washing- 
ton to  ascertain  the  enemy's  future  plans.  Ha\nng  obtained  this  information, 
and  just  as  he  was  lea\-ing  the  Island  he  was  recognized  by  a  Tory  relative,  and 
betrayed.  He  was  taken  before  Sir  AVilliam  Howe,  who,  without  a  trial  ordered 
him  to  be  hanged  the  next  moniing,  September  a2d,  1776.  He  met  his  fate 
calmly,  saying:  "  I  only  regret  that  I  have  but  one  life  to  lose  for  my  country." 
His  statue  has  been  placed  on  the  capitol  grounds  at  Hartford. 


70  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

reckoning  about  the  perils  of  such  an  undertaking.  Their  adventures, 
in  some  instances,  read  like  a  romance.  Mr.  T.  R.  Trowbridge,  of 
New  Haven,  has  given  the  following  interesting  account  of  one  of 
them  : 

"  The  '  Actress '  was  a  fine,  fast-sailing  sloop  of  sixty  tons,  and  had 
for  a  crew  forty-two  young,  able-bodied,  New  Haven  county  men, 
every  one  of  whom  was  anxious  to  make  his  fortune  by  privateering. 
For  an  armament,  the  sloop  carried  eight  small  guns,  with  the  usual 
assortment  of  small  arms,  cutlasses,  boarding-pikes,  etc. 

"  The  commander  of  the  '  Actress  '  was  John  Lumsden,an  English- 
man by  birth,  but  a  naturalized  American.  He  was  an  able  seaman, 
and  had  commanded  several  of  the  best  New  Haven  ships;  his  officers 
were  experienced  sailors.  Thus  appointed,  she  sailed  from  Long 
Wharf  on  the  evening  of  the  11th  of  July,  1812,  'on  a  cruise.'  Reach- 
ing the  open  sea,  early  next  morning,  everything  on  board  the 
privateer  was  put  in  ship-shape  order,  and  a  six  weeks'  cruise  agreed 
upon.  Sharp  and  anxious  eyes  scanned  the  horizon  ;  for  a  reward  of 
fifty  dollars  was  promised  to  the  man  who  should  first  descry  a  vessel 
that  should  prove  to  be  a  '  Britisher.' 

■•  Nothing,  however,  was  seen  for  several  days,  and  the  ship's  com- 
pany began  to  think  privateering  slow  work,  and  to  long  for  their 
farms;  when,  to  the  joy  of  all,  at  daybreak,  July  19th,  on  the  northern 
edge  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  a  man  on  the  foretopmast  rigging  cried  out, 
'  Sail,  ho  ?'  with  the  singular  prolongation  of  sound  that  no  landsman 
can  imitate. 

"  •  Where  away  ?'  bawled  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  deck. 

'■  '  A  mile  to  the  lu'ard,'  was  the  repl}',  and  then  came  the  welcome 
words,  'and  a  Britisher,  too.' 

"  True  it  was.  In  a  few  moments  the  mi.st  lifted,  and  less  than  a 
mile  to  the  leeward  of  the  privateer  lay  a  huge  British  ship,  to  all 
appearances  a  merchantman.  There  .she  lay  with  all  the  three  top- 
sails mast-headed,  waiting  for  the  morning  breeze  to  spring  up. 
From  the  fact  that  the  top.sails  were  '  mast-headed  '  (hauled  up  to  the 
head  of  the  topmast),  the  privateersman  accepted  it  as  a  sure  sign  that 
the  stranger  was  a  merchant-vessel,  and  her  capture  was  certain. 
There  was  on  board  the  sloop  a  great  contrast  to  the  dullness  of  the 
previous  days.  Muskets,  cutlasses,  and  boarding-pikes  were  brought 
on  deck,  and  put  in  order;  the  little  eight  pounders  were  swabbed 
out,  loaded,  and  a  supply  of  powder  and  shot  placed  near  them. 
Aboard  the  '  Actress,'  excitement  and  bustle  were  everywhere  from 
stem  to  stern. 

"  I  am  told  when  the  commander  first  saw  the  ship,  he  was  m  the 
ordinary  costume  of  a  New  Haven  privateersman,  namely,  a  tarpaulin 
hat,  red  shirt,  and  a  pair  of  blue  trousers  '  cat-harpinned  at  the  knee.' 
When  he  was  satisfied  that  a  prize  was  soon  to  fall  into  his  hands,  he 
retired  to  the  cabin  to  array  himself  in  a  becoming  manner,  and  shortly 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  71 

afterwards  appeared  on  his  quarter-deck,  clad  in  a  blue  suit  with  red 
facings,  and  a  cocked  hat,  all  of  which  were  loaned  him  by  a  Foxon 
militia  captain,  Jeduthan  Bradley  by  name. 

"Sword  by  his  side  and  speaking  trumpet  under  his  arm,  the 
doughty  sailor  trod  his  weather  deck,  and  after  feasting  his  eyes  for 
several  minutes  upon  the  Britisher,  he  gave  his  helmsman  orders  to 
put  up  the  wheel.  Forthwith  the  '  Actress,'  with  her  two  .score 
valiant  New  Haveners,  bore  down  upon  the  stranger;  and  so  certain 
was  commander  Lum,sden  and  his  crew  of  securing  the  prize,  that  a 
crew  of  eighteen  men  were  immediately  told  off  to  carr\-  the  ship 
into  New  London,  if  possible, — but  into  Boston,  at  all  hazards. 

"  All  hands  judged  the  helpless  Englishman  to  be  a  London  tea- 
ship  from  Canton,  bound  for  Boston,  and,  of  course,  ignorant  that 
war  had  been  declared.  They  considered,  therefore,  that  their  for- 
tunes were  made,  and  that  lives  of  ease  and  luxury  awaited  them  at 
home. 

"Just  before  the  '  Actress'  left  Long  Wharf,  a  friend  of  the  com- 
mander, and  a  part  owner  of  the  vessel,  had  put  on  board  a  quarter 
c  isk  of  Jamaica  rum,  requesting  that  it  should  be  drunk  when  the  first 
prize  should  be  captured.  The  captain  and  crew  reckoning  to  a  cer- 
tainty that  the  Englishman  was  as  good  as  captured,  it  was  now  pro- 
posed to  drink  the  rum  without  further  delay.  The  captain  was  at 
first  opposed  to  it;  but  after  the  prize  crew  had  explained  to  him,  that 
if  they  were  sent  aboard  the  ship  they  would  lose  their  share,  he  gave 
his  consent.  The  cask  was  accordingly  hoisted  on  deck  and  broached. 
The  libations  were  heavy  and  frequent. 

"  In  the  meantime,  the  privateer  had  been  gradually  nearing  the 
ship,  apparently  unnoticed  by  the  leviathan;  and  when  within  speak- 
ing distance,  Captain  Lumsden,  in  a  voice  tremulous  with  patriotic 
pride,  hailed  the  ship. 

"  In  a  moment  the  answer  came  back:  '  The  Spartan,  of  London.' 

"  At  the  mention  of  this  name,  a  peculiar  expression,  we  are  told, 
was  visible  in  the  faces  of  many  of  the  privateersmen;  several  pairs  of 
jaws  chattered,  many  knees  knocked  feelingly  one  again.st  another, 
and  cans  half  emptied  were  laid  upon  the  deck  (a  rare  proceeding  in 
those  days),  because  the  'Spartan  '  was  the  well-known  name  of  one 
of  the  fleet  blockading  New  London.  It  was  the  name  of  one  that 
had  caused  a  wholesome  dread  to  be  entertained  all  along  our  shores, 
from  the  Vineyard  to  Sandy  Hook.  She  had  for  several  months 
harried  our  coast,  her  vigilant  commander  boasting  that  nothing  had 
escaped  him.  Only  two  weeks  previous  to  Captain  Lumsden's  experi- 
ence with  her,  she  had  chased,  captured,  and  sent  in  to  Halifax,  the 
splended  American  .ship  '  Melancthon,"  bound  from  Valparai-so  to 
Boston,  with  a  cargo  of  copper  ore  valued  at  S3r)0,0()(). 

"Our  privateersmen,  however,  soon  recovered  their  courage  and 
coolness,  and  reasoned:— The  '  Spartan  '  is  a  frigate;  this  ^  a  helpless 


72  HISTORY   OF   \E\V    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Indiaman  hailing;  from  London.  Captain  Lumsden  now  drew  him- 
self to  his  full  height.  In  a  manner  as  imposing  as  he  could  assume. 
he  roared  out: — 

" '  Consider  your  ship  a  prize  to  the  United  States  privateer 
"  Actress."     Send  your  papers  aboard.' 

"  The  commander  of  the  '  Spartan,"  who  afterwards  attained  the 
highest  post  in  the  British  navy,  was  in  his  way  a  wag,  and  he  made 
answer: — 

'"  Really  now,  captain,  would  you  ask  that  I,  the  commander  of 
such  a  great  ship  as  this,  should  strike  my  flag  to  such  a  little  fellow 
as  you  ?' 

"  The  reply  from  the  New  Haven  Nelson,  liberally  garnished  with 
his  country's  oath,  was: — 

"  '  Strike  !  or  I'll  fire  into  you.' 

"  A  moment  thereafter,  the  shrill  sound  of  the  boatswain's  whistle 
was  heard,  and  suddenly-,  as  if  by  magic,  the  ports  on  each  side  of  the 
ship  were  triced  up,  exposing  to  view  about  sixty  heavy  guns.  At 
the  same  time,  a  cheery,  wholesome  voice  said: — 

■' '  Come  to  our  gangway,  and  we'll  hoist  you  in.' 

"  Never  was  an  order  obeyed  with  more  alacrity;  and  amid  the 
laughter  of  derision  and  scorn,  the  '  Actress '  was  swept  alongside. 
At  eight,  A.  M.,  with  a  prize  crew  of  ten  men,  she  was  on  her  course 
to  Halifax.  Her  valiant  crew  were  divided.  Half  were  transferred 
to  the  frigate,  and  half  left  on  board  of  the  privateer.  They  all 
returned  to  New  Haven  some  weeks  afterward,  but  without  their 
cruiser." 

Not  long  after  this  the  packet  "Susan,"  Captain  John  Miles, 
master,  laden  with  a  cargo  valued  at  $15,000,  attempted  to  run  the 
blockade  from  New  York  to  New  Haven.  She  had  great  hopes  of 
succeeding,  when,  near  Stratford  point,  she  was  pursued  by  a  British 
cruiser,  captured  and  taken  to  New  London.  This  news  greatly 
excited  some  of  the  warlike  citizens  of  New  Haven  and  it  was  deter- 
mined to  have  revenge.  A  vessel  was  immediately  manned  by  about 
fifty  persons  who  hastily  started  in  pursuit  of  the  bold  cruiser.  After 
a  short  sail,  they,  too,  ran  into  the  "  Lion's"  mouth,  being  taken  in 
by  the  vessel  they  sought  to  capture.  Their  release  was  secured  by 
ransom  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  they  returned  to  their  families 
with  greatly  enlarged  ideas  of  navall  warfare. 

In  pleasing  contrast  with  these  reverses,  is  the  story  of  the  bril- 
liant success  of  another  New  Haven  county  man,  Commodore  Isaac 
Hull,  who  by  his  heroic  deeds  on  the  frigate  "  Constitution,"  becairiC 
the  naval  hero  of  the  war.  His  celebrated  sea  fight  took  place 
August  19th,  1812,  when  the  "  Constitution,"  carrying  44  guns,  fell  in 
with  his  majesty's  ship*  the  "  Guerriere,"  Captain  J.  R.  Dacres,  com- 
mander, and  carrying  50  guns.  As  the  vessels  neared  each  other 
Dacres  began  to  fire  at  long  range.     Hull  calmly  stood  on  the  quarter 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  73 

deck  determined  that  no  shot  should  be  fired  until  the  enemy  was 
close  at  hand.  Every  man  on  the  "  Constitution  "  stood  at  his  post 
calmly  waiting  for  the  momentous  word  of  command,  or  as  Captain 
Hull  himself  reported:  "  From  the  smallest  boy  in  the  ship  to  the 
oldest  seaman  not  a  look  of  fear  was  .seen.  They  all  went  into  action 
giving  three  cheers  and  requesting  to  be  laid  alongside  of  the  enemy." 
At  the  auspicious  moment  when  the  "  Constitution  "  was  alongside 
and  within  pistol  shot  of  the  "Guerriere,"  Hull  shouted  the  command, 
"Fire  !"  and  with  guns  double  shotted  soon  silenced  the  foe.  In  the 
words  of  a  song  of  that  period: 

' '  Isaac  did  so  maul  and  rake  her 
That  the  decks  of  Captain  Dacres 
Were  in  such  a  woeful  pickle 
As  if  death  with  scythe  and  sickle 
With  his  sling  and  with  his  shaft 
Had  cut  his  harvest  fore  and  aft. 

"  Thus  in  thirty  minutes  ended 
Mischief  that  could  never  be  mended. 
Masts  and  j-ards  and  ship  descended 
All  to  David  Jones'  locker, 
Such  a  ship  in  such  a  pucker." 

Although  the  British  several  times  threatened  to  invade  the  county 
no  serious  attempt  was  made.  A  few  soldiers  were  landed  at  Ston}- 
Creek  in  Branford,  in  September,  1814,  but  be3'ond  carrying  off  some 
propert}-,  no  damage  was  done.  The  shore  towns,  however,  were 
thoroughly  alarmed,  and  that  event  very  materially  hastened  the 
building  of  Fort  Wooster,  on  Beacon  hill,  which,  fortunately  was  never 
called  on  to  defend  the  harbor  of  New  Haven  against  the  entrance  of 
an  enemy. 

One  of  the  incidents  connected  with  the  blockade  of  the  sound 
ports  by  the  British  fleet  was  the  following:  During  the  war  the  three 
houses  of  worship  on  New  Haven  green  were  built.  The  lumber 
used  was  brought  down  the  Connecticut  river  in  boats,  whose  passage 
into  New  Haven  harbor  was  obstructed  until  the  British  Commodore 
Hard}'  learned  for  what  purpose  the  lumber  was  wanted,  when  he 
said  that  he  was  •'  not  making  war  on  religion,"  and  authorized  the 
vessels  to  be  passed.  After  this  vessels  after  vessels,  laden  with  lumber 
were  entered,  as  bringing  material  for  the  meeting  houses,  until 
the  buildings  were  completed  and  the  lumber  yards  stocked  as  they 
never  were  before. 

The  news  of  peace  was  received  about  the  middle  of  Februar\-, 
1815.  and  caused  much  rejoicing  in  the  county,  especiallj'  in  New 
Haven,  where  commerce  had  so  long  suffered.  One  hundred  vessels 
owned  here,  manned  by  more  than  six  hundred  American  .seamen, 
and  scores  of  vessels  in  Derby,  Milford,  Branford  and  Guilford  were 
soon  basking  in  tropical  sunshine,  and  the  unplea.sant  feelings  occa- 


74  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

sioned  by  the  war  were  soon  forgotten  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  pros- 
perity now  visible  on  every  hand. 

When  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke  out  in  1861,  William  A.  Buck- 
ingham, of  Norwich,  was  in  the  gubernatorial  office.  He  was  a  zealous, 
energetic  unionist,  a  man  of  large  wealth  and  had  extensive  business 
relations.  This  well  fitted  him  to  direct  affairs  in  such  perilous  times, 
and  it  was  largely  owing  to  his  influence  and  action,  that  Connecticut 
gave  the  general  government  such  a  strong  and  active  support,  so 
early  in  the  struggle.  The  zeal  manifested  at  the  beginning  was  con- 
tinued unabated,  during  the  war,  and  as  a  consequence  the  state  had 
an  excess  of  more  than  7,(100  men  over  its  quota.  The  entire  number 
of  men  enlisted  in  the  state  (the  terms  being  reduced  to  a  basis  of 
three  years)  was  48,181,  of  whom  only  263  were  drafted.  It  is  said  of 
Governor  Buckingham  that  he  stood  in  the  same  relation  to  the  Union, 
in  the  rebellion,  that  Governor  Trumbull  (the  famous  Brother  Jona- 
than) did  toward  the  colonies  in  the  revolution.  The  latter  was  the 
friend  and  adviser  of  General  Washington;  the  former  was  one  of 
President  Lincoln's  most  tried  and  trusted  friends. 

"  The  Connecticut  troops  raised  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
consisted  of  twenty-eight  regiments  of  infantry  (two  colored),  two  of 
heavy  artillery,  a  regiment  and  squadron  of  cavalry,  and  three  light 
batteries.  These  were  so  distributed  among  the  different  Union 
armies,  that  there  was  hardly  a  battle  of  moment  during  the  war  in 
which  Connecticut  troops  were  not  engaged,  and  some  of  the  infantry 
regiments,  notably  the  7th,  Sth,  lOth,  11th,  14th,  16th  and  21st,  had  a 
list  of  battles  to  show  at  its  close  rarely  ever  equaled  in  the  same  space 
of  time.  To  enumerate  these  battles,  or  to  specify  instances  where 
Connecticut  men  distinguished  themselves  therein,  would  be  to  write 
a  history  of  the  war.  In  the  navy,  too.  which  was  presided  over  during 
the  whole  contest  by  a  Connecticut  man,  Gideon  Welles,  who  was 
throughout  ^Ir.  Lincoln's  admmistration  secretary  of  the  navy,  Con- 
necticut won  new  glory  and  renown."  - 

One  of  the  naval  heroes  of  this  war  was,  also,  a  New  Haven  county 
man.  Rear  Admiral  Andrew  Hull  Foote  was  born  in  New  Haven 
in  1806,  and  was  a  son  of  Hon.  Samuel  Foote.  In  1822  he  entered  the 
navy  and  served  under  Commodore  Hull,  the  hero  of  1812.  In  the 
rebellion  his  achievements  at  Forts  Henry  and  Donnelson,  won  for 
him  grateful  admiration ;  and  his  brilliant  movements  at  Island 
Number  Ten  opened  the  upper  gateway  of  the  Mississippi  to  the 
Union  forces  and  secured  for  him  the  honorable  title  he  bore  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  at  New  York,  June  26th,  1863.  He  had  received  a 
dangerous  wound,  while  operating  on  the  Mississippi,  to  which  he 
succumbed  while  yet  near  the  prime  of  life.  He  was  a  man  of  many 
noble  qualities,  sincere  and  honorable  at  all  times,  his  life  being  one 
of  the  best  types  of  the  Christian  soldier  and  sailor  this  country  has 

*  W.  S.  Webb. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  75 

ever  afforded.  Hi.s  mortal  remains  rest  at  Grove  Street  Cemetery,  in 
New  Haven  city- 
New  Haven  county,  also,  was  the  means  of  giving  to  the  govern- 
ment an  instrument  of  naval  warfare  which  entirely  I'evolutionized 
the  methods  before  employed.  In  the  early  part  of  1862,  Cornelius 
Scranton  Bushnell,  a  native  of  }iIadison,  but  at  that  time  living  in 
New  Haven  city  as  an  active  business  man  and  ship  builder,  entered 
into  a  contract  with  Captain  John  Ericsson  for  the  construction  of  the 
famous  "  Monitor." 

"  Owing  to  lack  of  funds,  Ericsson  had  not  and  would  not  have 
been  able  to  construct  this  wonderful  craft.  Mr.  Bushnell  told  Erics- 
son that  he  was  willing  to  risk  his  entire  fortune  in  the  undertaking, 
and  proved  it  by  making  a  contract  with  the  inventor,  by  means  of 
which  the  'Monitor'  was  constructed.  The  story  of  the  amazement 
its  appearance  created,  of  the  reluctance  of  the  Naval  Board  to  accept 
it — doubting  if  it  would  succeed, — of  its  grand  victory  over  the 
'  Merrimack,'  and  of  the  revolution  in  the  mode  of  naval  warfare  it 
produced  the  world  over,  has  become  one  of  the  great  facts  of  history, 
too  well  known  to  be  repeated.  But  the  essential  part  taken  by  a 
citizen  of  New  Haven  in  this  event  of  world-wide  importance,  not 
only  for  the  immediate  time  but  for  many  future  ages,  is  not  so 
generally  known  or  appreciated."  "•■ 

It  is  doubtful  whether  any  other  agency  disheartened  the  con- 
federates to  a  greater  extent  than  their  inability  to  cope  with  the 
"  Monitors,"  which  practically  destroyed  their  navy,  and  cut  off  the 
hope  which  had  sustained  the  Confederacy  at  this  period  of  the  war. 

After  two  days  bombardment  Fort  Sumter  surrendered  April  14th, 
1861.  Five  days  later  the  First  Connecticut  regiment  rendezvoused 
at  New  Haven.  On  the  6th  of  May,  it  was  joined  in  camp  by  the 
Second  regiment,  a  part  of  which  was  also  made  up  of  men  from  this 
county.  It  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Alfred  Howe  Terry,  who  later 
attained  great  eminence  of  position  as  a  soldier.  In  many  engage- 
ments he  distinguished  himself,  but  his  bravery  and  skill  were  pre- 
eminent at  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher.  In  that  terrible  onslaught  he 
was  in  the  front  of  the  advance,  directing  and  leading  his  men,  among 
which  were  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Connecticut  regiments,  to  a  victory 
which  restilted  in  the  unconditional  surrender  of  the  fort,  which  had 
been  declared  impregnable  by  General  Butler,  after  he  and  Admiral 
Porter  had  failed  to  capture  it.  For  this  service  General  Terry  and 
his  men  received  the  thanks  of  congress,  in  a  special  resolution  to 
that  effect.  At  this  time  Terry  was  a  major  general  of  volunteers, 
but  at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  consideration  of  his  skill  and  valuable 
service,  he  was  brevetted  a  major  general  in  the  regular  army.  This 
was  an  unprecedented  honor  and  the  only  one  so  bestowed  upon  a 
civilian  officer  in  the  war.  In  1888  General  Terry  retired  from  the 
*  '■  New  Haven,  Past  and  Present." 


76  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

army  and  lived  quietly  at   New   Haven   until  his  death,  in  that  city, 
December  16th,  1890. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1861.  the  First  regiment.  Colonel  Chatfield 
commander,  left  New  Haven  for  the  war  and  was  followed  by  the 
Second  regiment  on  the  19th.  It  broke  camp  at  Hamilton  Fork,  at 
6  P.  M.  and  marched  to  the  green,  where  it  received  the  benediction  of 
a  large  crowd  of  people.  On  the  2()th  of  May,  the  Third  regiment, 
Colonel  Arnold  commanding,  left  Hartford,  and  it  is  said  that  these 
three  regimenjts  were  the  first  thoroughly  equipped  and  disciplined 
volunteer  troops  to  arrive  at  Washington.  They  were  soon  in  active 
service  and  participated  in  all  the  early  engagements  of  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  their  enlistment  the  First  and  vSecond  regiments  were 
mustered  out  at  New  Haven,  in  July  and  August,  1861.  The  three 
regiments  had  suffered  a  loss  of  68  men.  Most  of  the  men  in  the  dis- 
banded regiments  reenlisted  for  three  years,  and  it  is  said  that  so 
closely  did  they  apply  themselves  to  the  duties  of  the  soldier  that, 
before  "  the  end  of  the  war,  five  hundred  of  their  number  were  holding 
commissions  in  the  army." 

The  first  martyr  of  New  Haven  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion  was 
Major  Theodore  Winthrop,  the  military  secretary  of  General  Butler, 
who  fell  in  a  charge  on  the  enemy's  line  at  Big  Bethel,  June  10th, 
1861.  He  had  enlisted  in  New  York  as  a  member  of  the  Seventh 
regiment,  but  was  soon  after  a.ssigned  to  the  position  he  held  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Major  Theodore  Winthrop  "  was  the  direct 
descendant  of  John  Winthrop,  the  first  governor  of  Connecticut,  and 
was  born  at  New  Haven  in  1828.  Graduating  from  Yale  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  he  spent  several  years  in  visiting  all  parts  of  the  world.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1855,  but  devoted  most  of  his  time  during 
the  next  five  years  to  literary  pursuits.  Many  brilliant  magazine 
articles,  and  several  volumes,  published  posthumously,  remain  as  the 
result  of  this  period  of  work,  to  bear  witness  of  his  genius.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  to  enlist,  being  very  active  and  influential  during  the 
early  days  of  the  war.  His  funeral  at  New  Haven,  June  21st,  1861, 
was  attended  by  many  celebrated  men  from  different  sections  of  the 
country.  Sacrificing  his  life  in  a  gallant  attempt  to  redeem  a  rever.se 
of  the  Union  troops,  and  falling  among  the  earliest  martyrs  to  the 
cause,  the  name  of  Winthrop  was  soon  joined  with  that  of  Ellsworth, 
and  cherished  throughout  the  country  as  an  emblem  of  heroism  and 
patriotic  devotion."  - 

Later  in  the  war.  many  no'ble  sons  of  the  county  were  called  upon 
to  offer  up  the  sacrifice  of  their  lives  for  the  cau.se  of  the  Union. 
Among  these  were  Lieutenant  Henry  M.  Button,  Colonel  Arthur 
Button  of  the  Twenty-first  Conn.  Vols.,  Major  Edward  F.  Blake,  Cap- 
tain Bernard  E.  Schweizer,  Captain  Addison  L.  Taylor,  Captain  Julius 
Bas.sett,  Chaplain  Jacob  Eaton  and  many  others  elsewhere  named. 

*  "New  Haven,  Past  and  Present." 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  77 

In  the  long  term  service  many  of  the  First  regiment  enlisted  under 
Colonel  Chatfield  as  the  Sixth  regiment  which  was  recruited  at  Oyster 
Point  and  left  for  service  at  Washington  September  17th,  1861.  The 
Seventh  regiment  of  three  years  men,  was  organized  at  the  same  place, 
under  Colonel  Terry.  It  broke  camp  September  18th,  18fil,  and  after 
being  at  Washington  some  time,  was  sent  to  South  Carolina.  About 
the  same  time  the  Ninth  regiment  was  being  formed  at  Camp  English, 
at  New  Haven.  It  was  composed  almost  wholly  of  men  of  Irish  birth, 
most  of  them  being  from  New  Haven  county.  Its  colonel  was  Thomas 
W.  Cahill,  of  New  Haven,  and  the  organization  achieved  a  fine  reputa- 
tion. Later  in  the  fall  of  1861,  the  Thirteenth  regiment  redezvoused 
at  New  Haven  and  prepared  for  active  service  under  Colonel  Birge, 
who  was  a  very  strict  disciplinarian.  When  this  organization  left  for 
the  field,  in  March,  1862,  its  fine  appearance,  in  every  particular,  won 
for  it  the  appellation  of  the  "  Dandy  regiment."  Although  so  cleanly 
and  orderly,  it  was  very  valiant  in  battle,  rendering  distinguished 
service. 

Under  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  300,000  men,  July  1st,  1862, 
the  Fifteenth  regiment  was  organized  at  its  camp,  on  Oyster  Point. 
Dexter  R.  Wright  was  appointed  colonel,  and  Samuel  ToUes,  lieuten- 
ant colonel.  It  moved  to  the  seat  of  war  August  28th,  1862.  In  the 
meantime.  Colonel  Ross'  Twentieth  regiment  was  forming  in  the  same 
camp.  William  B.Wooster,  of  Derby,  was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel. 
The  regiment  moved  to  the  front  in  the  South,  September  11th,  1862. 

In  October,  1862,  Colonel  C.  E.  L.  Holmes,  of  Waterbury,  formed 
the  Twenty-third  regiment  at  Grape  Vine  Point,  at  New  Haven,  at 
which  place  were  soon  after  organized  the  Twenty-seventh  and  the 
Twenty-eighth  regiments.  The  first  and  the  last  named  moved  to  the 
scenes  of  battle  November  17th,  1862.  The  Twenty-seventh  departed 
earlier,  leaving  October  22d,  1862.  This  body  and  the  Twentieth  suf- 
fered very  much  in  the  campaigns  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  At 
Chancellorsville.  May  2d  and  8d,  the  latter  regiment  lost  27  officers  and 
170  men,  about  one-third  the  number  they  had  in  service.  All  of  the 
Twenty-seventh,  except  160  men,  were  captured  and  sent  to  Libby 
Prison.  The  same  bodies  were  at  the  terrible  battles  at  Gettysburg, 
being  engaged  in  the  thickest  of  the  fights.  On  the  second  of  July, 
Lieittenant  Colonel  Henry  C.  Merwin  of  the  Twenty-seventh  was  killed 
while  his  command  was  charging  upon  the  enemy.  The  regiment 
went  into  the  engagements  with  74  men,  of  whom  39  were  lost,  among 
whom  was,  also.  Captain  Jedediah  Chapman. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  war  the  Fifteenth  regiment,  serving  along 
the  coast  of  North  Carolina  suffered  from  yellow  fever.  The  Ninth 
and  the  Thirteenth  were  in  the  battles  of  Cedar  Creek  and  Winchester, 
where  Colonel  Frank  Peck  lost  his  life.  At  Cedar  Creek  Captain  John 
P.  Lowell,  of  New  Haven,  was  killed.  The  loss  of  officers,  especially, 
was  very  heavy  in  the  engagements  of  1863—4,  embracing  besides  the 


78 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY, 


<* 


foregoing.  Captain  George  S.  Benton,  Isaac  A.  Bronson,  E.  S.  Hitch- 
cock, Charles  Smith,  Edward  Lines,  Major  E.  Walton  Osborn  and 
many  other  commissioned  officers.  Of  the  dead  in  the  rank  and  file 
an  approximately  correct  list  has  been  given  in  the  exhaustive 
volumes  prepared  under  .state  direction,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred 
for  many  facts  concerning  all  the  wars  and  those  who  participated  in 
them.  It  would  be  a  rare  pleasure  to  here  record  the  names  of  all  the 
patriotic  citizens  of  the  county  who  aided  in  saving  the  Union  of 
states,  or  at  least  to  give  the  roll  of  honor,  of  the  brave,  fallen  and 
departed  heroes,  but  the  limits  of  space  will  not  permit.  In  most  of 
the  towns  fine  monuments  have  been  erected  to  the  memory  of  these 
brave  men. 

Many  of  the  officers  of  the  regiments  which  went  out  from  New 
Haven  county  were  promoted  to  higher  ranks.  The  county  had  as 
major  generals,  Alfred  H.  Terry  and  Henry  W.  Benham;  as  brigadier 
generals,  Luther  P.  Bradley,  Benjamin  S.  Roberts  and  A.  Van  Stein- 
wehr;  as  brevet  brigadier  generals,  Henry  B.  Carrington,  E.  D.  S. 
Goodyear,  Edwin  S.  Greeley,  Brayton  Ives,  Edward  M.  Lee  and  Erastus 
Blakesley. 

The  following  statistical  table  shows  the  aggregate  amounts  of 
means  raised  by  the  several  towns  for  the  preservation  of  the  L^nion. 
A  comparison  with  the  Grand  List  shows  the  proportion  to  the  means 
of  the  town.     Fractional  parts  of  a  dollar  are  omitted  :  * 


E.^pended  by  Towns 

Individual     means 

Xame  of  Towns. 

Grand  List  of  1804. 

for  Premiums,  Boun- 
ties snd   Support   of 
Families. 

raised  in  each  town 
for  the  same  objects. 

New  Haven   -        -        -        - 

$29,681,409 

$308,027 

$20,000 

Bethany          .... 

626,252 

5,000 

1,800 

Branford         -        -        -        - 

1,075,441 

27,180 

14,300 

Cheshire          .         .        .        _ 

1,228,439 

8,275 

5,000 

Derby     ----- 

3,037,655 

37,955 

37,310 

East  Haven    -        -        .        . 

1,514,488 

24,319 

4,500 

Guilford          -        .        -        . 

1,511,199 

12,591 

8,2,50 

Hamden          .... 

1,409,091 

29,098 

9,543 

Madison          -        .        .        _ 

836,496 

16,S00 

11,300 

Meriden           -        -        -        . 

4,300,981 

91,371 

10,715 

Middlebury    .... 

.365,123 

5,020 

1,975 

Milford            -        .        .        - 

1,001,448 

46,699 

5,028 

Naugatuck     -        -        .        . 

1,130,904 

42,382 

1,100 

North  Branford      - 

533,867 

15,402 

4,800 

North  Ha\-en          ... 

695,477 

10,404 

3,956 

Orange            -        -        .        . 

994,122 

12,536 

15,003 

Oxford    ----- 

626,107 

15,250 

2,975 

Prospect         .... 

210,400 

3,783 

1,450 

Seymour         -        .        .        . 

826,748 

17,800 

3,150 

Southbury      -        -        .        - 

860.709 

20,050 

Walhngford   -        -        -        . 

1,796,416 

40.752 

6,'2o6 

Waterbury     -        .        -        . 

6,257,000 

133,525 

17,. 500 

Woodbridge  .        -        .        - 

602,803 

8.700 

3,, 545 

Wolcott           .... 

296,691 

3,175 

$61,409,266 

$932,919 

$181,475 

From  "Connecticut  in  the  Present  War,"  1869. 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  79 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  about  S-^-5.i»00  was  paid  for  commuta- 
tions by  individuals.  It  will  be  seen  that  about  one-sixtieth  part  of  the 
assessed  value  of  the  county  was  applied  for  the  prosecution  of  the  war. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  war  some  "Home  Guards"  were  organized  at 
New  Haven,  but  local  protection  against  the  enemy  was  never  needed. 

In  June.  1862,  the  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded  Union  soldiers  was 
begun  at  the  Connecticut  Hospital  at  Xew  Haven,  the  first  ministra- 
tions being  by  the  general  society.  In  April,  1863,  the  war  depart- 
ment took  charge  of  the  work,  naming  the  hospital  the  Knight 
Hospital  (after  the  venerable  Doctor  Knight)  and  supplied  l,o()0  beds. 
The  government  treated  25,340  cases  But  IS.^  men  died  from  the 
time  of  its  occupancy  in  1862  until  the  government  vacated  it  in 
November,  1865. 

No  reliable  data  has  thus  far  been  prepared  to  show  the  number  of 
men  furnished  by  the  county,  or  the  number  which  should  properly 
be  credited  to  it.  In  many  cases  enlistments  were  made  to  the  credit 
of  other  towns  or  states,  and  some  men  from  other  states  were  also 
secured  on  account  of  towns  of  this  county. 

The  following  lists  of  general  state  officers  will  be  valuable  for 
reference  in  connection  with  the  events  elsewhere  noted.  They  have 
been  taken  from  the  State  Manual. 

Governors  of  Connecticut:  John  Haynes,  1639,  41,  43,45,47,49, 
51,53:  Edward  Hopkins,  1640,  44,  46,  48,  50,52,54:  George  Wyllys. 
1642-3;  Thomas  Welles,  16.")5.  58:  John  Webster.  1656-7:  John  w'in- 
throp,  1657,  59-76:  William  Leete,  1676-83:  Robert  Treat,  1683-98: 
Fitz  John  Winthrop,  1698-1708:  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  1708-25:  Joseph 
Talcott,  1725-42:  Jonathan  Law,  1742-51:  Roger  Wolcott.  1751-4: 
Thomas  Fitch,  1754-66:  William  Pitkin,  1766-9:  Jonathan  Trumbull, 
1769-84:  Matthew  Griswold,  1784-6:  Samuel  Huntington,  1786-96: 
Oliver  Wolcott,  1796-7:  Jonathan  Trumbull,  1797-1809;  John  Tread- 
well.  1809-11;  Roger  Griswold,  1811-12;  John  Cotton  Smith,  1812-17; 
Oliver  Wolcott,  1817-27;  Gideon  Tomlinson,  1827-31:  John  S,  Peters, 
1831-3:  Henry  W.  Edwards,  1833-4;  vSamuel  A.  Foot,  1834-5:  Henry 
W.  Edwards,  1835-8;  William  W.  Ellsworth,  1838-42;  Chauncey  F. 
Cleveland,  1842-4:  Roger  S.  Baldwin,  1844-6;  Isaac  Toucey,  1846-7; 
Clark  Bissell,  1847-9:  Joseph  Trumbull,  1849-50;  Thomas  H.  Seymour, 
1850-3;  Charles  H,  Pond,  1853-4;  Henry  Button,  1854-5;  William  T. 
Minor,  1855-7:  Alexander  H.  Holley,  1857-8;  William  A.  Buckingham, 
1858-66;  Joseph  R.  Hawley,  1866-7:  James  E.  English,  1867-9,  1870-1; 
Marshall  Jewell,  1869-70, 1871-3:  Charles  R.  Inger.soll,  1873-7;  Richard 
D.  Hubbard,  1877-9;  Charles  B.  Andrews,  1879-81;  Hobart  B.  Bigelow, 
1881-3;  Thomas  M.  Waller,  1883-5;  Henry  B.  Harrison,  1885-7: 
Phineas  C.  Lounsbury,  1887-9:  Morgan  G.  Bulkeley,  1889." 

*  The  election  of  Xovember  4th.  ISiio,  for  governor,  lieutenant  governor  and 
secretary  of  state  being  in  dispute,  those  officers,  elected  in  ISSO.  hold  over.  The 
cjntestants  are  the  following:     For    Governor:  Samuel  E.  Merwin,  Republican, 


b'O  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Deputy,  or  lieutenant  governors:  Roger  Ludlow,  lOliO,  42,  48;  John 
Haynes,  1640,  44,  46,  oo,  52;  George  Wyllys,  1641-2;  Edward  Hopkins, 
164B,  45,  47,  49,  51,  53;  Thomas  Welles,  1654,  56-8,  59;  John  Webster, 
1655-6:  John  Winthrop,  1658-9;  John  Mason,  1660-9;  William  Leete, 
1669-76;  Robert  Treat,  1676-83;  James  Bishop,  1683-92;  William  Jones, 
1692-8;    Robert    Treat.    1698-1708;    Nathan    Gold,    1708-24;    Joseph 
Talcott,    1724  5;    Jonathan    Law,    1725-42;    Roger   Wolcott,    1742-5] 
Thomas  Fitch,  1751-4:  William   Pitkin,  1754-66;  Jonathan  Trumbull 
1766-9;    Matthew    Griswold,   1769-84;    Samuel    Huntington,    1784-6 
Oliver  Wolcott,  1786-96;  Jonathan  Trumbull,  1796-8;  John  Treadwell 
1798-1809;    Roger   Griswold,    1809-11;    John  Cotton    Smith,    1811-13 
Chauncey  Goodrich,  1813-15;  Jonathan  Inger.soll,  1816-23;  David  Plants 
1823-7;  John  S.  Peters,  1827-31;   no  election,  1831-2;  Thaddeus  Bctts 
1832-3;  Ebenezer  Stoddard,  1833-4;  Thaddeus  Betts,  1834-5;  Ebenezer 
Stoddard,    1835-8;    Charles    Hawley,    1838-42;    William    S.    Holabird 
1842-4;    Reuben   Booth,  1844-6:    Noyes    Billings,  1846-7;    Charles   J 
McCurdy,  1847-9;  Thomas  Backus,  1849-50;  Charles  H.  Pond,  1850-1 
Green    Kendnck,    1851-2;    Charles    H.    Pond,    1852-4;    Alexander  H 
Holley,  1854-5;  William  Field,  1855-6;  Albert  Day,  1856-7;  Alfred  A 
Burnham,  1857-8;  Julius  Catlin,   1858-61;  Benjamin  Douglas,  1861-2 
Roger    Averill,  1862-6;    Oliver    F.    Winchester,    1866-7;  Ephraim   H, 
Hyde,  1867-9;  Francis  Wayland,  1869-70;  Julius  Hotchkiss,  1870-1: 
Morris  Tyler,  1871-3;  George  G.  Sill,  1873-7;  Francis  B.  Loomis,  1877- 
9:  David  Gallup,  1879-81;  William   H.  Bulkeley,   1881-3:    George  G. 
Sumner,  1883-5;  Lorrin   A.  Cooke,  1885-7;  James  L.  Howard,  1887-9; 
Samuel  E.  Merwin,  1889. 

Secretaries:  Edward  Hopkins,  1639-41;  Thomas  Welles.  1641-8; 
John  Cullick,  1648-58;  Daniel  Clark,  1658-64,  65-7;  John  Allyn,  1664-5, 
67-96;  Eleazer  Kimberly,  1696-1709;  William  Whiting,  1709;  Caleb 
.Stanly,  1709-12;  Richard  Lord,  1712;  Hezekiah  Wyllys,  1712-35; 
George  Wyllys,  1735-96;  Samuel  Wyllys,  1796-1810;  Thomas  Day, 
1810-35;  Royal  R.  Hinman,  1835-42;  Noah  A.  Phelps,  1842-4;  Daniel 
P.  Tyler,  1844-6;  Charles  W.  Bradley,  1846-7;  John  B.  Robertson, 
1847-9:  Roger  H.  Mills,  1849-50;  Hiram  Weed,  1850;  John  P.  C. 
Mather,  1850-4;  Oliver  H.  Perry,  1854-5;  N.  D.  Sparry,  1855-7;  Orville 
H.  Piatt,  1857-8;  John  Boyd,  1858-61;  J.  Hammond  Trumbull,  1861-6; 
Leverett  E.  Pease,  1866-9;  Hiram  Appleman,  1869-70;  Thomas  M. 
Waller,  1870-1;  Hiram  Appleman,  1871-3;  D.  Webster  Edgecomb,  1873; 
Marvin  H.  Sanger,  1873-7;  Dwight  Morris,  1877-9;  David  Torrance, 
1879-81;  Charles  E.Searls,  1881-3:  D.  Ward  Northrop,  1883-5;  Charles 
A.  Russell,  1885-7;  Leverett  M.  Hubbard,  1887-9;  R.  Jay  Walsh,  1S89. 

had  63,975  votes ;  Luzon  B.  Morris,  Democrat,  67,658  votes.  For  Lieut.  Governor: 
Bowen,  Republican,  63,577  votes  ;  Alsop,  Democrat,  67,881  votes.  For  Secretary: 
McLean,  Republican,  63,530  votes;  Phelan,  Democrat,  67,754  votes.  For  Comp- 
troller: Staub,  Democrat,  received  68,271  votes,  being  a  clear  majority  of  the  133,- 
502  votes  cast  at  that  election. 


HISTORY    i)|-    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  81 

Comptrollers:  James  Wadsworth,  1786-8;  Oliver  Wolcott,  1788- 
90;  Ralph  Pomeroy.  1700-1;  Andrew  Kingsbury,  1791-3;  John  Porter, 
1798-1806;  Elisha  Colt,  1806-19;  James  Thomas,  1819-30;  Elisha 
Phelps,  1830-4;  Roger  Huntington,  1834-.");  Gideon  Welles,  1830-6; 
William  Field,  1836-8:  Henry  Kilbourn,  1838-42;  Gideon  Welles, 
1842-4;  Abijah  Carrington,  1844-6;  Mason  Cleveland,  1846-7;  Abijah 
Catlin,  1847-50;  Rufus  G.  Pinney,  1850-4;  John  Dunham,  1854-5; 
Alexander  Merrell,  1855-6;  Edward  Prentis,  1856  7;  Joseph  G.  Lamb, 
1857-8;  William  H.  Buell,  1858-61;  Leman  W.  Cutler,  1861-6;  Robbins 
Battell,  1866-7;  Jesse  Olney,  1867-9;  James  W.  Manning,  1869-70; 
Seth  S.  Logan,  1870-1;  James  W.  Manning,  1871-3;  Alfred  R.  Good- 
rich, 1873-7;  Charles  C.  Hubbard,  1877-9;  Chauncey  Howard,  1879-81; 
Wheelock  T.  Batcheller,  1881-3;  Frank  D.  Sloat.  1883-5;  Luzerne  L 
Munson,  1885-7;  Thomas  Clark,  1887-9;  John  B.  Wright,  1889-91; 
Nicholas  Staiib,  1891. 

The  following-  United  vStates  Senators  from  the  state  of  Connecticut 
were  from  New  Haven  county,  the  years  of  service  being  given  ; 
Roger  Sherman,  1791-3;  James  Hillhouse,  1796-1810;  David  Daggett, 
1813-19;  Henry  W.  Edwards,  1823-7;  Samuel  A.  Foot,  1827-33;  Nathan 
Smith,  1833-5;  Roger  vS.  Baldwin,  1847-51;  James  E.  English,  1875-6; 
Orville  H.  Piatt,  1879  to  the  present  time. 

Prior  to  1837  the  representatives  of  the  state  in  the  United  States 
congress  were  elected  at  large.  From  1837  to  1843  there  were  six  dis- 
tricts and  each  one  elected  a  congressman.  Since  1843  there  have 
been  but  four  districts,  the  counties  of  Middlesex  and  New  Haven 
constituting  District  No.  2.  The  following  congressmen  were  from 
New  Haven  county:  Roger  Sherman,  1789-91;  James  Hillhouse, 
1791-6;  Elizur  Goodrich,  1799-1801;  Simeon  Baldwin,  1803-1805; 
Samuel  A.  Foot,  1819-21;  Henry  W.  Edwards,  1819-23;  Samuel  A. 
Foot,  1823-5;  Ralph  L  Ingersoll,  1825-33;  Samuel  A.  Foot,  1833-5; 
William  W.  Eoardman,  1841-3;  Walter  Booth,  1849-51;  Colin  M. 
Ingersoll,  1851-5:  John  Woodruff,  1855-7;  John  Woodruff,  1859-61; 
James  E.  English,"  1861-5;  Stephen  W.  Kellogg,  1869-75;  Charles  I. 
Mitchell,  1883-7;  Carlos  French,  1887-9.  The  present  member  of  the 
Second  district  is  Washington  F.  Willcox,  of  Deep  River,  in  Middle- 
sex county,  who  has  served  since  1889. 

The  following  have  been  the  State  Senators  of  the  county  the  past 
sixty  years  : 

1830,  4th  District,  William  W.  Boardman;  5th.  Noyes  Darling:  6th, 
John  D.  Reynolds. 

1831,  4th  District,  William  W.  Boardman;  5th,  Noyes  Darling;  0th, 
Retiben  Elliott. 

1832,  4th  District,  William  W.  Boardman;  5th.  John  Pierce;  6th, 
Charles  Shelton. 

1833,  4th  District,  Jared  Bassett;  5th,  John  Pierce;  6th,  Ashbel 
Griswold. 

6 


82  HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

1835,  4th  District,  Henry  C.  Flagg;  5th,  Joel    Hinman;  6th,  Friend 
Cook. 

1836,  4th    District,    Abijah    Carrington;    5th,    Joel    Hmman;    6th, 
Anson  Foote. 

1837,  4th  District,  Roger  S.  Baldwin;  5th,  James  D.  Wooster;  6th, 
Noah  Pomeroy. 

1838,4th   District,   Roger  S.  Baldwin;  5th,  William  C.  De  Forest; 
6th,  Edward  A.  Cornwall. 

1839,  4th  District,  Abijah  Carrington;  5th,  Orrin   Plumb;  6th,  Joel 
Tuttle. 

1840,  4th  District,  Eleazer  Warner;  5th,  Orrin   Plumb;  6th,  Edgar 
Atwater. 

1841,  4th  District,  Aaron  N.  Skinner;  5th,  David  W.  Plumb;  6th, 
James  Blackstone. 

1842,  4th  District,  Aaron  N.  Skinner;  5th,   Alfred  Blackman;  6th, 
Benajah  Ives. 

1843,  4th   District,  Griswold  I.  Gilbert;  5th,  Edward  Hinman;  6th. 
Levi  S.  Parsons. 

1844,  4th    District,    Nelson    Newton;    5th,    Norton    I.    Buel;    6th, 
Samuel  Spencer. 

1845,  4th  District,  Aaron  N.  Skinner;  5th,  Selah  Strong;  6th,  John 
R.  Wilcox. 

1846,  4th   District,  Marcus   Merriman,  Jr.;    5th,  Green   Kendrick; 
6th,  Ezra  Stiles. 

1847,  4th  District,  Marcus  Merriman,  Jr.;  5th,    Jason  W.  Bradley; 
6th,  Rufus  Rogers. 

1848,  4th   District,   Philip  S.  Galpin;    5th,   Leonard   Bronson;  6th, 
Fenner  Bush. 

1849,  4th    District,    Henry    Dutton;    5th,   Thomas    Burlock;    6th, 
Dexter  R.  Wright. 

1850,  4th    Di-strict,   John    S.    Rice;    5th,  George    P.   Shelton;    6th, 
George  Landon. 

1851,  4th  District,  Joel  White;  5th,  Ira  Tuttle;  6th,  Nathan  G.  Fish. 

1852,  4th   District,  Griswold   I.  Gilbert;    5th,  Asa  M.  Train;    6th, 
David  S.  Fowler. 

1853,  4th  District,  Hawley  Olmstead;  5th,  Stephen  W.  Kellogg;  6th, 
Stephen  H.  Payne. 

1854,  4th  District,  Henry  B.  Harrison;  5th,  George  W.  Carter;  6th, 
Julius  Pratt. 

1855,  4th  District,  James   F.  Babcock;  5th,  P.  B.  Buckingham;  6th, 
William  M.  Hall. 

1856,  4th   District,  James   E.   English;  5th,   Henry  Atwater;    6th, 
Edward  R.  Landon. 

1857,  4th   District,  James  E.  English;  5th,   Willard   Spencer;  6th, 
William  T.  Peters. 


HISTORY    UF   NEW    HAVKN   COLNTV.  83 

1858,  4th   District.  James   E.  English;    5th,  Aaron  Benedict;  6th. 
George  Rose. 

1859,  4th  District,  Wilson  H.  Clark;  5th,  William  B.  Wooster;  6th. 
Abel  Scranton. 

1860,  4th  District.  Wilson  H.  Clark;  5th,  Nathan   A.  Baldwin;  6th. 
Erastus  C.  vScranton. 

1861,  4th   District,  Joel  Ives;  .5th,  James  Brown;  6th,  Orville  H. 
Piatt. 

1862,  4th   District,  Chas.   Atwater,  Jr.;    .5th,  Lyman  W.  Coe;  6th, 
Orville  H.  Piatt. 

1863,  4th    District,   James   J.    Webb;    5th,    Elisha    Wheeler;    6th, 
Franklin  C.  Phelps. 

1864,  4th   District,  Edward  I.  Sanford;  5th,  Green   Kendrick;  6th, 
James  M.  Townsend. 

1865,  4th   District,  Edward  I.  Sanford;  5th,  Sylvester  vSmith;  6th, 
H.  Lynde  Harrison. 

1866,  4th  District,  Thomas  H.  Bond;  5th,  Lsaac  T.  Rogers;  6th,  H. 
Lynde  Harrison. 

1867,  4th    District,  James  Gallagher;    .5th,  Isaac  T.   Rogers;    6th, 
Whitney  Elliott. 

1868,  4th   District,  James  Gallagher;    5th,   Isaac   T.    Rogers;    6th, 
Garry  I.  Mix. 

1869,  4th  District,  Lucien  W.  Sperry;  5th,  Edward  N.  Shelton;  6th, 
Samuel  W.  Dudley. 

1870,  4th   District,   Lucien    \V.  Sperry;  5th,  William  Brown;  6th, 
S.  H.  Scranton. 

1871,  4th  District,  Henry  Tuttle;  5th,  Thomas  Elmes;  6th,  George 
A.  Fay. 

1872,  4th    District.    Henry   Stoddard:    5th,    Thomas    Elmes;    6th, 
Howard  C.  Ives. 

1873,  4th    District,    Henry   Stoddard;    .5th,    Hial   S.  Stevens;    6th, 
Augustus  C.  Wilcox. 

1874,  4th  Di.strict,  Luzon   B.   Morris;  5th.  Hial  S.  Stevens;  6th,  H. 
C.  Wilcox.  ' 

1875,  4th  District,   Caleb  B.  Bowers;  5th,   Benjamin  Nichols;  6th, 
Charles  D.  Yale. 

1876,  4th  District,  Samuel  E.  Merwin.  Jr.;  5th,  Benjamin  Nichols; 
6th,  Joel  H.  Guy. 

1877,  4th  District,  Caleb   B.   Bowers;  5th,  Royal  M.  Bassett;  6th, 
Charles  A.  Bray. 

1878,  4th  District,  Caleb   B.   Bowers;   5th,  Samuel  W.  Post;    (ith, 
Charles  A.  Bray. 

1879,  4th   District,   Carlos  Smith;    5th,  Samuel  W.    Post;    6th,  H. 
Wales  Lines. 

1880,  4th  District,  Carlos  Smith;  5th,  William  Brown;  6th.  H.  Wales 
Lines. 


84  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

1881,  4th    District,  William    J.    Mills;    Tith,    William    Brown;    (Ith, 
Edward  F.  Jones. 

1882,  5th    District,  James  S.  Elton;    Gth,  Edward    F.  Jones;    7th, 
George  M.  Gunn;  8th,  William  J.  Mills. 

1883,  5th  District,  James  S.  Elton;  6th,  Charles  D.Yale;  7th,  George 
M.  Gunn;  8th,  Joseph  D.  Plunkett. 

1884,  5th   District,  Edward  T.  Turner;  6th,  Charles  D.  Yale;  7th, 
Edmund  Day;  8th,  Joseph  D.  Plunkett. 

1885,  5th  Di.strict,  Edward  T.  Turner;  6th,  William  H.  Golden;  7th, 
Edmund  Day;  8th,  A.  Heaton  Robertson. 

1886,  5th    District,    B.    B.  Tuttle;    6th,  William    H.  Golden;    7th. 
Edward  A.  Bradley:  8th,  A.  Heaton  Robertson. 

1887,  5th  District,   H.  A.  Matthews;  6th,  Edgar  J.  Doolittle;  7th, 
James  Graham;  8th,  James  Gallagher. 

1888-9,  5th  District,  Homer  A.   Twitchell;  6th,  George   N.  Morse: 
7th,  James  Graham;  8th,  James  N.  States. 

1890-1,  5th  District,  Homer  A.  Twitchell;  6th,  .Seth  J.  Hall;  7th, 
Frederick  W.  Holden;  8th,  Timothy  J.  Fox. 

The  Representatives  in  the  state  legislature,  of  the  different  towns 
for  the  same  period  have  been  as  follows  : 

New  Haven.— 1830,  Henry  W.  Edwards,  Joseph  N.  Clark;  1831. 
William  Mix,  Samuel  Wadsworth;  1832,  Dennis  Kimberly,  Silas  Mix; 
1833,  Joseph  N.  Clark,  Silas  Mix;  1834,  Isaac  H.  Townsend,  Philip  S. 
Galpin;  1835,  Dennis  Kimberly,  Philip  S.  Galpin;  1836,  William  W. 
Boardman,  Levi  Gilbert,  2d;  1837-8,  William  W.  Boardman,  James 
Donaghe;  1839,  William  W.  Boardman,  Leverett  Candee;  1840,  Roger 
S.  Baldwin,  John  B.  Robertson;  1841,  Roger  S.  Baldwin,  James  F. 
Babcock;  1842,  Thomas  G.  Woodward,  Henry  Peck;  1843,  Philip  S. 
Galpin,  Eleazer  K.  Fo.ster;  1844,  Eleazer  K.  Foster,  Marcus  Merriman, 
Jr.;  1845,  William  W.  Boardman,  Levi  Gilbert,  2d;  1846,  William  W. 
Boardman,  W^illiam  H.  Russell:  1847,  William  H.  Russell,  Henry  E. 
Peck;  1848,  Henry  E.  Peck,  Philos  Blake;  1849,  William  W.  Boardman, 
Aaron  N.  Skinner:  1850,  Henry  E.  Peck,  Henry  Dutton;  1851,  William 
W.  Boardman,  Chauncey  Jerome,  Jr.;  1852,  vStephen  D.  Pardee, 
Timothy  Lester;  1853,  Charles  B.  Lines,  Charles  Ives;  1854,  Henry  E. 
Peck,  John  Woodruff,  2d;  1855,  Alfred  Blackman,  James  E.  English; 
1856,  Charles  R.  Ingensoll,  Charles  L.  English;  1857,  Charles  R.  Inger- 
soU,  Ira  Merwin;  1858,  Charles  R.  IngersoU,  Hiram  Camp:  1859-60, 
Harmanus  M.  Welch,  John  W.  Mansfield;  1861,  James  Gallagher, 
Charles  Atwater,  Jr.;  1862,  Cornelius  S.  Bu.shnell,  David  J.  Peck;  1863, 
James  Gallagher,  Thomas  H.  Bond;  1864,  John  S.  Farren,  George  H. 
Watrous:  1865,  Eleazer  K.  Foster,  Henry  B.  Harrison;  186(;,  Charles 
R.  Inger.soll,  Tilton  E.  Doolittle;  1867,  Tilton  E.  Doolittle,  Alfred  W. 
Phelps;  1868,  Henry  G.  Lewis,  Alfred  W.  Phelps;  1869,  vSamuel  L. 
Bronson,  Michael  Williams;  1870,  Tilton  E.  Doolittle,  Luzon  B.  Morris; 
1871,  Charles  R.  IngersoU,  Henry  Stoddard;  1872,  James  E.   English, 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  85 

James  F.  Babcock;  1873,  James  F.  Babcock,  Henry  B.  Harrison;  1874, 
Tilton  E.  Doolittle.  William  C.  Robinson;  1875,  Hobart  B.  Bigelow, 
Thomas  D.  Kennedy;  1876,  Samuel  L.  Bronson,  Luzon  B.  Morris;  1877, 
Samuel  L.  Bronson,  Thomas  F.  McGrail;  1878,  James  Gallagher,  Wil- 
liam J.  Mills;  1879,  Dexter  R.  Wright,  John  H.  Leeds;  1880,  Luzon  B. 
Morris,  A.  Heaton  Robertson;  1881,  Luzon  B.  Morris,  Cornelius  T. 
Driscoll;  1882,  A.  Heaton  Robertson,  Timothy  J.  Fox;  1883,  Alexander 
Troup,  William  H.  Law;  1884,  Henry  B.  Harrison,  William.  H.  Law; 
188.-),  Alexander  Troup,  James  P.  Pigott;  1886,  James  P.  Pigott,  Ezekiel 
G.  Stoddard;  1887,  Adolphus  F.  Hunie,  James  E.  Connor;  1888-9, 
Isaac  Wolfe,  A.  Frederick  Hume;  1890-1.  David  Callahan,  Hobart  E. 
Hotchkiss. 

Waterbury.— 1830,  Elias  Clark,  Joel  Hinman;  1831,  Joel  Hinman, 
Francis  .Spencer;  1832,  Elias  Cook,  Edmund  Austin;  1833,  Obadiah 
Warner,  Elisha  S.  Abernathy;  1834,  Willard  Spencer,  William  H. 
Hine;  1835-6,  Timothy  Ball,  Marshall  Hoadley;  1837,  Joel  Hinman, 
Ransom  Culver;  1838,  William  H.  Hine,  Samuel  J.  Holmes;  1839, 
Richard  Hine,  Samuel  J.  Holmes;  1840,  John  P.  Elton.  Francis 
Spencer;  1841,  Aaron  Benedict,  Richard  Hine;  1842,  Joel  Hmman, 
John  Peck;  1843,  George  L.  vSmith,  (no  choice);  1844,  Scoville  M.  Buck- 
ingham; 1845,  Green  Kendrick,  David  W.  Austin;  1846,  James  M.  L. 
Scoville,  Norton  I.  Buell;  1847,  Greene  Kendrick,  George  W.  Benedict; 
1848,  Greene  Kendrick,  John  P.  Elton;  1849,  Larmon  W.  Abbott,  James 
M.  L.  Scoville;  1850,  John  P.  Elton,  Frederick  J.  Kingsbury;  1851, 
Edward  S.  Clarke,  Julius  Hotchkiss;  1852,  Edward  S.  Clarke,  Hobart 
V.  Welton;  1853,  Joseph  Smith,  Hobart  V.  Welton;  1854,  Greene 
Kendrick,  Edward  L.  Frisbie:  1855,  Edward  S.  Clarke,  Leonard 
Pritchard;  1856,  Greene  Kendrick,  Stephen  W.  Kellogg;  1857,  John 
Buckingham,  William  Lamb;  1858,  L.  W.  Coe,  Frederick  J.  Kingsbury; 
1859.  John    Buckingham,  James  Brown;  1860,  James   Brown,   Russell 

A.  Coe;  1861,  Greene  Kendrick,  Nelson  J.  Welton:  1862.  John  P.  Elton, 

B.  P.  Chatfield;  1863-4,  E.  Leavenworth,  Henry  A.  Matthews;  1865, 
Frederick  J.  Kingsbury.  A.  S.  Chase;  1866.  Greene  Kendrick,  Isaac  E. 
Newton;  1867-8,  John  Kendrick,  E.  Leavenworth;  1869,  Amos  S. 
Blake,  Israel  Holmes;  1870-1,  George  W.  Beach,  George  Pritchard; 
1872,  Greene  Kendrick,  William  Brown;  1873,  Isaac  E.  Newton, 
Edward  L.  Frisbie;  1874-5,  William  Brown,  Amos  S.  Blake;  1876, 
Greene  Kendrick,  Charles  B.  Merrill;  1877,  Greene  Kendrick,  David 
S.  Plume;  1878,  Greene  Kendrick,  Henry  I.  Boughton;  1879,  David  S. 
Plume,  Israel  Holmes;  1880-1,  Chauncey  B.  Webster,  Henry  A.  Mat- 
thews; 1882,  Charles  W.  Gillette,  Henry  C.  Griggs;  1883,  Calvin  H. 
Carter,  Frederick  J.  Brown;  1884,  Edward  C.  Lewis,  J.  Richard  Smith; 
1885,  Calvin  H.  Carter,  Frederick  J.  Brown;  1886.  Henry  C.  Griggs, 
Henry  H.  Peck;  1887,  Edward  T.  Root,  Cornelius  Maloney;  1888-9, 
Henry  L.  Welch,  John  O'Neill,  Jr.;  1890-1.  Charles  G.  Root,  John  L. 
Saxe. 


86  HISTOKV    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Ansonia. — 1890-],  George  O.  Schneller,  Hobart  Sperry. 

Beacon  Falls.— 1872,  John  Wolfe;  187:1  Patrick  Eagan;  1874-5, 
John  A.  Coe:  1S7(J,  Herbert  C.  Baldwin;  1877,  Julius  C.  Coe;  1878, 
Charles  H.  Lounsbury;  1879,  John  A.  Coe;  1880,  Herbert  C.  Baldwin; 
1881,  David  T.  Sanford;  1882,  A.  W.  Culver;  1883^4.  H.  C.  Baldwin; 
1885,  Homer  D.  Bronson;  1886-7,  Cornelius  W.  Munson;  1888-9,  Emer- 
son J.  Terrell;  1890-1,  Herbert  C.  Baldwin. 

Bethany.— 18B3-4,  David  Beecher;  1835,  Andrew  Beecher;  1836-7, 
Harry  French;  1838,  Leverett  Thomas;  1839,  John  Russell;  1840, 
Anthony  F.  Stoddard;  1841,  Job  Andrew;  1842,  Abel  Prince;  1843, 
Burton  Sperry;  1844,  Guy  Perkins;  1845,  Joseph  N.  Stoddard;  1846, 
Miles  Hitchcock;  1847-8,  Miles  French;  1849-50,  Charles  French; 
1851-2,  Edwin  Pardee;  1853,  Miles  Hitchcock;  1854-5,  Robert  Clark; 
1856,  Wales  F.  Perkins;  18.57,  Ezra  S.  Sperry;  1858,  Adna  Hotchkiss; 
1859-60,  Dwight  N.  Clark;  1861,  George  Hotchkiss;  1862,  Ezra  S. 
Sperry;  1863-4,  Andrew  Beecher;  1865,  W.  B.  Dickerman;  1866,  W. 
Dickerman;  1867-8,  Andrew  T.  Hotchkiss;  1869-70,  Asa  C.  Woodward; 
1871,  Buel  Buckingham;  1872,  Miles  Hitchcock;  1873-4,  Garry  B. 
Johnson;  1875,  Allen  Lounsbury;  1876,  S.  G.  Davidson;  1877,  George 
W.  Woodward;  1878,  Henry  E.  Lounsbury;  1879,  Edward  Beecher; 
1880,  Street  B.  Todd;  1881,  Denzel  B.  Hoadley;  1882,  Samuel  R.  Wood- 
ward; 1883,  Charles  C.  Perkins;  1884,  E.  O.' Pardee;  1885,  Dwight  L. 
L.  Johnson;  1886,  David  F.  Smith;  1887,  Theron  E.  Allen;  1888-9, 
Andrew  J.  Doolittle;    1890-1,  Ransom  Chatfield. 

Branford.— 1830,  James  Blackstone,  Samuel  iMaltby;  1831,  William 
Rogers,  William  A.  Reynolds;  1832,  James  Blackstone;  1833-4,  Levi 
Bradley;  1835,  Malachi  Linsley;  1836,  Levi  Bradley;  1837,  vSamuel 
Gould;  1838,  Levi  S.  Parsons;  1839,  William  Tyler;  1840,  Orrin 
Hoadley;  1841,  Levi  S.  Parsons;  1842,  Levi  Bradley;  1843,  Calvin 
Frisbie;  1844,  William  Rogers;  1845-6,  Levi  Bradley;  1847-8,  Orrin  D. 
Squire;  1849,  Wyllis  Beach;  1850,  James  Barker;  1851-2,  W^illiam 
Blackstone;  1853,  Henry  Grant;  1854,  Samuel  E.  Linsley;  1855-6, 
William  Blackstone;  1857,  F.  A.  Holcomb;  1858-9,  Charles  J.  Harrison; 
1860,  H.  V.  C.  Holcomb;  1861,  Richard  Dibble;  1862-3,  Bradley 
Chidsey;  1864,  J.  J.  Bartholomew;  1865,  William  Russell;  1866,  Wil- 
liam Russell;  1867,  John  H.  Robinson;  1868-9,  W.  D.  Hendrick;  1870, 
Eli  F.  Rogers;  1871,  Charles  L  Harrison;  1872-3,  John  Spencer;  1874-5, 
Henry  B.  Fowler;  1876,  Michael  Harding;  1877,  Henry  Rogers;  1878, 
Edward  F.  Jones;  1879,  Henry  B.  Fowler;  1880,  Charles  B.  Hill;  1881, 
William  Reagan;  1882-3,  William  A.  Wright;  1884,  James  E.  Mat- 
thews; 1885,  Henry  D.  Linsley;  1886,  Willis  T.  Robinson;  1887,  Emer- 
son E.  Barker;  1888-9,  Alfred  E.  Hammer;  1890-1,  Henry  D.  Linsley. 

Cheshire.— 1830,  Charles  Shelton,  Benajah  Ives;  1831,  Benajah 
Ives,  Edward  A.  Cornwall;  1832,  Edward  A.  Cornwall,  Titus  L.  Gay- 
lord;  1833,  Edward  A.  Cornwall,  John  A.  Foote;  1834-5,  Titus  L.  Gay- 
lord,    Chauncey    Peck;   1836,    Benajah    Ives,  Alfred    Doolittle;    1837, 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  87 

Benajah  Ives,  John  Miles:  1838,  John  Potter,  Ambrose  E.  Doolittle; 
1839,  Benajah  Ives,  William  L.  Foote;  1840-1,  Daniel  Humiston, 
Alfred  Doolittle:  1842-3,  Julius  Brooks,  Thomas  H.  Brooks;  1844, 
Edward  A.  Cornwall,  Ambrose  E.  Doolittle:  184."),  Ransom  Johnson. 
Benjamin  A.  Jarvis;  1840,  Ambrose  R.  Barnes,  Charles  Hurd:  1847, 
Julius  Brooks,  William  Mix;  1848,  Alfred  Doolittle,  Warren  Doolittle; 
1849,  Charles  Hurd,  Arad  A.  Welton;  18o0,  Ransom  Johnson,  Ethel- 
bert  Cooke;  1851,  Benjamin  A.  Jarvis,  Calvin  Doolittle:  1852,  John 
Barnes,  Xorman  Beach:  1853,  James  B.  Fields,  Bradley  Miles:  1854, 
Charles  Hurd,  George  Bristol;  1855,  A.  E.  Doolittle,  Norman  Beach; 
1856,  Loyal  Smith,  Elam  Cook;  1857,  Albert  Sperry,  Levi  Doolittle; 
1858,  James  B.  Field.  Isaac  Mix;  1859,  Warner  Doolittle,  William  S. 
Bailey:  1860,  Charles  Hurd,  William  L.  Hinman;  1861,  William  T. 
Peters,  John  E.  Law;  1862,  John  E.  Law,  William  Spencer;  1863, 
Benjamin  A.  Jarvis,  Charles  Ives;  1864.  Heman  A.  Thomas,  Albert 
Sperry:  1865-6,  Benjamin  A.  Jarvis,  Burritt  Bradley:  1867,  Loyal 
Smith,  Granville  T.  Pierce;  1868,  Benjamin  A.  Jarvis,  Bradley  Miles; 
1869,  Burritt  Bradley,  Mark  Bishop;  1870,  Warren  Doolittle,  Titus  B. 
Ives:  1871,  P.  S.  Beers,  Levi  Doolittle:  1872,  John  Mix,  Alonzo  E. 
Smith:  1873.  William  T.  Peters,  Ed.  A.  Cornwall;  1874,  Nathan 
Booth,  Augustus  C.  Peck;  1875,  James  Lanyon,  Ed.  A.  Cornwall; 
1876,  Titus  B.  Ives,  Henry  T.  Holcomb;  1877.  Benjamin  A.  Jarvis, 
Daniel  Judd;  1878,  Horatio  D.  Smith,  Titus  B.  Ives;  1879.  Isaac  Mix, 
George  R.  Ives;  1880,  Alfred  S.  Baldwin,  Elizur  P.  Atwater;  1881, 
John  E.  Law,  George  C.  F.  Williams;  1882,  Benjamin  A.  Jarvis, 
Charles  B.  Terrell;  1883,  Truman  Bristol,  John  W.  Mix;  1884,  Henry 
Beadle,  Fred.  A.  Granniss;  1885,  Henry  E.  Howe,  Ed.  T.  Cornwall; 
1886,  George  L.  Hotchkiss,  George  F.  Pardee:  1887,  Jesse  H.  Rice, 
Edward  R.  Brown;  1888-9,  George  W.  Baker,  Porter  E.  Andrews; 
1890-1,  Julius  Moss,  Milton  C.  Doolittle. 

Derby.— 1830,  Ezekiel  Gilbert:  1831,  William  Lum;  1832,  Robert 
Gates;  1833,  Josiah  Nettleton;  1834,  William  Humphreys;  1835,  John 
B.  Davis;  1836.  Daniel  S.  Holbrook;  1837,  Nehemiah  C.  Sanford;  1838, 
David  W.  Plumb;  1839,  Sheldon  Smith:  1840,  William  Humphreys; 
1841,  Leman  Chatfield;  1842,  Luther  Fowler;  1843,  Samuel  French; 
1844.  David  Bas.sett;  1845,  Albert  I.  Steele;  1846,  George  Blacknnan; 
1847-8,  Thomas  Burlock;  1849,  Joshua  Kendall;  1850,  Sylvester  Smith; 
1851,  Sidney  A.  Downes;  18.52,  David  W.  Plumb;  1853,  Thomas  Wal- 
lace; 1854,  Edwin  Eells:  1855,  William  E.  Downes;  1856,  Lucas  H. 
Carter;  1857,  Henry  Hubbard;  1858,  William  B.  Wooster;  1859,  Josiah 
Clark:  1860,  David  W.  Plumb;  1861,  William  B.  Wooster;  1862.  David 
W.  Plumb;  1863,  Robert  N.  Bassett;  1864,  David  W  Plumb;  1865,  Amos 
H.  Ailing;  1866,  Egbert  Bartlett;  1867.  Joseph  Moore;  1868,  Egbert 
Bartlett:  1869,  J.  H.  Bartholomew:  1870,  Josiah  H.  Whiting;  1871-2, 
David  Torrance:  1873,  George  H.  Peck:  1874,  Charles  Durand;  1875, 
Charles  Durand,  Thomas    Elmes;    1876,  Thomas  Elmes,  Chester   A. 


88  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Hawiey;  1877,  Henry  Atwater.  Thomas  Wallace;  1878-9,  Thomas 
Wallace,  Samuel  M.  Gardner:  ISSO,  Samuel  M.  Gardner,  Dana 
Bartholomew;  1881,  N.  C.  Treat,  John  Cowell;  1882-:-3,  William  E. 
Downes,  Charles  H.  Pine;  1884-,'),  Franklin  D.  Jackson,  Jonah  C.  Piatt; 
1886.  A.  H.  Bartholomew,  Charles  S.  Chaffee;  1887,Sanford  E.Chaffee, 
A.  H.  Bartholomew;  1888-9,  Charles  S.  Chaffee,  Frederick  W.  Holden; 
1890-1,  George  H.  Peck,  Patrick  Gorman. 

East  Haven. — 1830,  Eleazer  Hemingway;  1831-2,  Philemon  Holt; 
1833,  De  Grosse  Maltby;  1834-5-6,  James  Thompson;  1837-8,  William  K. 
Townsend;  1839-40,  HoadleyBray;  1841-2,  William  K.  Townsend;  1843, 
Harvey  Rowe,  2d;  1844,  Daniel  Smith;  1845,  Wyllys  Hemingway; 
1846-7,  James  Thompson;  1848,  Harvey  Rowe,  2d;  1849,  Stephen 
Dodd;  1850,  J.  B.  Davidson;  1851,  Wyllys'  Hemingway;  1852,  James  P. 
Smith;  1853,  Willis  Mallory;  1854,  Stephen  Smith,  2d;  1855,  Samuel 
T.  Andrews;  1856.  William  H.  Hunt;  1857,  James  Thompson;  1858, 
Charles  H.  Fowler;  1859,  James  Thompson;  1860,  Charles  A.  Bray; 
1861,  Nathan  Andrews;  1862,  William  Farren;  1863,  Alex.  W.  Forbes; 
1864,  Charles  Ives;  1865,  S.  Chidsey;  1866,  William  E.  Goodyear;  1867-8, 
Charles  Ives;  1869,  Joseph  I.  Hotchkiss;  1870,  J.  R.  Bradley;  1871, 
Lyman  A.  Granniss;  1872,  D.  William  Havens;  1873,  Leonard  R. 
Andrews;  1874,  H.  Jacobs;  1875,  J.  Woodward  Thompson;  1876,  Asa  L. 
Fabrique;  1877,  Horace  H.  Strong;  1878,  Charles  L.  Mitchell;  1879, 
Grove  J.  Tuttle;  1880,  Lester  P.  Mallory;  1881,  Dwight  W.  Tuttle;1882, 
Orlando  B.  Thompson;  1883-4,  Alexander  W.  Forbes;  1885,  Justin 
Bradley;  1886,  Grove  J.  Tuttle;  1887,  James  S.  Thompson;  1888-9, 
Dwight  W.  Tuttle;  1890-1,  Dwight  W.  Tuttle. 

Guilford.- 1830,  Nathaniel  Grifiing,  George  Landon;  1831,  Nath- 
aniel Griffing,  Abel  Rossiter;  1832,  Nathaniel  Griffing,  Joel  Tuttle; 
1833,  Nathaniel  Griffing,  Abel  Rossiter;  1834,  Joel  Tuttle,  Abraham  S. 
Fowler;  1835,  Nathaniel  Griffing,  Abel  Rossiter;  1836,  Nathaniel 
Griffing,  George  Landon;  1837^  Henry  Elliott,  George  Landon;  1838, 
Joel  Tuttle,  John  H.  Bartlett;  1839,  George  A.  Foote.  Marcus  B.  Bart- 
iett;  1840,  George  A.  Foote,  Samuel  C.  John.son;  1841,  George  A. 
F'oote,  Samuel  W.  Dudley;  1842-5,  no  representatives  chosen;  1846-7, 
Reuben  Stone,  William  Hale;  1848,  Reuben  Stone,  Jasper  Monroe; 
1849,  Reuben  Stone,  Franklin  C.  Phelps;  1850,  Julius  A.  Dowd,  Lewis 
Griswold;  1851,  Russell  Benton,  James  A.  Norton;  1852,  Henry  Fowler, 
2d,  Lewis  Griswold;  1853,  Samuel  W.  Dudley,  Henry  Fowler;  1854, 
Edward  L.  Leete,  Leverett  Griswold;  1855,  George  A.  Foote,  Amos 
Fowler;  1856,  John  Hale,  Calvin  M.  Leete;  1857,  George  A.  Foote, 
Samuel  W.  Dudley;  1858,  Albert  B.  Wildman,  Benjamin  Corbin;  1859, 
Ralph  D.  Smith,  T.  Rossiter;  1860,  Sherman  Graves,  John  Hall;  1861, 
Richard  Bartlett,  Stephen  R.  Bartlett;  1862,  Calvin  M.  Leete,  John 
Griswold;  1863,  John  H.  Bartlett,  Henry  E.  Norton;  1865,  Samuel  W. 
Dudley,  F^dward  L.  Leete;  1866,  Henry  Fowler,  Gen.  Edward  M. 
Lee;  1867,   David   B.  Rossiter,  Gen.    Edward   M.  Lee;  1868,  Rev.   E. 


HISTOKV    OK    NEW    HAVKN    COUNTY.  89 

Edwin  Hall,  Eli  Parmalee;  1869,  Julius  A.  Dowd,  Stephen  R.  Bartlett; 
1870,  Edward  R.  Landon,  Hethcote  G.  Landon;  1871,  Henry  Benton, 
2d,  John  R.  Rossiter;  1872,  Albert  B.  Wildman,  Charles  F.  Leete;  1873, 
Henry  Fowler,  John  R.  Rossiter;  1874,  H.  Lynde  Harrison,  George  B. 
Spencer;  1875,  H.  Lynde  Harrison,  John  R.  Rossiter;  1876,  H.  Lynde 
Harrison,  John  W.  Norton;  1877,  H.  Lynde  Harrison.*  David  Bartlett; 
1878,  Calvin  M.  Leete,  Andrew  W.  Foote;  1879,  John  Graves,  David 
Bartlett;  1880,  Wallace  G.  Fowler,  James  A.  Dudley;  1881,  H.  Lynde 
Harrison,  John  R.  Rossiter;  1882,  Elisha  C.  Bishop,  Edward  Griswold; 
1883,  Edward  Griswold,  Henry  M.  Rossiter;  1884,  Otis  J.  Range,  John 
W.  Norton;  188,"i,  Wallace  G.  Fowler,  Edgar  P.  Rossiter;  1886,  Harris 
Pendleton,  Jr..  William  H.  Lee;  1887,  Charles  Griswold,  Henry  M. 
Rossiter;  1888-9.  George  S.  Davis,  Henry  E.  Parmalee;  1890-1 ,  George 
S.  Davis,  Benjamin  Rossiter. 

Hamden.— 1830,  Alfred  Bassett;  1831-2,  Jared  Bassett;  1833-4, 
Elam  Warner;  ISSfi,  Alfred  Bassett;  1836,  Jared  Bas.sett;  1837-8, 
James  M.  Ford;  1839,  Leverett  Hitchcock:  lS4o,  Leverett  Tuttle;  1841, 
Horace  Potter;  1842,  Allen  Dickerman;  1843,  Loyal  F.  Todd;  1844, 
Abial  Leonard;  1845,  Ezra  Ailing,  2d;  1840,  Horace  Potter;  1847, 
Henry  iSIunson;  1848,  Leverett  Tuttle;  1849,  Lewis  Warner;  1850, 
Abial  Leonard;  1851,  Horace  Potter;  1852,  Eli  B.  Smith;  1853,  Russell 
H.  Cooper;  1854,  Henry  Munson;  1855.  Loyal  F.  Todd;  1856,  Horace 
Todd;  1857,  Merrit  Ford;  1858,  Henry  Tuttle;  1859-60,  James  M.  Ford; 
1861,  Merrit  Ford;  1862,  Eli  B.  Smith;  1863-4,  Elias  Warner;  1865, 
Andrew  J.  Doolittle;  1866,  Henry  Tuttle;  1867-8,  Augustus  Dicker- 
man;  1869-70,  Gilbert  L.  Benham;  1871.  Silas  Benham;  1872,  Philos 
Dickerman;  1873,  Jesse  Cooper;  1874,  Edwin  W.  Potter;  1875-6,  Riley 
R.  Palmiter;  1877,  Andrew  J.  Doolittle;  1878-9,  Norris  B.  Mix;  1880, 
Cecil  A.  Burleigh;  1881.  Leverett  A.  Dickerman;  1882-3,  Bela  A. 
Mann;  1884,  Frederick  E.  Tuttle;  1885,  Henry  W.  Munson;  1880, 
Hubert  E.  Warner;  1887,  Benjamin  C.  Woodin;  1888-9,  George  L. 
Clark;  1890-1,  Dwight  W.  Mix. 

Madison.— 1830,  Frederick  Lee;  1831-2,  Phineas  Meigs;  1833,  Wil- 
liam Blatchley;  1834,  Samuel  Robinson,  Jr.;  1835,  Phineas  Meigs;  1836, 
Frederick  S.  Field;  1837,  Jesse  Crampton;  1838,  Galen  Dowd;  1839, 
Sherman  Munger;  1840-1,  Learning  Evarts;  1842,  Nathan  W.  Hopson; 
1843,  Charles  M.  Miner;  1844,  Frederick  Foster;  1845-6,  Erastus  C. 
Scranton;  1847,  William  C.  Bushnell;  1848,  Heman  Stone;  1849-50, 
Jonathan  F.  Todd;  1851,  Erastus  C.  Scranton;  1852,  Truman  Harrison; 
1853,  Abel  Scranton;  1854,  Samuel  R.  Crampton;  1855,  Frederick 
Dowd;  1856,  Erastus  C.  Scranton;  1857,  Luman  H.  Whedon;  1858, 
John  P.  Hopson;  1859-60,  Sereno  H.  Scranton;  1861.  Joseph  William 
Dudley;  1862,  Erastus  C.  vScranton;  1863-4,  Baldwin  Hart;  1865, 
Edward  S.  Scranton;  1866,  Elias  S.  Ely;  1867.  Sereno  H.  Scranton; 
1868,  J.  C.   Hopson;  1869,  Jonathan   Willard;  1870.  J.  G.    Dickinson: 

*  Elected  speaker  this  year. 


90  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

1S71,  Augustus  C.  Wilcox;  1872,  Sereno  H.  Scranton:  1878,  William  B' 
Crampton;  1874,  Heman  C.  Stone;  1875,  John  N.  Chittenden;  1876, 
Samuel  Griswold;  1877,  John  N.  Chittenden;  1878,  Washington  Bristol: 
1879,  C.  Henry  Whedon;  1880,  I.  Lee  .Scranton,  Jr.:  1881,  Horace  N. 
Coe;  1882,  Horace  O.  Hill;  1883,  William  C.  Miner;  1884,  P.  M.  Gri.s- 
wold;  1885,  Harvey  E.Cruttenden;  188ri,  James  R.  Dowd;  1887,  Charles 
Smith;  1888-9,  George  B.  Munger;  1890-1,  James  R.  Meigs. 

Meriden.— 1830,  Titus  Ives;  1831,  Ashbel  Griswold;  1832,  Xoah 
Pomeroy;  1838,  Enos  H.  Curtis;  1884,  Eli  C.  Birdsey;  1885,  Hezekiah 
Rice;  1836,  Asahel  Curtis;  1837,  Horace  B.  Redfield;  1838,  Walter 
Booth;  1839,  James  S.  Brooks;  1840,  Eli  C.  Birdsey;  1842,  Ira  Couch 

1843,  Henry  Stedman;  1844,  James  vS.  Brooks;  *  1846,  Elias  Howell 
1847,  Ashbel  Griswold;  1848,  Isaac  C.  Lewis;  1849,  James  A.  Tracy 
1850,  William  S.  Ives;  1851,  Hiram  Hall;  1852,  Julius  Pratt;  1853 
Isaac  C.  Lewis;  1854,  Albert  Foster;  1855,  James  S.  Brooks;  1856,  Levi 
Yale;  1857,  James  S.  Brooks;  1858,  Asahel  H.  Curtiss;  1859,  William  W. 
Lyman;  1860,  Andrew  J.  Coe;  1861,  Owen  B.  Arnold;  1862,  Isaac  C. 
Lewis;  1868,  Dexter  R.  Wright;  1864,  Orville  H.  Piatt;  1865,  Oliver  S. 
Williams;  1866,  Isaac  C.  Lewis;  1867,  Andrew  J.  Coe;  1868,  William  A. 
Hall;  1869,  Orville  H.  Piatt;  1870,  John  Parker;  1871,  Joseph  J. 
Woodley;  1872,  H.  Wales  Lines;  1878,  Charles  H.  S.  Davis;  1874,  6. 
B.  Arnold;  1875-6,  Wallace  A.  Miles,  Asahel  H.  Curtiss;  1877,  Abram 
Chamberlain,  Jr.,  Wallace  A.  Miles;  1878,  James  P.  Piatt,  George  R. 
Willmot;  1879,  James  P.  Piatt,  Samuel  Dodd;  1880,  Emerson  A.  Merri- 
man.  Grove  H.  Wilson;  1881,  E.  A.  Merriman,  W.  W.  Lyman;  1882, 
W.  W.  Lyman,  Grove  H.  Wilson;  1883,  John  Morse,  Reuben  T.  Cook; 
1884,  George  O.  Higby,  William  H.  Golden;  1885-6,  William  Wallace 
Lee,  Charles  H.  S.  Davis;  1887,  Louis  H.  Hart,  William  H.  Barbour; 
1888-9,  James  H.  Chapin.  Elijah  D.  Costelow:  1890-1,  Elijah  D. 
Costlelow,  Joseph  H.  Potts. 

Middlebury. — 1830,  Larmon  Townsend;  1881-2,  Marcus  Bronson; 
1833,  Leonard  Bronson;  1834-5,  Josiah  Hine;  1836,  Marcus  Bronson; 
1837,  Daniel  Tyler;  1838-9,  William  H.  Smith;  1840,  Daniel  Clark; 
1841,  Daniel  Clark,  2d;  1842,  Leonard  Bronson;  1843,  Ebenezer  Smith; 

1844,  Charles  Townsend;  1845,  Joseph  P.  Piatt;  1846,  Leonard  Bronson; 
1847,  Jacob  Linsley;  1848-9,  Asa  Fenn;  1850,  Charles  B.  Stone;  1851, 
Robert  Crane;  1852,  Joseph  P.  Piatt;  1858,  David  M.  Beardsley;  1854, 
Sylvester  Bronson;  1855,  Josiah  Hine;  1856,  Ebenezer  Smith;  1857, 
Gould  S.  Clarke:  1858,  Julius  Bronson;  1859,  Warren  H.  Taylor;  1860, 
Leonard  Bron.son;  1861,  Luther  S.  Piatt;  1862,  H.  W.  Munson;  1863, 
Harrison  W.  Crosby;  1864,  Israel  J.  Curtiss:  1865,  Oilman  E.  Hill; 
1866-7,  Benjamin  Stone;  1S68,  Luther  S.  Piatt;  1869,  Clinton  Clark; 
1870,  James  Smith;  1871-2,  Gould  S.  Clark;  1878-4,  Levings  Abbott; 
1875,  Silas  Tuttle;  1876,  Roswell  B.  Wheaton;  1877,  Frank  Wheeler; 
1878,  Hawkins  W.  Munson;  1879-80,  Marcus  De  Forest,  Jr.;  1881,  Eli 

*  1845,  no  choice. 


mSTDRV  OF  NEW  HAVEN  COUNTY.  91' 

Bronson;  1882,  George  O.  Ellis;  1883,  Eli  Bronson;  1884,  David  M. 
Fenn:  1885-6,  Edmund  B.  Hoyt;  1887,  Eli  Bronson;  1888-9,  George 
Dews;  1890-1,  William  H.  Dibble. 

Milford.— 1830-1.  Jonathan  Clark,  William  Durand,  Jr.;  1832,. 
Abijah  Carrington,  Adolphus  Baldwin;  1833,  Abijah  Carrington,  Wil- 
liam H.  Prowler;  1834,  Abijah  Carrington,  Jeremiah  French;  1835, 
Abijah  Carrington,  Treat  Clark;  183(),  Selah  vStrong,  Treat  Clark;  1837, 
Abijah  Carrington,  Isaac  Tibbals;  1838  40,  Selah  Strong,  Isaac  Tibbals; 
1841,  Dennis  Beach,  John  Burns,  Jr.;  1842,  David  L.  Baldwin,  Isaac 
Tibbals;  1843,  Selah  Strong,  Isaac  Tibbals;  1844,  -Selah  Strong,  John 
Burns,  Jr.;  1845,  William  Glenny,  John  Burns.  Jr.;  1846,  Andrew 
French,  Anon  Clark;  1847,  Samuel  Beach,  Elias  Clark;  1848,  David  L. 
Baldwin.  John  K.  Bristol;  1849,  Samuel  Beach,  John  K.  Bristol;  1850, 
Samuel  Beach,  Asa  M.  Train;  1851,  David  L.  Baldwin,  Asa  M.  Train; 
1852,  Samuel  B.  Gunn,  J.  K.  Bristol;  1853,  Selah  Strong,  Asa  M.  Train; 
1854,  Selah  -Strong,  J.  K.  Bristol;  1855-6,  David  L.  Baldwin,  Asa  M. 
Train;  1857,  John  Burns,  Caleb  T.  Merwin;  1858,  Asa  M.  Train,  Caleb 
T.  Merwin;  1859-60,  David  L.  Baldwin,  Anon  Clark;  1861-2,  Abner  L. 
Train,  Nathan  Merwin;  1863,  John  H.  Wingfield,  William  S.  Pond; 
1864,  William  S.  Pond,  Isaac  T.  Rogers;  1865,  Elias  Clark,  Isaac  T. 
Rogers;  1866,  William  S.  Pond,  D.  H.  Durand;  1867,  F.  E.  Burns, 
Nathan  Smith;  1868,  Nathan  Bott.sford,  Henry  Stoddard;  1869.  Selah 
Strong,  James  Sweet;  1870,  Henry  C.  Miles,  William  Brotherton;  1871, 
Phineas  S.  Bristol,  Fowler  Sperry;  1872,  Samuel  A.  Blake,  William  H. 
Pond;  1873,  Johnson  Bristol,  Alonzo  W.  Burns;  1874,  Henry  C.  Miles, 
Isaac  T.  Rogers;  1875,  Henry  C.  Miles,  William  H.  Pond;  1876,  James 
T.  Burns,  Charles  A.  Tomlinson;  1877,  Daniel  Buckingham,  Charles  A. 
Tomlin.son;  1878,  Lsaac  T.  Rogers,  Alexander  T.  Peck;  1879,  Isaac  T. 
Rogers,  Harris  C.  Hyatt;  1880-1,  James  S.  Tibbals,  George  M.  Gunn; 
1882,  Charles  A.  Tomlinson,  Thomas  W.  Stow;  1883,  Nathan  P. 
Merwin,  William  C.  Durand;  1884.  John  C.  Connor,  William  C.  Durand; 
1885,  George  M.  Gunn,  Henry  C.  Miller;  1886,  Charles  A.  Tomlinson, 
George  Clark;  1887,  George  M.  Gunn,  George  W.  Clark;  1888-9,  Charles 
W.  Beardsley,  William  Cecil  Durand;  1890-1,  Charles  W.  Beardsley, 
Alonzo  W.  Burns. 

Naugatuck. — 1845,  George  L.  Smith;  1846 -7.  Thomas  Spencer;  1848, 
Francis  Spencer;  1849,  James  Spencer;  1850,  Miles  Smith;  1851, 
Francis  Spencer;  18.V2,  Gustavus  Spencer;  1853,  Franklin  Howard; 
1854,  Samuel  Hopkins;  1855,  Nathan  C.  Peters;  1856,  John  A.  Peck; 
1857,  Gideon  O.  HotchkLss;  1858,  Hial  S.  Stevens;  1859"  David  Smith; 
1860,  S.  C.Warner;  1861,  Henry  Lane;  1862,  Eli  Smith;  1863,  Jo.siah 
Culver;  1864,  Homer  Twitchell;  1865,  Marshal  Baldwin;  1866,  C.  A. 
Hotchkiss;  1867,  Eldridge  Smith;  1868,  Martin  Kinney;  1869,  John  A. 
Peck;  1870,  Hial  S.  Stevens;  1871,  J.  H.  Whittemore;  1872,  Hial  S- 
Stevens;  1873,  Charles  A.  Ensign;  1874,  Edson  L.  Judd;  1875,  John  H. 
Hawkins;  1876,  Charles  L.  Baldwin;  1877,  Hubert  H.  Thompson;  1878, 


92  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

•Rollin  S.  Woodford;  187!),  Rollin  S.  Woodford;  1880,  Charles  A.  Ensign; 
1881,  Joseph  Brennan;  188?,  Franklin  B.  Tuttle;  1883,  Fremont  W. 
Tolles;  1884.  Edward  H.  Carrington;  188o, George  L.  Andrews;  1886-7, 
Frederick  II.  King:  1888-9.  Edward  H  Carrington;  1890-1,  William  H. 
McCarthy. 

North  Bran  ford. —1882,  Jonathan  Ro.se,  2d;  1883,  Samuel  Bartholo- 
mew, 2d;  1884,  Jonathan  Rose,  2d;  183"),  Ebenezer  H.  Fowler;  1836, 
Rufus  Rogers,  2d:  1887,  Harmon  N.  Williams;  1838,  Jasper  Munroe; 
1889,  Thelus  Todd;  1840-1,  .Samuel  A.  Rogers;  1842-3,  Ebenezer  H. 
Fowler;  1844,  Alfred  Rose;  184;"),  William  M.  Fowler;  1846,  Jonathan 
Ro.se;  1847,  Oswin  H.  Doolittle;  1848,  Jonathan  Rose;  1849,  Nathaniel 
S.  vSmith;  18r)0,  Jonathan  Rose;  1851,  Daniel  Jones;  1852,  Jonathan 
Rose;  18r)3.  Thomas  A.  Smith;  1854,  Russell  Clarke;  1855,  Thelus  Todd; 
1856,  George  Rose;  1857,  William  M.  Fowler;  1858,  A.  A.  Hemingway; 
1859,  Reuben  N.  Augur;  1860,  E.  E.  Bishop;  1861,  Henry  Maltby,  Jr.; 
1862,  William  Wheedom;  1863,  Wareham  W.  Foote;  1864,  George 
Ro.se;  1865,  Maltby  Fowler;  1866,  Seth  Russell;  1867,  James  H. 
Linsley;  1868,  Samuel  Rose;  1869,  T.  Andrew  Smith;  1870,  Martin  C. 
Bi.shop:  1871,  W.  H.  Maltby;  1872,  Noah  Foot;  1878,  Henry  M.  Pardee; 
1874,  Charges  Page;  1875,  F.  C.  Bartholomew;  1876,  William  D.  Ford; 
1877,  F.  C.  Bartholomew;  1878,  Alden  H.  Hill;  1879,  Guernsey  B. 
Smith;  1880,  Eaton  Stent;  1881,  William  Maltby;  1882,  William  B. 
Curtis;  1883,  Charles  Foote;  1884,  Jerome  Harrison;  1885,  Josiah  A. 
Smith;  1886,  Herbert  O.  Page;  1887,  Theodore  F.  Barnes;  "l888-9,  J. 
Henry  Gates;  1890-1,  Dwight  M.  Foote. 

North  Haven.— 1880,  Jesse  Brockett;  1831-2,  Isaac  Stiles;  1833-4, 
Hubbard  Barnes;  1885-6,  Amasa  Thorpe;  1837-8,  Horace  Stiles;  1839, 
Jesse  Brockett;  1840-1,  John  Beach;  1842,  Obed  S.  Squires;  1843, 
Everlin  Blakeslee;  1844.  Merrit  Barnes;  1845,  Ezra  Stiles;  1846,  Elizur 
C.  Tuttle;  1847,  Oswin  H.  Doolittle;  1848,  Zophar  Blakeslee;  1849-50, 
Oswin  H.  Doolittle;  1851,  Evelyn  Blakeslee;  1852,  Merrit  Barnes;  1858, 
Burritt  Brockett;  1854,  Isaac  L.  .Stiles;  1855,  Henry  McNeil;  1856, 
Henry  H.  Stiles;  1857,  Hervey  Stiles;  1858-9,  N.  J.  Beach;  1860, 
Nelson  J.  Beach;  1861-2,  H.  T.  Dayton;  1863,  Elizur  C.  Tuttle;  1864, 
John  E.  Brockett;  1865,  James  M.  Payne;  1866-7,  W.  B.  Hemingway; 
1868,  E.  D.  S.  Goodyear;  1869-70,  D.  A.  Patten;  1871,  William  B.  John- 
son; 1872,  Nelson  J.  Beach;  1878,  Daniel  A.  Patten;  1874,  Cyrus  Chenev; 
1875-6,  Stephen  C.  Gilbert;  1877-8,  Alfred  Ives;  1879,  Truman  O.  Judd; 
1880,  Nelson  J.  Beach;  1881,  Sheldon  B.  Thorpe;  1882,  Andrew  F. 
Au.stin;  1888,  F.  Hayden  Todd;  1884-5,  Isaac  L.  .Stiles;  1886.  Cyrus 
Cheney;  1887,  Edward  L.  Goodyear:  1888-9,  Theophilus  Eaton;  1890-1, 
Theophilus  Eaton. 

Orange.— 1830,  Eliakim  Kimberly;  1831-2,  Luke  Clark;  1888, 
Eliakim  Kimberly;  1884,  Nehemiah  Kimberly;  1835-6,  Nathan  Merwin; 
1837-8,  Eliakim  Kimberly:  1839-40.  Nathan  Merwin;  1841-2,  Nehemiah 
Kimberly:    1843,  Aaron   Clark,  Jr.;  1844,  William  T.  Grant;  1845-6, 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  93 

Lucius  Stevens;  1847-8,  Benjamin  F.  Clark;  1849-iiO,  Sidney  Pardee; 
1851,  David  Smith;  1852,  Sidney  Pardee;  185:^,  David  Smith;  18r)4, 
Edgar  M.  Smith;  IS.m,  William  A.  Bronson;  1856,  Benjamin  I.  Clark; 
1857,  Henry  W.  Painter;  1858,  George  R.  Kelsey;  1859,  Alpheus  N. 
Merwin;  1860,  Alpheus  N.  Merwin;  1861,  Elisha  Dickerman;  1862,  R. 
Quincy  Brown;  1868,  Benjamin  T.  Clark;  1864,  Bryan  Clark;  1865.  A.  F. 
Wood;  1866,  A.  F.  Wood;  1867-8,  Leonidas  W.  Ailing;  1869.  George 
A.  Bryan;  1870,  Israel  K.  Ward;  1871,  William  E.  Russell;  1872.  Elias  T. 
Main;  1873,  James  H.  Reynolds;  1874,  D.  S.  Thompson;  1875-6,  Charles 
F.  Smith;  1877,  Samuel  L.  Smith;  1878,  James  Graham;  1879-80,  Stiles 
D.  Woodruff;  1881,  William  Wallace'  Ward;  1882-3,  Edward  E. 
Bradley;  1884,  James  R.  Ayres;  1885-6,  James  Graham;  1887,  William  L. 
Andrew;  1888-9,  Samuel  J.  Bryant;  1890-1,  Everett  B.  Clark. 

Oxford.— 1830,  Samuel  Meigs;  1831,  Horace  Candee;  1832,  Samuel 
Wire;  1833,  Nathan  B.  Fairchild;  1834,- Samuel  Meigs;  1835,  Sheldon 
Clark;  1836,  Hiram  Osborne;  1837,  Chauncey  M.  Hatch;  1838,  Aurelius 
Buckingham;  1839,  Hiram  Osborne;  1840,  Sheldon  Church;  1841,  David 
M.  Clark;  1842,  Nathan  J.  Wilcoxson;  1843,  no  choice;  1844,  Sheldon 
Church;  1845,  no  choice;  1846,  Joel  White;  1847,  Everett  Booth;  1848, 
Alfred  Harger;  1849,  Joel  Osborne;  1850,  Clark  Botsford;  1851.  Nath- 
aniel Walker;  1852,  Garry  Riggs;  1853,  Lewis  Davis;  1854,  Lucius 
Fuller;  1855,  Ransom  Hudson;  1856,  Hiram  Osborne;  1857,  Josiah 
Nettleton;  1858,  Burritt  Davis:  1859,  William  H.  Clark;  1860,  James  A. 
Buckingham;  ]8(il,  David  R.  Lum;  1862,  Benjamin  Nichols;  1863. 
Robert  Wheeler;  1864,  Abiram  Ward;  1865,  George  Lum;  1866,  B.J. 
Davis;  1867,  C.  D.  R.  Perkins;  1868,  B.  J.  Davis;  1869-70,  Egbert  L. 
Warner;  1871,  Burr  J.  Beecher;  1872,  Robert  B.  Limburuer;  1873-4, 
Ebeuezer  Riggs;  1875,  Smith  C.  Wheeler;  1876-7,  Gideon  A.  Johnson; 
1878,  Harvey  W.  Chatfield;  1879,  James  H.  Bartlett;  1880-1,  John  B. 
Pope;  1882,  James  H.  Bartlett;  1883,  Orlando  C.  Osborn;  1884,  Smith 
C.  Wheeler;  1885,  Charles  H.  Butler;  1886,  Nicholas  French;  1887, 
Glover  W.  Cable;  1888-9,  Orlando  C.  Osborn;  1890-1,  Charles  H. 
Butler. 

Prospect.— 1830,  Lauren  Preston;  1831,  Joseph  J.  Doolittle;  1832, 
William  Mix;  1833,  Samuel  Peck;  1834,  Lauren  Preston;  1835,  William 
Mix;  1836,  Joseph  Paine;  1837,  Libeus  Sanford;  1838,  Benjamin  Piatt; 
1839,  David  R.  Williams;  1840,  Ransom  R.  Russell;  1841,  David  M. 
Clark;  1842,  no  choice;  1843,  no  choice;  1844,  Luther  Morse;  1845. 
Ran.som  R.  Russell;  1846,  Benjamin  Doolittle;  1847.  Ransom  R. 
Russell;  1848,  George  C.  Piatt;  1849,  Reuben  B.  Hughes;  1850,  Wil- 
liam J.  Wilcox;  1851-2,  James  Street;  1853.  no  choice;  1854,  Asa  Isl. 
Train;  1855-6,  John  Gillette;  1757-8,  David  M.  Hotchkiss;  1859, 
Samuel  C.  Bronson;  1860,  John  Gillette;  1861,  Merritt  Clark,  Jr.;  1862. 
Edwin  R.  Tyler;  1863,  Henry  D.  Russell;  1864,  Benjamin  B.  Brown; 
1865-6,  Richard  Tyler;  1867,  Charles  E.  Hine;  1868,  Richard  Tyler; 
1869,  John  R.  Piatt;  1870,  George  F.  Tyler;  1871,  Merritt  Clark;  1872, 


"94  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Horace  A.  Nettleton;  187:^,  William  Berkeley:  1874,  John  Gillette: 
187;"),  Henry  Judd;  1876,  Willis  Ives;  1877,  William  Berkeley:  1878, 
Harry  Hotchkiss:  1879,  William  W.  Phipps;  1880,  Harris  Piatt;  1881, 
James  Bottomley;  1882,  George  F.  Tyler;  1883,  R.  M.  Gillette;  1884, 
John  R.  Piatt;  1885,  George  R.  Morse;  1886,  Edgar  G.  Wallace;  1887, 
Halsey  S.  Clark;  1888-9.  Byron  L.  Morse;  1890-1,  William  A.  Purdy. 

Seymour.— 1851,  Bennett  Wooster;  1852,  Sylvester  Smith;  1853-4, 
Harris  B.  Munson;  1855-6,  Luzon  B.  Morris;  1857,  Henry  C.  Johnson; 
1858,  Charles  B.  Wooster;  1859,  Samuel  L.  Bronson;  1860,  Carlos 
French;  1861,  Clark  Wooster;  1862,  Abel  Holbrook;  1863-7,  Harris  B. 
Munson;  1868,  Carlos  French;  1869,  Philo  Holbrook;  1870,  Virgil  H. 
McEwen;  1871,  Smith  Botsford;  1872,  James  .Swan;  1873,  Horatio  N. 
Eggleston;  1874,  Edmund  Day;  1875,  Lewis  A.  Camp;  1876,  Henry  P. 
Day;  1877,  Samuel  A.  Beach;  1878,  Albert  B.  Dunham;  1879,  George 
W.  Devine:  1880,  Henry  D.  Northrop;  1881,  John  W.  Smith;  1882, 
John  W.  Rogers;  1883,  Norman  Sperry:  18S4,  Thomas  L.  James;  1885, 
Horace  O.  Judd;  1886-7,  -Samuel  R.  Dean;  1888-9,  Robert  Healey; 
1890-1,  Robert  Healey. 

Southbury.— 1830,  John  Pierce:  1831,  Edward  Hinman;  1832,  Henry 
Downs;  1833,  Charles  C.   Hinman;  1834,  Henry  Downs;  18:35,  Charles 

C.  Hinman;  1836,  Daniel  Hinman;  1837,  John  Peck;  1838,  Elijah 
French:  1839,  John  Peck;  1840,  William  Guthrie;  1841,  Samuel  Candee; 
1842,  Erastus  Pierce;  1843,  Charles  B.  Hicock;  1844,  no  choice;  1845, 
Titus  Pierce;  1846,  Walter  Johnson;  1847,  George  P.  Shelton;  1848, 
George  Smith;  1849,  Titus  Pierce;  1850,  Oliver   Mitchell;  1851,  Henry 

D.  Munson;  1852,  Edwin   Pierce;  1853,  Truman   B.  Wheeler;  1854,  Eli 
Pierce;  1855,   Elisha  Wheeler;  1856,  William   Guthrie;  1857,  Charles 
Hicock;  1858,  Almon  B.   Downs:  1859,  Anthony   B.  Burritt;  1860,  Eli 
Pierce:  1861,  Nathan  C.  Monson;  1862,  Almon  B.  Downs;  1863,  Anthony 
B.   Burntt;  1864,   Reuben   Pierce;  1865,   Henry  W.  Scott;  1866,  S.  J 
Stoddard;  1867,  William   T.  Gilbert;  1868,  Eli   Pierce:  1869,  John  C 
Wooster;  1870,  S.  W.  Post;  1871,  Charles  S.  Brown;  1872,  Ezra  Pierce 
1873,  John   J.   Hinman;  1874,  Abel  Bronson;  1875,  Gidney  A.  Stiles 
1876,  Reuben  Pierce;  1877,  David  F.  Pierce;  1878,  Henry  S.  Wheeler 
1879,  John  Pierce;  1880,  George  F.  Shelton;  1881,  John   Pierce;  1882 
Asahel  F.  Mitchell;  1888,  Nelson  W.  Mitchell;  1884,  Henry  S.  Wheeler 
1885,   George    N.    Piatt;    1886,    Henry   B.    Russell;    1887,  George   W. 
Mitchell;  1888-9,  Myron  L.  Cooley;  1890-1,  George  W.  Mitchell. 

Wallingford. — 1830,  LiveriusCarrington,  John  Barker;  1831,  George 
B.  Kirtland,  Sedgwick  Rice;  1832,  Charles  Yale,  Aimer  Hall;  1833, 
John  D.  Reynolds,  Lyman  Miller;  1834,  George  B.  Kirtland,  Aimer 
Hall;  1835,  Samuel  Cook,  Lyman  Miller;  1836,  Ransom  Johnson, 
Nathan  Hall;  1837,  Chester  Cook,  Giles  Hall;  18:38,  Jared  K.  Ford, 
Wooster  Martin;  1839,  Ransom  Johnson,  Augustus  Hall,  2d;  1840, 
Malachi  Cook,  Randall  Cook;  1841,  Liverius  Carrington,  Ira  Tuttle; 
1842,   George    Cook,    Orrin    Andrews;    1843,    William    Hill,   Almon 


HISTOKV    OK    NEW    HAVEN'    COUNTY.  95 

Doolittle:  1S44.  Malachi  Cook.  Philo  Parker:  1845,  William  Todd, 
Israel  Harrison:  1846,  Samuel  Simpson,  Samuel  C.  Ford;  1847,  John 
D.  Reynolds.  William  W.  Ives:  1848,  Lyman  Miller,  John  Cook:  1849, 
Ira  Tuttle,  Friend  Johnson:  1850,  William  Francis,  Rufus  Doolittle: 
1851.  Nathan  Thomas,  Jr.,  William  W.  Stow:  1852,  Samuel  C.  Ford, 
Lorenzo  Lewis:  1858,  Franklin  Johnson,  John  Munson:  1854,  Franklin 
Johnson.  William  Mix:  1855,  John  Munson,  Samuel  Peck:  1856,  Ira 
Tuttle,  Alonzo  Miller:  18.57,  Eli  S.  Ives,  Hezekiah  Hall:  18.58,  Augustus 
Hall,  Dwight  Hall:  1859,  Samuel  Simpson,  William  W.  Stow;  1860, 
Street  Jones,  H.  L.  Hall:  186],Orrin  Andrews,  O.  I.  Martin:  1802,  John 
L.  Ives,  Samuel  C.  Ford:  1863,  Henry  Hull,  Phineas  T.  Ives:  1864,  H. 
L.  Hall,  J.  C.  Mansfield:  1865,  Samuel  Simp.son,  Franklin  Johnson: 
1866.  B.  Trumbull  Jones,  Hiram  Cook:  1867,  Turhand  Cook.  James  A. 
F.  Northrop:  1868.  H.  L.   Hall.  J.  L.   Ives:  1869,  Hezekiah  Hall,  John 

C.  Roche;  1870,  Franklin  Piatt.  E.  A.  Doolittle;  1871,  Thaddeus  C. 
Banks,  Henry  C.  Wooding:  1872,  H.  L.  Hall,  G.  N.  Andrews;  1878, 
Willis  J.  Goodsell,  Henry  ^Davis;  1874,  C.  D.  Yale,  H.  B.  Todd;  1875, 
Joel  Hall,  Clarence  H.  Brown;  1876,  Gurdon  W.  Hull,  James  N.  Pier- 
pont;  1877,-  H.  Lewis  Dudley,  George  S.  Allen;  1878,  Charles  D.  Yale, 
Ebenezer  H.  Ives;  1879,  Samuel  Simpson,  Thomas  Daily;  1880,  James 

D.  McGaughey,  Henry  L.  Hall;  1881,  Hezekiah  Hal!,  James  Wrinn; 
1882,  P.  T.  Ives,  John  W.  Blakeslee;  1883,  Mercur  E.  Cook,  Patrick 
Mooney;  1884,  Willi:im  S.  Russell,  (leorge  A.  Hopson;  1885,  George 
M.  Wallace,  Thomas  Kennedy:  1886.  Charles  A.  Harrison.  Charles  E. 
Yale;  1887,  John  B.  Kendrick,  John  B.  Mix;  1888-9,  Bryant  A.  Treat. 
Michael  O'Callaghan:  1890-1.  Linus  H.  Hall.  Patrick  Concannon. 

Wolcott.— 1830,  Archibald  Minor:  1831,  Luther  Hotchkiss:  1832. 
Orrin  Plumb;  1833-4.  Archibald  Minor;  1835,  Orrin  Plumb:  1836, 
Daniel  Hall;  1837,  Moses  Pond:  1838,  Salmon  Upson;  1839,  Noah  H. 
Byington;  1840,  Ira  Hough:  1841.  Ira  Frisbie;  1842,  Levi  Mouthrop; 
1843-4,  Moses  Pond;  1845,  Sheldon  Welton;  1846,  Willard  Plumb; 
1847-'^,  Henry  Minor;  1849.  Marvin  Minor;  18.50.  Dennis  Pritchard; 
1851,  Willis  Merrill;  1852,  Isaac  Hough;  1853,  Joseph  N.  Sperry;  1854, 
Lyman  Manvil;-  1855,  Moses  Pond:  1856,  Er.astus  W.  Warner;  1857, 
George  W.  Winchell;  18,58,  Henry  Minor;  18.59,  Shelton  T.  Hitchcock; 
1860,  Erastus  W.  Warner;  1861,  William  McNeill:  1862,  E.  W.  Warner: 
1868,  Seth  Wiard;  1864,  James  Alcott;  1865,  Orrin  Plumb:  1866,  Henry 
Minor;  1867,  Augustus  Minor;  1868,  Elihu  Moulthrop;  1869,  Isaac 
Hough;  1870,  Berlin  J.  Pritchard:  1871-2.  Shelton  T.  Hitchcock:  1873, 
George  W.  Carter:  1874,  Shelton  T.  Hitchcock;  1875.  Erastus  W. 
Warner;  1876,  Benjamin  F.  French:  1877,  Lucien  Up.son:  1878-9, 
Shelton  T.  Hitchcock:  1880,  Frederick  L.  Nichols;  1881-2.  Samuel  M. 
Bailey;  1888-4,  Henry  B.  Carter;  1885.  Charles  S.  Tuttle:  1886.  Benja- 
min L.  Bronson;  1887.  E.  M.  I'pson:  1888-9.  J.  Henry  Garrigus;  1890-1. 
Evelyn  M.  L'pson. 


96  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEX    COLXTV. 

Woodbridge.— 1830,  Truman  Hotchkiss,  Archibald  A.  Perkins;  1S:5I 
John  Lines,  Joseph  Bradley;  1832,  James  A.  Darling,  Joseph  Bradley 
1833,  James  A.  Darling;  1834-5,  Ephraim  Baldwin;  1836,  Levi  Peck 
1837-9,  Thomas  Darling;  1840-2,  Samuel  Peck;  1843,  Nathan  P.  Thomas 
1844,  Bevil  P.  Smith;  184.5,  James  J.  Baldwin;  1846,  James  A.  Darling 
1847,  Newton  Baldwin;  1848,  James  J.  Baldwin;  1849,  Samuel  F. 
Perkins;  18o0,  Nathan  P.  Thomas;  18ol-3,  Treat  Clark;  1854,  Willis 
Merrill;  1855,  Thomas  Sanford;  1856.  Joseph  Hale;  1857,  Lewis 
Russell;  1858,  Treat  Clark;  1859-60,  James  J.  Baldwin:  1861,  Lewis 
Russell;  1862,  Marcus  E.  Baldwin;  1863-4,  William  Peck;  1S65-6, 
William  A.  Clark;  1867-8,  John  M.  Merwin;  1869-70,  William  A. 
Warner;  1871-2,  Amos  S.  Treat;  1873,  Amos  S.  Treat;  1874-5,  John 
Peck;  1876-7,  Stephen  P.  Perkins;  1878-80,  Marcus  E.  Baldwin;  1881. 
William  Wales  Peck;  1882-3,  Charles  T.  Walker;  1884,  John  M.  Lines: 
1885-6,  Elias  T.  Clark;  1887,  Frederick  P.  Finney;  1888-9,  Rollin  C. 
Newton:  1890-1,  Stephen  P.  Bradley. 


CHAPTER  II. 


TOWN  AND  CITY  OF  NEW  HAVEN. 


Location  and  Natural  Features. — General  Description. — Settlement  and  Develoimienl. — 
Condition  at  the  Beginning  of  the  Present  Centurj-. — Statistics. — Municipal  Organ- 
ization.— Town  Clerks. — City  Government. — City  Police. — Fire  Department. — Water 
Supply. — Public  Sewerage. — City  Buildings.— Street  Illumination. —  Trees  and 
Parks. — General  Business  Interests. — Monetary  Institutions. — Lawyei-s  and  Phy- 
sicians.— Post  OfHce. — Street  Railways. — Philanthropic  and  Social  Institutions. 


NEW  HAVEX  is  the  oldest  settled  part  and  subdivision  of  the 
county.  It  lies  west  of  a  center  line  from  north  to  south, 
upon  Xew  Haven  harbor  and  Long  Island  sound,  the  latter 
being  here  twenty  miles  wide.  The  town  embraces  a  little  more 
than  nine  square  miles  and  the  city  about  seven.  The  town's  bounds 
are,  on  the  north,  the  towns  of  Hamden  and  North  Haven;  on  the 
east,  the  town  of  East  Haven;  and  on  the  west  are  the  towns  of  Oranee 
and  Woodbridge.  The  larger  part  of  the  surface  of  the  town  is  a 
slightl}'  elevated  sandy  plain,  but  on  the  west  are  wooded  slopes  and 
on  the  north  are  the  high,  abrupt  terminations  of  the  trap  rock  ranges, 
whose  craggy  faces  are  familiar  objects  in  the  landscape  of  the  county. 
The  principal  hills  are  East  Rock,  360  feet  high;  Mill  Rock,  a  spur 
from  it,  225  feet  high;  Pine  Rock,  a  spur  of  the  west  range,  271  feet 
high;  and  West  Rock,  the  highest  elevation,  having  an  altitude  of 
405  feet.  Between  these  ranges  the  plain  from  the  sea  shore  opens 
into  a  valley  terminating  at  Northampton,  76  miles  distant.  East  of 
East  Rock,  and  west  of  the  trap  rock  range  of  East  Haven  the  plain 
extends  into  another  valley,  only  about  half  as  long,  and  terminating 
at  Wethersfield,  on  the  Connecticut.  In  the  latter  range  Beacon  hill 
is  100  feet  high.  All  these  hills  show  the  effects  of  the  glacial  move- 
ments coming  down  the  aforesaid  valle\'s  and  which  here  passed  out 
into  the  sea.  In  many  places  the  softer  sandstone  has  been  worn 
away,  leaving  the  harder  trap  rock  exposed.  These  rocks  being  dis- 
colored, have  a  reddish  appearance,  which  caused  the  early  Dutch  dis- 
coverers to  call  this  locality  "  Rodeberg" — Red  Mountain. 

By  the  Indians  this  localit}'  was  called  Ouinnipiac,  after  the  prin- 
cipal stream  in  the  town  and  which  flows  through  the  east  valley  from 
Farmington.  It  has  also  been  called  the  Wallingford  river,  from  its 
flowing  through  that  town,  ilill  river,  the  next  largest  stream,  flows 
through  the  west  valley,  and  West  river,  after  sweeping  around  the 
7 


98  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

base  of  West  Rock,  also  bends  to  the  eastward,  the  three  streams  unit- 
ing to  form  New  Haven  harbor.  Between  Mill  and  West  rivers  lies 
the  plain  on  which  the  city  was  begun.  The  tract  east  of  the  former 
stream  and  the  Ouinnipiac  was  long  known  as  the  "  New  Township," 
and  the  extreme  end  of  the  peninsula  was  called  Grape  Vine  Point. 
The  end  of  the  peninsula  formed  by  the  West  river  and  harbor  is  called 
Oyster  Point. 

New  Haven  Harbor  is  one  of  the  most  spacious  and  picturesque  on 
the  coast  of  New  England.  It  is  oO  miles  east  of  Fort  Schuyler,  on 
the  western  part  of  the  sound,  and  39  miles  from  the  eastern  end  of 
the  sound.  From  Boston  it  is  134  miles,  76  from  New  York,  and  34 
from  Hartford.  The  harbor  sets  back  four  miles  from  Long  Island 
sound,  and  is  about  a  mile  in  width  at  its  mouth.  Its  channel  is  from 
7^  feet  to  24  feet  deep,  at  low  water,  and  at  high  tide  vessels  drawing 
22  feet  of  water  can  reach  the  docks  at  the  upper  end  of  the  harbor. 
The  national  government  has  lately  designated  this  as  a  port  of  refuge 
for  vessels  on  Long  Island  sound.  By  building  a  breakwater  3,300 
feet  long,  from  the  eastern  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  and  one 
5,200  feet  long  from  the  western  side,  four  square  miles  of  shelter 
harbor  will  be  afforded,  in  which  the  largest  ocean  steamers  could 
float.  Several  millions  of  dollars  will  be  spent  in  these  improvements 
which,  when  fully  completed,  will  give  this  harbor  a  national 
importance. 

"  At  the  time  when  the  first  settlers  arrived  in  this  town  there  was, 
in  the  northwestern  region  of  this  harbor,  a  sufficient  depth  of  water 
for  all  the  ordinar}'  purposes  of  commerce.  Ships  were  built  and 
launched  where  now  there  are  meadows,  gardens  and  shops.  Sloops 
loaded  and  unloaded  where  the  market  now  stands.  So  late  as  the 
year  1765,  Long  Wharf  extended  only  twenty  rods  from  the  shore.  It 
extends  now  three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty-three  feet.  *  * 
The  substance  which  here  accumulates  so  rapidly  is  what  in  this 
country  is  called  marsh  mud."*  The  pleasing  appearance  of  the 
harbor  and  its  adaptation  for  the  purposes  of  a  commercial  city,  was 
the  main  reason  why  this  section  was  first  selected  for  a  settlement. 
The  plain  on  which  the  city  was  located  was  also  very  attractive, 
and  the  environments,  then  as  now,  were  of  the  most  pleasing  nature. 
Mountains,  plains,  fresh  and  tidal  waters,  are  here  happily  blended, 
making  a  combination  which  has  permitted  the  creation  of  a  city 
which  has  been  called  the  "  Pearl  of  New  England." 

"  The  plain  on  which  the  city  of  New  Haven  is  built  is  not  improb- 
ably a  congeries  of  particles,  floated  down  to  this  place  in  early  times 
from  the  interior.  Its  surface  is  sand,  mixed  with  loam  and  gravel; 
beneath  this  is  usually  found  a  stratum  of  yellow  loam.  Still  lower, 
at  the  depth  of  fifteen  or  eighteen  inches,  a  ma.ss  of  coarse  sand 
extends  about  six  feet.  *  *  *  Formerly  the  surface  was  covered 
*J.  ^V.  Barber,  1835. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  99 

with  shrub  oaks,  and  wild  turkeys  and  partridges  were  found  in  great 
•numbers.  The  soil  of  this  plain  is  dry,  warm  and  naturally  unproduc- 
tive, but  by  cultivation  is  capable  of  producing  every  vegetable  suited 
to  the  climate,  and  in  any  quantity."  - 

These  conditions  of  location  and  soil  have  been  very  beneficial  to 
the  continued  prosperity  and  healthfulness  of  the  community.  "  New 
Haven  has  the  lowest  death-rate  of  any  seaport  of  its  size  in  the  world. 
The  natural  features  of  soil,  climate  and  topography  are  conducive  to 
health.  Bordering  on  Long  Island  sound,  the  city  is  swept  by  an 
abundance  of  fresh  air  from  over  the  sea,  while  the  semi-circular 
range  of  surrounding  hills  protect  it  from  the  severe  storms  of  other 
directions.  Situated  within  the  influence  of  the  Gulf  Stream  the 
•climate  is  tempered  thereby  and  is  mild  and  salubrious,  the  mercury 
seldom  rising  above  85°  or  falling  below  10°.  The  city  is  built  on  a 
■deep  and  stratified  sand  and  gravel  plain,  which  gives  dry  streets  and 
building  sites  and  the  purest  water  at  a  moderate  depth.  The  city  is 
being  well  sewered  as  fast  as  any  locality  becomes  populated,  and 
public  improvements  and  regulations  are  constantly  lowering  the 
mortality  while  the  population  increases,  in  defiance  of  the  ordinary 
rule  of  nature.  Typhoid  fever,  one  of  the  direst  enemies  of  large 
cities,  is  practically  unknown  here,  and  with  a  population  of  80,000 
the  present  death-rate  is  but  seventeen  and  four-tenths  to  the 
thousand."  f 

The  same  writer  continues:  "  The  location  of  New  Haven,  aside 
from  its  advantages  in  a  business  point  of  view,  is  one  of  many  attrac- 
tions. The  stranger  needs  to  remain  in  New  Haven  but  a  very  short 
time  to  discover  that  he  is  in  a  very  lively,  bright  and  wide-awake 
New  England  city.  New  Haven  to-day  is  unquestionably  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  cities  in  America,  if  not  in  the  world,  and  one  which 
the  stranger  always  remembers  with  pleasure.  Nowhere  else  can  be 
found  the  wealth  of  broad  spreading,  shadow-casting  elms  possessed 
by  New  Haven.  Its  appellation,  the  City  of  Elms,  is  well  applied. 
vStreet  after  street,  avenue  after  avenue,  is  arched  with  these  noble 
trees.  As  to  beauty  and  variety  of  architecture  displayed  in  the  dwell- 
ings, nothing  anywhere  excels  it.  A  vast  majority  of  the  houses  are  of 
wood,  while  no  two,  scarcely,  are  alike.  Every  style  and  shape  seem 
to  have  been  brought  into  requisition.  As  a  rule,  the  residences  have 
more  or  less  yard  and  lawn  room,  the  habit  of  crowding  the  buildings 
thickly  together,  so  often  seen  in  a  large  city,  being  conspicuous  by 
its  absence.  The  streets  as  a  general  thing,  are  broad  and  straight, 
and  in  most  cases  cross  one  another  at  right  angles.  In  this  respect 
New  Haven  clearly  resembles  Philadelphia,  which,  however,  it  much 
preceded  in  the  use  of  this  method,  inasmuch  as  the  original  nine 
squares  of  which  New  Haven  was  composed,  were  laid  out  years  before 
William  Penn  founded  the  '  City  of  Brotherly  Love.'     Like   Philadel- 

*  J.  W.  Barber  and  Doctor  Dwight.     t  James  P.  McKinney.  1S8;). 


100  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

phia,  too,  New  Haven  has  several  beautiful  public  parks  scattered 
about  the  city.  The  pride  and  glory  of  all  New  Haveners  is  the 
'  green.'  It  occupies  the  exact  center  of  the  city  as  originally  laid  out. 
Noble  shade  trees  extend  in  rows  around  every  side  of  the  enclosure, 
those  just  outside  the  fence  at  the  angles  having  unusual  age  and  size, 
and  casting  shade  accordingly.  Broad  walks  extend  diagonally 
through  and  from  side  to  side  of  the  grounds,  and  nearly  every  walk 
has  an  arch  of  overhanging  trees.  The  portion  of  the  green  left  un- 
shaded— less  than  one-fourth — serves  as  a  play  and  parade  ground, 
and,  in  summer,  possesses  all  the  beauty  of  a  well-kept  lawn.  The 
loveliness  of  the  spot,  doubtless,  had  much  to  do  with  the  choice  of 
the  place  as  the  site  of  the  church  edifices  of  three  of  the  oldest  relig- 
ious organizations  in  New  Haven,  viz.:  Trinity  church.  Center  church, 
and  North  church,  which  side  by  side  stand  like  true  guardians  of  the 
welfare  of  the  city.  Temple  street,  running  through  the  center  of 
the  green,  is  probably  one  of  the  most  symmetrically  shaded  avenues 
in  the  world.  The  arch  of  elms  above  it,  changing  from  one  manifes- 
tation of  beauty  to  another  as  the  seasons  pass,  makes  a  most  beautiful 
nature-temple." 

"  As  a  place  of  residence.  New  Haven  is  unsurpassed,  if  equalled, 
by  any  other  in  New  England  or  America.  Its  velvety  lawns,  its  fine 
drives,  its  contiguity  to  the  .sea  shore,  its  healthfulness,  the  prevalent 
air  of  thrift  and  comfort,  apparent  even  in  the  dwellings  of  the  middle 
classes,  and  the  numerous,  spacious  and  costly  mansions  of  the  rich — 
together  with  its  unsurpa.ssed  religious  privileges  and  educational 
facilities — all  combine  to  make  this  city  one  of  the  few  spots  on  earth 
nearly  akin  to  paradise." 

Willis'  description  of  the  city's  appearance,  though  written  a  num- 
ber of  years  ago,  will  bear  reproduction  at  this  time:  "  If  you  were  to 
set  a  poet  to  make  a  town,  with  carte  blanche  as  to  trees,  gardens  and 
green  blinds,  he  would  probably  turn  out  very  much  such  a  place  as 
New  Haven.  The  first  thought  of  the  inventor  of  New  Haven  was  to 
lay  out  the  streets  in  parallelograms;  the  second  was  to  plant  them 
from  suburb  to  waterside  with  the  magnificent  elms  of  the  country. 
The  result  is  that  at  the  end  of  fifty  years,  the  town  is  buried  in  leaves. 
If  it  were  not  for  the  spires  of  churches,  a  bird  flying  over  on  his 
autumn  voyage  to  the  Floridas,  would  never  mention  having  seen  it 
in  his  travels.  The  houses  are  something  between  an  Italian  palace 
and  an  Engli.sh  cottage — built  of  wood,  but  in  the  dim  light  of  the 
overshadowing  trees,  as  fair  to  the  eye  as  marble,  with  their  triennial 
coats  of  paint;  and  each  stands  in  the  midst  of  its  own  encircling 
grass-plot,  half  buried  in  vines  and  flowers,  and  facing  outward  from 
a  cluster  of  gardens  divided  by  .slender  palings  and  filling  up  with 
fruit  trees  and  summer  houses  the  square  on  whose  limit  it  stands. 
Then,  like  the  vari-colored  parallelograms  upon  a  chess  board,  green 
openings  are  left  throughout  the  town,  fringed  with  triple  and  inter- 


HISTORY   or  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  101 

weaving  elm  rows,  the  long,  weeping  branches  sweeping  downward 
to  the  grass,  and  with  their  enelosing  shadows  keeping  moist  and  cool 
the  road  they  overhang." 

The  public  buildings  of  the  city  are  also  numerous  and  very  fine. 
Aside  from  the  magnificent  structures  of  Yale  University,  on  the 
campus  west  of  the  green,  there  are,  on  the  opposite  .side  of  that 
public  place,  the  handsome  city  hall,  erected  in  18fil,  and  still  one  of 
the  best  municipal  buildings  in  the  .state;  the  county  court  house, 
erected  in  1873  and  later,  at  a  cost  of  several  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars; the  city  police  building,  completed  in  1874,  and  costing  §75,000; 
the  substantial  Free  Library,  but  recently  opened,  and  worth  more 
than  S100,0()(). 

In  this  locality  is  also  the  Tontine  Hotel,  which  has  a  most  inter- 
esting hLstory.  "  It  was  erected  about  1825  by  a  joint  stock  company, 
each  of  whose  shares  bore  the  name  of  a  person,  and  were  forfeited 
by  the  holder  to  the  company  upon  the  death  of  that  person,  who  was 
called  the  nominee.  It  is,  in  fact,  nothing  else  than  a  lottery  founded 
on  human  life.  There  were  originall}^  243  nominees;  now  after  si.xty 
years,  the  number  has  dwindled  down  to  about  100.  When  it  reaches 
seven,  the  whole  propert}'  will  be  divided  among  the  fortunate  holders 
of  those  shares."" 

On  the  same  street,  farther  south,  is  the  fine  post  office  and  custom 
house,  built  by  the  United  States,  in  1860.  Nearly  opposite  is  the 
Hoadley  Building,  one  of  the  finest  private  business  blocks  in  the  city. 
Other  buildings  of  the  same  nature,  which  are  fine  and  costly,  are  the 
large  Insurance  Building,  the  Boardman  and  iMasonic  Blocks  and  the 
buildings  of  the  leading  banks  and  newspapers. 

No  city  of  its  size  has  a  greater  number  or  finer  public  school 
buildings  than  those  of  New  Haven,  the  Hillhou.se  High  School  stand- 
ing as  a  noteworthy  example.  But  the  pride  and  glory  of  the  city  is 
Yale  University,  which  has  become  one  of  the  noblest  institutions  of 
learning  in  the  entire  world.  In  this  country  it  ranks  third  in  age, 
and  is  the  first  in  the  number  of  its  under-graduates,  who  are  now 
found  in  all  nations.  The  original  college  grounds  occupy  much  of 
the  western  central  part  of  the  town  plat  made  by  the  first  settlers. 
Here  are  many  fine  collegiate  edifices  and  others  are  well  located  near 
by,  on  principal  streets.  A  few  are  quaint,  being  more  than  a  hundred 
years  old.  But  the  edifices  which  most  frequently  attract  attention 
and  admiration  are  of  recent  construction.  Among  the  most  notable 
are  the  new  Chittenden  Library  Building;  the  Street  Art  School,  built 
in  1866,  at  a  cost  of  §175,000;  Battell  Chapel,  built  in  1876.  at  a  cost  of 
$200,000,  and  claimed  to  be  the  finest  college  chapel  in  existence; 
Peabody  Museum,  completed  the  same  year,  at  a  cost  of  $175,000,  and 
now  being  enlarged;  Alumni  Hall;  East  Divinity  Hall,  completed  in 
1870,  at  a  cost  of  $180,000;  West  Divinity  Hall,  erected  in   1874,  and 

*  Wm.  H.  Beckford. 


102  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

costing  $160,000;  Sloane  Laboratory,  erected  in  1884,  being  the  most 
thoroughly  appointed  of  any  physical  laboratory  in  the  Union;  D wight 
Hall,  built  in  18.86,  at  a  cost  of  $60,000,  as  a  home  for  the  University 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association;  and  a  number  of  fine  and  costly 
dormitories,  of  which  Farnam  Hall,  built  in  1870,  was  the  first  of 
those  put  up  in  the  new  system.  Of  these  interests  of  Yale,  a  con- 
temporary writer"'^  savs: 

"  The  Librar}-,  in  all  its  departments,  contains  more  than  a  hundred 
thousand  volumes,  and  is  rapidly  becoming  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  valuable  in  the  country.  The  Art  Gallery,  in  addition  to  its 
other  attractions,  contains  the  original  paintings  of  Col.  Trumbull, 
commemorative  of  leading  events  in  our  Revolutionary  history.  The 
Alumni  Hall  is  used  for  examinations,  and  once  a  year  as  the  dining 
hall  of  the  college,  when  it  dispenses  its  hospitality  to  all  its  alumni. 
The  Peabody  Museum  contains,  in  a  noble  edifice,  one  of  the  finest 
collections  of  minerals  in  the  world.  At  the  beginning  of  this  century 
the  late  Professor  Silliman  carried  to  Philadelphia  in  a  candle  box  all 
the  minerals  then  belonging  to  the  college,  to  be  designated  and 
classified.  The  buildings  occupied  by  the  Sheffield  Scientific  School, 
as  the  scientific  department  of  the  college  is  called,  are  at  the  upper 
end  of  College  street,  and  are  the  gift  of  the  late  Joseph  E.  Sheffield, 
Esq.,  who  also  largely  contributed  to  the  endowment  of  the  institution. 
The  Yale  School  of  Fine  Arts  occupies  a  noble  building  on  the  college 
grounds,  the  gift  of  the  late  Augustus  R.  Street,  Esq.  The  Medical 
College  on  York  street,  the  Law  School  on  Church  street,  and  the  new 
Memorial  Recitation  Hall  on  Chapel  street,  are  each  worthy  the  atten- 
tion of  the  intelligent  stranger.  As  a  source  of  actual  money  profit  to 
New  Haven  Yale  University  is  a  marked  factor,  since  at  a  low  esti- 
mate the  aggregate  disbursements  of  the  1,500  students  for  rooms,, 
board,  clothing,  books,  merchandise  and  other  necessaries  and  luxuries 
amount  to  upwards  of  $1,000,000  annually,  and  this  divided  into  forty 
weeks,  the  college  term,  makes  weekly  receipts  for  the  community 
from  this  source  of  about  $25,000." 

Of  the  private  residences  in  this  old  yet  modernized  town,  it  is 
claimed  that  a  large  wooden  building,  on  Meadow  street,  a  few  rods 
south  of  Church  street,  was  built  in  1642,  or  four  years  after  the  set- 
tlement of  the  town.  In  colonial  times  it  was  painted  blue,  many 
other  buildings  being  painted  red,  and  these  two  colors  were  the  pre- 
vailing ones.  The  Benedict  Arnold  house,  on  Water  street,  completed 
in  1772,  and  occupied  by  that  notorious  character  before  the  revolu- 
tion, was  long  a  marked  object.  Nearly  all  the  historic  landmarks 
have  been  swept  away  by  the  hand  of  improvement. 

Of  the  more  modern  mansions  the  Noah  Webster  house,  on  the 
corner  of  Grove  and  Temple  streets,  attracts  much  attention,  as  being 
the  place  where  the  great  lexicographer  wrote  much  of  his  standard 

*  James  P.  McKinney. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  103 

dictionary.  Many  other  well-conditioned  houses  of  that  period 
remain.  Numerous  examples  of  the  modern  residence  are  found  on 
Hillhouse  avenue,  which,  for  its  length,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
residence  streets  in  this  country.  Here  are  the  homes  of  a  number  of 
members  of  the  university  faculty.  Stately  elms  overarch  this  street 
and  standing  on  lawn-like  borders,  the  fine  mansions  in  the  back- 
ground form  a  most  pleasing  picture. 

Some  of  the  other  streets  are  beautiful  to  a  less  degree  and  tha 
avenues  leading  to  the  suburbs  add  to  the  attractions  of  the  city. 
Charming  drives  extend  to  the  rocky  shores  of  Morris  Cove,  and  the 
pleasant  resorts  of  West  Rock  and  East  Rock  Park.  From  the  sum- 
mits of  these  mountains  extended  views  of  land  and  sea  may  be  had 
within  a  few  miles  of  the  center  of  the  city.  At  the  latter  place  New 
Haven's  magnificent  soldiers'  monument  towers  high  above  surround- 
ing objects,  a  noble  tribute  to  the  valor  and  patriotism  of  the  defend- 
ers of  the  Union. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  harbor  are  several  scenes  of  historic  interest, 
the  one  nearest  the  city  being  Beacon  hill,  with  traces  of  Fort 
Wooster,  built  in  the  war  of  1812.  A  mile  below  on  the  site  of  the 
revolutionary  Black  Rock  Fort,  Fort  Hale  was  built  in  18(i9,  and  was 
garri.soned  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  the  civil  war  it  was  rebuilt  and 
again  occupied.  It  has  a  commanding  position.  Below  are  the  two 
lighthouses,  the  new  one  being  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  cove.  These 
objects  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  harbor,  which  even  in  its  pristine 
condition  caused  the  first  settlers  to  exclaim,  "This  is,  indeed,  a  Fair 
Haven;"  and  as  they  here  began  anew  their  business  ventures  as  a 
commercial  people,  the  Indian  name  of  Quinnipiac  was  soon  properly 
changed  to  New  Haven. 

The  original  settlers  of  Quinnipiac  were  families  of  wealth,  intel- 
ligence and  influence,  and  these  traits  have  ever  characterized  the 
inhabitants  of  New  Haven.  The  leaders  were  Reverend  John  Daven- 
port and  Theophilus  Eaton,  who  was  elected  the  first  governor.  Other 
principal  men  were  vSamuel  Eaton,  John  Evance,  Edward  Hopkins, 
David  Yale,  Stephen  Goodyear,  William  Peck,  Ezekiel  Cheever, 
Robert  Newman,  Thomas  Gregson,  Richard  Malbon,  Nathaniel 
Turner,  Richard  Perry,  Thomas  Kimberley,  Thomas  Benham,  Matthew 
Gilbert,  Jasper  Crane,  George  Lamberton,  Roger  Ailing,  John 
Brockett,  Robert  Seeley,  Thomas  Fugill,  John  Punderson,  Jeremiah 
Dixon,  Joshua  Atwater,  Edward  Wigglesworth,  Francis  Newman, 
David  Atwater,  John  Cooper,  John  Moss  and  Thomas  Trowbridge. 
A  number  of  these  had  been  trained  to  commercial  pursuits  and  many 
of  them  po.ssessed  large  estates  which  permitted  them  to  make  costly 
improvements  and  to  .supply  their  homes  here  with  some  of  the  com- 
forts they  were  accustomed  to  enjoy  in  London,  from  which  city  most 
of  them  had  emigrated.  A  greater  portion  of  this  company  had  come 
to  Boston  in  1637,  remaining  there  until  a  place  for  the  colony  had 


104  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

been  selected  by  Theophihis  Eaton  and  others  deputed  for  that 
purpose. 

The  main  company  of  more  than  250  souls  sailed  from  Boston  for 
this  destination  March  30th,  1638,  and  in  a  fortnight  they  were  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Ouinnipiac*  The  vessel  passed  up  the  harbor,  as  it 
then  was,  entered  West  creek  and  landed  its  passengers  in  a  locality 
now  indicated  by  George  and  College  streets.  Here  a  town  pint  half 
a  mile  square  was  surveyed  and  divided  into  nine  equal  parts,  the 
central  .section  being  reserved  for  a  market  place  and  meeting  house 
green.  Upon  these  quarters,  around  the  green,  as  a  radiating  point 
from  which  the  settlement  sought  its  circumference,  the  building  of 
the  city  was  begun.  But  to  accommodate  all  with  lots  two  additions, 
nearer  the  harbor,  had  to  be  surveyed,  that  work  also  being  done  by 
John  Brockett;  and  after  this  out-lots  and  larger  farms  were  surveyed 
for  such  as  were  entitled  to  them.  Some  of  the  wealthier  settlers 
built  very  spacious  houses.  Governor  Eaton's,  at  the  corner  of  Elm 
and  Orange  streets  was  so  large  that  the  use  of  19  fire  places  was 
necessary;  and  in  Reverend  John  Davenport's  house,  opposite,  on  the 
south  side  of  Elm  street,  were  13  fire  places.  Many  of  the  first  houses 
on  George  street  and  on  the  opposite  hill  were  two  stories  high. 

After  adopting  their  church  and  civil  polity,  the  settlers  of  New 
Haven  endeavored  to  establish  trade  with  various  points,  as  Boston, 
New  York,  Virginia,  Barbadoes,  England  and  Delaware  bay.  At  the 
latter  place  trading  posts  were  established  on  lands  which  had  been 
purchased  for  the  colony  in  1640,  by  Captain  Turner.  Unfortunately 
this  venture  not  only  proved  un,successful,  but  was  also  a  costly 
experiment  to  the  colony  which  had,  in  1640,  less  than  iiOO  inhabitants. 
Other  commercial  ventures  also  failed  and  more  attention  was  paid  to 
agriculture.  Lands  were  allotted,  and  in  the  list  of  1643  appeared  the 
names  of  the  planters  in  New  Haven.  Four  hundred  and  fifteen  per- 
sons were  enumerated,  the  taxables  being  122  in  number.  Theophilus 
Eaton  had  the  largest  estate,  its  value  being  put  at  ^3,000.  Mr. 
Davenport's  was  valued  at  ^,"1,000,  and  there  were  eight  others  having 
estates  of  the  same  value,  among  them  being  George  Lamberton  and 
vStephen  Goodyear.  Captain  Turner's  family  numbered  seven  persons 
and  his  estate  was  rated  at  i^SOO.  Thomas  Gregson  had  six  persons 
in  his  family  and  an  estate  of  i^600.  Lamberton's  family  also  number- 
ed six  persons.  A  considerable  number  of  taxables  were  newly  mar- 
ried or  single  men. 

About  this  time  an  effort  was  made  to  create  an  interest  in  agricul- 
ture. But  the  people  of  New  Haven  were  little  inclined  to  its  arts, 
and  having  no  skill  for  this  avocation,  failed  to  reap  profitable  crops. 
Their  commerce,  also,  further  declined  and  their  large  estates  were 
wasting  away.  An  uncommon  effort  was  now  made,  in  the  fall  of 
1646,  to  retrieve  these  broken  fortunes,  by  gathering  up  whatever  was 

*  See  also  Chapter  I,  for  account  of  settlement. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  105 

merchantable  and  shipping  it  to  England.  A  vessel  of  loO  tons 
burden  was  brought  from  Rhode  Island  and  fitted  up  for  this  voyage, 
upon  which  such  high  expectations  were  based.  That  her  mission 
might  be  the  more  properly  fulfilled  Captain  Turner,  Mr.  Gregson, 
and  several  more  of  their  principal  men  decided  to  accompany  Captain 
Lamberton,  the  master  of  the  vessel.  The  fate  of  this  ship  has  been 
graphically  portrayed  by  Longfellow,  in  his  poem,  the  "  Phantom 
Ship."  Another  account  of  this  ill-fated  vessel  is  conci.sely  given  by 
Henry  Howe: 

"Captain  Lamberton  and  about  .seventy  others  embarked  in  her. 
among  whom  were  six  or  eight  of  their  most  valued  citizens.  They 
sailed  from  New  Haven  in  January,  1647.  She  was  so  'walty,'  i.e. 
rolling,  that  Lamberton,  her  master,  said  she  would  prove  their  grave; 
and  she  did.  They  cut  their  way  out  through  the  ice  of  the  harbor 
for  three  miles,  and  with  many  prayers  and  tears  and  heart-sinkings 
set  sail.  Mr.  Davenport,  in  prayer,  used  these  words:  '  Lord,  if  it  be 
thy  pleasure  to  bury  these,  our  friends,  in  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  they 
are  thine,  save  them.'  Months  of  weary  waiting  passed  over  and  no 
tidings  from  Europe  of  '  the  great  shippe.'  She  was  never  heard  of — 
foundered  at  sea.  The  next  June,  just  after  a  great  thunder  storm, 
the  air  being  serene,  there  appeared  about  an  hour  before  sunset, 
though  the  wind  was  northerly — there  appeared  in  the  air,  coming  up 
the  harbor's  mouth,  a  ship  just  like  their  "  great  shippe,"  with  her  sails 
all  set  as  filled  under  a  fresh  gale,  and  continued  sailing  against  the 
wind  for  half  an  hour,  coming  near  to  the  people  standing  on  the 
shore,  when  suddeul}^  all  her  sails  and  masts  seemed  blown  overboard: 
quickly  after  her  hulk  brought  to  a  careen  and  she  overset  and 
vanished  in  a  smoky  cloud.  The  people  declared  this  was  the  mold 
of  their  ship  and  this  her  tragic  end:  and  said  Mr.  Davenport,  '  God 
has  condescended  for  the  quieting  of  our  afflicted  spirits,  this  extra- 
ordinary account  of  his  sovereign  disposal  of  those  for  whom  so  many 
prayers  had  been  made  continually.'" 

The  loss  of  this  ship  was  most  disastrous  to  the  hopes  of  the  people 
of  New  Haven,  and  as  the  sea  had  now  swallowed  up  most  of  their 
estates,  they  became  greatly  discouraged.  In  this  state  of  affairs  they 
were  led  to  think  of  abandoning  the  country  and  settling  themselves 
elsewhere;  but  all  these  purposes  came  to  naught.  For  years  thej- 
struggled  on,  a  poor  people.  But  the  uses  of  adversity  were  not  in 
vain.  Their  posterity  learned  to  adapt  themselves  to  the  conditions 
which  prevailed  in  this  country  and  many  of  them  having  learned  to 
become  respectable  farmers.  Xew  Haven  flourished  no  less  than  her 
neighbors. 

In  1669  the  value  of  the  estates  here  was  ^^^15,402  and  the  names  of 
the  freemen,  as  returned  by  the  constables  were  as  follows:  Mr. 
William  Jones,  John  Ailing,  Mr.  James  Bishop,  William  Payne,  Mr. 
^Matthew  Gilbert,  John  Jackson,  Captain  John  Xash,  Nathaniel  Merri- 


106  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

man,  Mr.  Samuel  Street,  Ralph  Lines,  William  Andrews,  Ephraim 
How,  Mr.  Thomas  Yale,  Sen.,  Abraham  Dickerman,  William  Peck, 
Jeremiah  Osborne,  Roger  Ailing,  John  Gilbert,  John  Gibbs,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Tuttle,  Lieutenant  Thomas  Munson,  Mr.  Benjamin  Ling,  John 
Mosse,  Thomas  Mix,  John  Cooper,  vSen.,  John  Hall,  Sen.,  Nicholas 
Elsey,  William  Holt,  William  Thorpe,  James  Heaton,  Samuel  White- 
head, Isaac  Beecher,  John  Brockett,  William  Wooden,  James  Russell, 
John  Johnson,  Henry  Glover,  John  Clark,  Jeremiah  Whitnell,  William 
Wilmot,  William  Bradley,  Joseph  Mansfield,  Philip  Leek,  Richard 
Sperry,  John  Harriman,  Sen.,  Ailing  Ball,  David  Atwater,  Thomas 
Kimberley,  Thomas  Morris,  Moses  Mansfield,  William  Basset,  Jonathan 
Tuttle,  John  Winston,  Jeremiah  How,  Henry  Bristow,  Daniel  Sher- 
man, Joseph  Alsup,  John  Cooper,  Jr.,  Abraham  Doolittle,  John 
Thomas,  Sen.,  John  Chidsey,  John  Miles,  Edward  Perkins,  Mr.  John 
Hodshow,  Samuel  Miles,  Mr.  Thomas  Trowbridge,  Isaac  Turner, 
Thomas  Barnes,  James  Clark,  George  Ross,  Matthew  Moulthrop, 
Timothy  Ford,  Ellis  Mew,  John  Peck,  John  Potter,  Joseph  Peck,  James 
Dennison,.  Samuel  Ailing,  John  Osbill,  Thomas  Yale,  Jr.,  Samuel 
Hemingway,  Thomas  Sanford,  Joseph  Bradley. 

The  following  year  Wallingford  was  formed  out  of  this  town,  which 
decreased  its  population  and  wealth,  and  until  1700  the  progress  was 
slow.  In  that  year  there  were  307  taxables  and  the  estates  were 
valued  at  ^'17,844.  In  1720  the  property  was  valued  at  ;^2S,316,  much 
of  the  increase  having  come  in  consequence  of  the  location  of  Yale 
College,  which  brought  people  of  wealth  to  the  town. 

"  The  first  Commencement  exercises  in  New  Haven  were  held 
September  10,  1718,  when  ten  students  were  graduated.  The  first 
college  edifice  was  of  wood,  170  feet  long,  22  wide,  3  stories  high,  con- 
tained about  50  studies,  was  painted  'blue,'  really  a  slate-color,  formed 
by  mixing  lamp-black  and  white  paint.  It  was  taken  down  m  1782. 
It  stood  on  the  corner  of  College  and  Chapel  streets,  on  the  identical 
spot  on  the  campus  where  the  Yale  students  now,  of  vSummer  evenings, 
sit  on  the  fence  in  long  lines  and  make  the  air  vocal  with  song  and 
chorus — '  rah  !'  '  rah  !'  '  rah.'  "  * 

This  institution  was  named  for  Elihu  Yale,  its  first  principal  bene- 
factor. He  wa.>;  a  son  of  David  Yale,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  but  who 
had  returned  to  Boston,  where  Elihu  was  born  about  1048.  Later 
David  Yale  and  his  family  and  many  others  of  the  New  Haven  mer- 
chants returned  to  England.  When  a  young  man  Elihu  went  to 
India  as  a  merchant,  where  he  became  a  governor  of  the  East  India 
Company  and  accumulated  great  wealth.  Some  of  his  means  were 
dispensed  in  charity.  It  is  said  that  his  benefaction  to  the  Collegiate 
Institute  of  New  Haven  colony  was  prompted  by  the  following  shrewd 
appeal  to  his  benevolence,  in  a  letter  to  him  by  Cotton  Mather: 

"  Sir,"  said  he,  "though  you  have  felicities  in  your  family,  which 

*  Henry  Howe. 


HISTORY    f)F    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  107 

I  pray  God  continue  and  multiply,  yet,  certainly,  if  what  is  forming  at 
New  Haven,  might  wear  the  name  of  Y.\le  College,  it  would  be  a 
name  better  than  a  name  of  sons  and  daughters."  Then  he  adds: 
"  And  your  munificence  might  easily  obtain  for  you  a  commemoration 
and  perpetuation  of  your  valuable  name  which  indeed  would  be  much 
better  than  an  Egyptian  pyramid." 

Yale  died  in  1721,  and  on  his  tomb  at  Wrexham,  Wales,  are  the 
following  singular  lines: 

"  Born  in  America,  in  Europe  bred, 
In  Afric  traveled  and  in  Asia  wed, 
Where  long  he  lived  and  thrived  :  in  London  dead. 
Much  good,  some  ill  he  did,  so  hope's  all's  even, 
And  that  his  soul  through  mercy's  gone  to  heaven. 
You  that  survive,  and  read  this  tale,  take  care 
For  this  most  certain  exit  to  prepare, 
AVhere  blest  in  peace  the  actions  of  the  just 
Smell  sweet  and  blossom  in  the  silent  dust," 

In  1748  there  were,  according  to  Wadsworth's  map,  in  the  village 
of  New  Haven,  180  dwellings,  of  which  138  were  unpainted.  On  the 
green  were  the  meeting  house,  built  in  1688.  the  county  house,  built 
in  1717,  and  near  by  the  jail  and  Hopkins'  Grammar  School,  which 
had  been  founded  in  1655.  West  of  the  green  was  Yale  College  and 
east  of  it  the  Blue  meeting  house. 

From  this  time  on  the  increase  in  population  and  wealth  was 
encouraging  until  it  was  interrupted  by  the  revolution.  After  the 
war,  under  the  lead  of  new  elements,  derisively  called  interlopers, 
who  overcame  the  conservatism  of  some  of  the  native  born  people, 
hitherto  at  the  head  of  affairs,  the  place  took  on  new  life,  and  in  1784 
it  was  incorporated  as  a  city.  Three  years  later,  when  a  census  was 
taken,  the  city  had  614  families  living  in  466  houses,  and,  including 
176  Yale  students,  3,540  souls.  Doctor  Dana,  in  his  Century  Sermon. 
1801,  gives  the  population  at  4,000,  of  whom  85  were  slaves,  115  free 
blacks.  48  Indians  and  mulattoes,  142  foreigners.  There  were  471 
Congregationalist  families,  226  Episcopalian,  7  Catholic,  1  Moravian, 
1  Baptist,  7  Methodist,  1  Quaker,  4  Priestlian,  and  16  Nothingarian. 
There  were  110  stores  and  61  vessels;  tonnage  5,436. 

In  1811,  there  were,  according  to  Doctor  Dwight.  29  houses  con- 
cerned in  commerce;  41  dry  goods  stores;  43  grocery  stores;  10 
apothecaries'  stores;  1  ship  yard;  4  ships'  stores;  9  tanners;  2  brass 
founders:  3  comb  makers;  2  paper  makers;  1  bell  founder;  6  clergy- 
men; 16  lawyers;  9  practising  physicians;  and  1  surgeon. 

But  a  better  idea  of  the  condition  of  the  city  and  the  town,  about 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  may  be  obtained  from  the  fol- 
lowing very  interesting  reminiscences  of  that  period,  by  James 
Brewster,  as  prepared  by  him  in  1866,  and  which  are  here  given  per- 
manent place: 


108  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

"  At  this  period,  the  population  consisted  of  from  5,0(K)  to  G,000 
inhabitants,  composed,  for  the  most  part,  of  native ''Americans.  It  is 
believed  that  the  first  Irish  family  was  brought  to  this  city  in  a  vessel 
owned  by  Messrs.  Prescott  &  Sherman:  and  these  gentlemen  were 
threatened  with  prosecution,  for  fear  the  emigrants  might  become  an 
expen.se  to  the  town;  but  the  man  being  a  mechanic,  he  with  his 
family  were  provided  for  by  charitable  per.sons. 

"  At  this  time,  the  Grand  List  of  taxable  property,  as  shown  by 
the  records,  was  but  $356,372.  However,  the  plan  of  assessment  in 
those  days  was  on  a  dififei-ent  basis  from  that  of  the  present  time — 
lands  being  valued  by  the  acre,  and  houses  by  the  stories  they  con- 
tained. The  Grand  List  for  1865  showed  the  valuation  to  be  $29,651,- 
409.  The  vast  difference  is  accounted  for  by  the  great  increase  of 
population  and  wealth.  Real  estate  in  Chapel  street  could  have  been 
purchased  then  for  thirty  to  forty  dollars  per  front  foot,  and  in  Orange 
and  other  contiguous  streets  at  from  three  to  five  dollars.  Common 
laborers  received  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  cents  a  day,  and  journey- 
men mechanics  from  four  to  six  dollars  per  week,  and  board  them- 
selves. The  choice  of  beef  could  be  obtained  for  six  or  seven  cents 
per  pound;  butter  for  eight  or  ten  cents;  and  potatoes  delivered  for 
sixteen  cents  per  bushel.  Good  board,  with  washing  could  be  had 
for  two  dollars  and  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  to  five  dollars  per  week: 
transient  customers  one  dollar  a  day,  or  even  less. 

"  Money  was  very  scarce,  the  resources  of  this  country  not  having 
yet  been  developed;  consequently  a  general  credit  system  was 
adopted  as  a  matter  of  dire  neces.sity,  business  men  usually  settling 
their  accounts  once  a  year  by  notes,  and  paying  them  by  in.stallments 
of  25  per  cent,  each  quarter  in  the  year  succeeding.  Mechanics 
usually  paid  from  two-thirds  to  three-quarters  of  their  workmen's 
wages  by  orders  on  stores. 

"  Near  the  close  of  the  first  decade,  the  New  Haven  Bank  was  in- 
corporated, with  a  capital  of  $R0,000.  The  subscription  to  the  stock 
was  acquired  only  by  persevering  labor.  The  first  President  was  Mr. 
David  Austin.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Isaac  Beers— and  he  by  Dr. 
yEneas  Munson.  Colonel  Lyon  was  the  first  cashier.  There  were 
then  but  three  banks  in  the  state.  The  New  Haven  Bank  was  located 
first  in  the  chambers  of  a  wooden  building  on  Chapel  street,  owned  by 
the  Cashier,  and  for  the  use  of  which  he  charged  $50  per  annum.  The 
bank  was  subsequently  removed  to  a  room  in  a  brick  building  on  the 
same  street,  also  owned  by  the  Cashier.  In  the  year  1809,  the  building 
on  the  corner  of  Chapel  and  Orange  streets  was  erected,  and  was 
then  considered  a  very  elegant  structure.  Although  this  Bank  had  a 
Board  of  Directors,  yet  the  general  management  was  conceded  to  the 
Cashier,  Colonel  Lyon.  The  Bank  was  then  almost  exclusively  avail- 
able for  the  accommodation  of  merchants  engaged  in  shipping,  and 
in  the  sale  of  dry  goods  and  groceries.     There  were  but  few  mechanics 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  109 

engaged  in  business  at  that  day  who  had  attained  to  any  prominence 
in  means  and  influence.  A  young  mechanic,  having  just  started  for 
himself,  offered  his  note  for  S^OU  at  the  New  Haven  Bank.  The 
President  informed  him  that  the  note  was  discounted;  but  on  going 
to  the  Bank,  Colonel  Lyon  remarked  to  him:  '  Four  hundred  dollars 
is  a  good  deal  of  money  for  a  young  man;  and,  in  view  of  this  circum- 
stance, I  have  concluded  to  make  the  amount  $200."  The  Colonel  dis- 
criminated very  closely  in  regard  to  the  customers  of  the  Bank.  A 
showily-dressed  man  was  sure  to  receive  a  negative  answer  to  his 
application  ;  and  mechanics,  who  understood  the  secret,  often 
exchanged  their  coats  for  jackets  before  going  to  the  Bank  for  favors. 

"  These  incidents,  though  trivial,  will  .serve  to  illustrate  the  subject 
of  financial  development,  in  comparing  the  present  with  the  '  olden 
time.' 

"  Our  commerce  was  principally  with  the  West  Indies,  though 
successful  voyages  had  also  been  made  to  the  East  Indies,  and  else- 
where. Among  those  who  were  prominently  engaged  in  it  were  Elias 
Shipman.  Frederick  Hunt  &  Sons,  Gad  Peck,  Jehiel  Forbes,  Prescott 
&  Sherman,  and  others. 

"  The  next  most  important  business  was  that  of  merchandise.  In 
this  were  engaged  Abram  Bradley,  Titus  Street,  Samuel  Hughes,  of  the 
firm  of  Street  &  Son,  Timothy  Dwight  &  Co,,  Reuben  Rice,  Thaddeus 
Beecher,  Isaac  Beers,  David  Au.stin,  Abel  Burritt,  and  others. 

"  The  principal  apothecaries  were  Doctor  Darling,  Doctor  Hotch- 
kiss,  and  Doctor  Lewis.  Druggists  in  those  days  usually  sold  oils, 
paints,  and  other  similar  articles. 

"  The  most  prominent  physicians  were  Doctors  Alonson,  (Deacon) 
Ives  (grandfather  of  Drs.  X.  B.  and  Levi  Ives),  Hubbard,  and  a  few 
others  just  beginning  to  practice. 

"  Mr.  Eli  Whitney,  then  engaged  in  the  construction  of  arms  for 
the  government,  was  the  only  manufacturer  of  prominence. 

"  There  were  many  enterprising  young  men  at  that  day  just  com- 
mencing business  life,  who  have  since  become  men  of  wealth  and 
influence,  among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Abram  Heaton,  Hervey 
Sanford,  Charles  and  James  Atwater,  Ezra  and  Elias  Hotchkiss,  Abel 
Burritt,  Henry  Trowlaridge,  Timothy  Bishop,  William  H.  Elliott, 
William  Lyon,  Elihu  Sanford,  &c.  Some  of  these  have  filled  their 
missions,  and  passed  away  from  earth. 

"  As  has  been  before  remarked,  at  the  close  of  the  first  decade  the 
mechanical  interests  of  the  city  were  very  limited  in  amount.  Those 
most  activel}'  employed  in  these  pursuits  were  Isaac  and  Kneeland 
Townsend,  tailors;  James  Bradley,  joiner:  Messrs.  Merriman,  Wilmot, 
Zebul  Bradley,  and  Sibley  &  Marble,  goldsmiths  and  jewelers:  Beriah 
Bradley  and  Major  Grannis,  and  others,  boot  and  shoe  makers:  John 
Cooke,  Luther  Bradley,  Lsaac  Mix  and  Eli  Bradley,  carriage  makers; 
Elias  Gilbert,  tanner;  Hezekiah  HotchkLss  and  Glover  Mansfield, 
hatters. 


110  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

"  It  is  proper  to  mention  here,  that  a  practical  lesson  may  be 
derived  from  a  statement  of  the  fact  that  many  of  the  most  prominent 
citizens  of  all  professions  in  New  Haven  at  the  close  of  the  first  decade 
(as  well  as  those  who  succeeded  them),  attained  to  their  eminent 
positions  (under  Providence)  by  their  own  industry,  economy  and 
integrity:  thus  showing  that  inherited  wealth  or  position  is  no  sure 
passport  to  success  or  usefulness;  but  rather  a  negative. 

"  At  the  commencement  of  the  .second  decade,  carriages  for 
pleasure  were  considered  a  great  superfluity.  There  was  then  but 
one  public  hack  (and  that  a  very  indifferent  one),  owned  by  a  Mr. 
Crane;  and  but  one  or  two  private  carriages  drawn  by  two  horses  in 
the  city.  Those  in  want  of  the  best  carriages  usually  went  to  Hart- 
ford or  Newark.  The  whole  annual  product  of  carriages  did  not 
then  exceed  $40,000.  The  same  business  in  1860  amounted  to  over 
$2,000,000. 

"  In  regard  to  the  moral  aspect  of  the  inhabitants,  and  especially 
of  what  was  termed  the  masses,  it  may  be  stated  that  they  were  gener- 
ally intellectually  and  socially  low,  and  of  small  means.  Intemper- 
ance prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent.  Public  lectures  were  then 
unknown,  and  it  is  believed  that  no  College  Professor  or  Tutor  had 
ever  gone  outside  the  walls  of  Yale  to  address  the  people.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  second  decade,  those  reverend  gentlemen,  Drs. 
Beecher  and  Hewett,  gave  public  lectures  on  the  subject  of  Temper- 
ance, and  of  entire  abstinence  from  all  intoxicating  drinks;  and 
although  they  met  much  opposition  as  "fanatics"  and  "invaders  of 
private  rights,"  yet  they  exercised  a  most  healthy  and  elevatmg  influ- 
ence upon  the  whole  communit}'. 

"  About  the  same  time  the  master  mechanics  formed  and  incorpor- 
ated the  '  Mechanic's  Society  of  New  Haven.'  Practical  lectures  were 
delivered  by  the  members  before  the  Society  and  elsewhere,  and  many 
of  the  employers  instituted  evening  schools  for  their  apprentices.  A 
vast  improvement  was  soon  manifest  in  the  moral  tone  of  society. 
At  this  juncture  Professor  Benjamin  Silliman,  assisted  by  Professor 
Olmsted,  gave  their  united  public  influence  in  favor  of  temperance, 
and  the  diffusion  of  the  elements  of  mechanical  science — a  detail  of 
which,  particularly  in  regard  to  Professor  Silliman "s  agency  in  insti- 
tuting the  Scientific  Lectures  at  Franklin  Hall,  would  be  beyond  the 
scope  and  limit  of  these  '  Reminiscences.'  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the 
moral  power  thus  exerted  has  been  the  great  conservative  element  in 
enhancing  the  material  pro.sperity,  and  elevating  the  social  position 
of  the  business  men  in  New  Haven. 

"  There  were  then  but  four  buildings  used  as  churches,  viz.:  a 
wooden  structure  on  the  east  side  of  Church  street,  near  Chapel,  occu- 
pied by  the  Episcopalians,  whose  pastor  was  Dr.  Hubbard:  the  so- 
called  '  First  Church,'  located  about  where  the  Center  Church  now 
stands,  presided   over  by  Dr.   Dana,  assisted  by  the  Reverend  Moses 


HISTORY   OF   Ni:\V    HAVEN   COUNTY.  Ill 

Stewart;  a  frame  building,  standing  about  where  the  North  Church 
now  does,  known  as  the  '  Old  White  Meeting  House:'  and  another  on 
the  east  side  of  Church  street,  near  Elm,  designated  the  '  Old  Blue 
Meeting  House.'  The  members  of  the  two  latter  places  of  worship, 
uniting  as  one  Society,  met  alternately  in  each  church.  The  Reverend 
Samuel  Mervin  was  their  minister.  There  were  no  other  denomina- 
tions, except  a  few  Methodists  who  occupied  a  small  room  in  Gregson 
street.  Bishop  Jarvis,  the  then  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  resided  in  Elm 
street. 

"  The  most  prominent  members  of  the  legal  profession  were  Pier- 
pont  Edwards,  James  Hillhouse,  Charles  Chauncey,  Simeon  Baldwin, 
David  Daggett,  William  Bristol,  Judge  Mills,  Nathan  Smith,  Seth  P. 
Staples,  Jonathan  Inger.soll,  Eleazer  Fo.ster,  Leonard  Wales,  Dyer 
White  and  Hart  Lynde.  All  of  these  have  since  died.  Their  imme- 
diate successors  were  then  either  in  school,  college,  or  engaged  in  the 
study  of  their  professions,  and  many  of  these  have  attained  to  high 
distinction. 

••  The  public  buildings  were  of  little  account.  The  old  brick  state 
house  was  located  about  midway  between  where  the  Center  and 
Trinity  Churches  now  stand.  The  college  buildings  did  not  possess 
one-half  of  their  present  magnitude.  The  old  college  chapel,  where 
Dr.  Dwight  preached,  is  now  the  observatory.  And  here  the  writer 
would  pause  to  pay  his  tribute  to  the  memory  of  that  great  and  good 
man.  His  dignity  and  yet  suavity  of  manner  were  so  marked  as  to 
have  a  perceptible  effect  not  only  upon  the  members  of  college,  but 
upon  the  community  at  large.  No  person  of  fair  standing  in  society, 
whether  rich  or  poor,  occupying  a  public  or  private  position,  failed  to 
receive  his  polite  recognition.  In  all  his  intercourse  with  the  public 
or  with  individuals,  he  strove  to  enforce  the  importance  of  integrity. 
In  his  general  prayer,  was  incorporated  this  petition:  'Oh.  Lord  !  give 
us  just  men  to  rule  over  us,  who  fear  God,  do  justl3%  love  mercy,  walk 
humbly,  and  who  will  shake  their  hands  from  holding  bribes."  He 
took  a  deep  interest  in  the  young.  His  counsel  to  the  writer,  when 
commencing  business,  has  ever  been  remembered.  'Young  man.' 
said  he,  '  recollect  that  anything  which  is  contrary  to  strict  integrity, 
is  against  a  person's  interest.'  Dr.  Dwight  died  in  the  year  1817, 
universally  lamented.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  Presidency  of  the 
College  by  Professor  Day,  now  the  venerable  Dr.  Day. 

"There  were  birt  few  public  places  of  amusement.  The  principal 
one  was  '  Mix's  ^luseuni,'  on  the  east  side  of  Olive  street,  fronting 
Court  street,  which  for  the  time,  was  a  very  creditable  institution, 
having  a  fine  and  well  cultivated  garden,  laid  out  with  much  taste. 
In  the  building  were  many  curiosities  and  works  of  art — prominent 
among  which  were  wax  figures  of  notable  persons.  Everything 
about  the  establishment  was  characterized  by  neatness  and  order,  and 
reflected  credit  upon  the  past  generation. 


112  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

"  Of  hotels,  the  most  noted  was  that  kept  by  Mr.  Justus  Butler,  on 
the  corner  of  Church  and  Crown  streets,  now  the  '  Franklin  Building.* 
From  the  front  steps  of  this  house.  General  Lafayette  was  introduced 
to,  and  shook  hands  with,  the  citizens  of  New  Haven.  The  next  in 
importance  was  located  near  where  the  '  Tontine '  now  stands,  and 
called  '  Ogden's  Coffee  House.'  Another  was  known  as  '  Nichols' 
Stage  House,'  and  was  situated  in  George  street  near  State.  And 
still  another,  called  '  Miles'  Tavern,'  in  the  wooden  building  now 
occupied  in  part  by  Mr.  Pease  as  a  book  store. 

"  Singular  as  it  may  seem,  although  the  beginning  of  the  war  with 
England  in  1812  was  embarrassing  in  many  respects,  yet  public  and 
private  enterprise  seemed  to  be  quickened  by  it.  Previous  to  this 
period,  everything  had  assumed  a  stereotyped  shape,  and  any  change 
excited  surprise.  A  stranger  walking  our  streets  created  consider- 
able astonishment,  and  an  immediate  inquiry  as  to  his  name,  residence 
and  probable  business,  ensued. 

"At  that  time,  our  coast  was  blockaded  by  the  British,  and  all 
means  of  travel  and  transportation  by  water  were  considered  extremely 
hazardous.  A  packet  venturing  to  leave  '  Long  Wharf '  for  New 
York,  with  some  of  our  prominent  business  men  aboard,  was  captured 
in  the  Sound  by  an  English  cruiser.  Great  alarm  and  excitement 
prevailed  in  town,  which  subsided  only  when  both  vessel  and  pas- 
sengers were  ransomed  by  the  payment  of  what  was  then  considered 
a  large  sum  in  specie.  Still,  at  no  period  in  our  history,  was  there 
ever  evinced  so  much  public  spirit.  The  three  churches  of  our 
beautiful  'Green'  were  erected  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $100,000.  Especially 
is  this  remarkable  when  we  remember  the  limited  meansand  resources 
of  the  inhabitants.  A  man  worth  $40,000  was  considered  very  wealthy; 
and  it  is  said  that  no  estate  exceeding  $100,000  in  value  had  then  ever 
been  administered  upon.  A  salary  of  $500  or  $1,000  per  annum  found 
many  earnest  applicants.  Let  us  award  all  due  honor  to  those  enter- 
prising citizens,  who  have  left  us  so  worthy  an  example !  Let  us 
often  look  at  those  churches  as  a  powerful  incentive  to  public  enter- 
prise, and  moral  and  physical  development ! 

"  As  an  important  element  of  prosperity,  in  diffusing  information, 
and  building  up  society,  mention  must  be  made  of  the  public  press. 
The  Coiiiu'cticiit  Journal  and  Connecticut  Herald  (weeklies)  were  then 
the  only  papers  published. 

"  As  an  instance  uf  how  a  supposed  calamity  eventuated  in  a  great 
benefit,  it  may  be  well  to  state  that  business  enterprise  was  consider- 
ably enhanced  during  hostilities  by  the  issuing  on  the  part  of  the 
government  of  a  large  amount  of  money  for  circulation,  and  the  in- 
creasing of  the  circulation  of  the  local  banks.  On  the  face  of  bills 
was  inscribed,  '  Payable  in  two  years  after  the  war.' 

"  A  negative  and  depressing  effect  upon  credit  was  the  existence 
of  what  was  termed  the  'Grab  Law,'  by  which  an  attachment  upon 


HISTORV   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  113 

property  could  be  made  available  for  the  benefit  of  the  attaching 
creditor.  Upon  mere  .suspicion,  maliciously,  and  without  notice,  the 
reputation  and  hope.s  of  many  a  deserving  young  man  were  destroyed. 
This  law  was  repealed,  and  another  substituted,  making  a  pro-rata 
rule  for  the  benefit  of  creditors. 

"  Before  concluding,  it  will  be  deemed  not  inappropriate  to  allude 
to  a  subject  which,  at  the  time,  was  fraught  with  great  interest  to  all 
of  the  citizens  of  New  Haven.  About  the  commencement  of  the 
second  decade  our  public  burial  ground  was  situated  in  the  rear  of 
the  Center  Church.  It  was  enclo-sed  by  a  dilapidated  board  fence,  and 
was  considered  by  strangers  and  others  as  discreditable  to  the  city. 
In  the  year  1796,  the  Honorable  James  Hillhouse  conceived  the  proj- 
ect of  establishing  a  new  cemetery.  Associating  with  himself  thirty- 
one  of  our  prominent  citizens,  a  lot  was  secured  for  that  purpose. 
Additions  to  this  were  made  from  time  to  time,  both  by  purchase  and 
by  the  aid  and  co-operation  of  the  city,  till  in  1822  it  had  attained  to 
its  present  dimensions.  Public  opinion  having  been  averse  to  build- 
ing a  new  fence  around  the  old  cemetery,  an  arrangement  was  made 
with  the  city  to  remove  the  monuments  to  the  new  grounds.  The 
whole  subject  caused  great  anxiety  and  excitement  at  the  time.  How- 
ever, this  was  consummated;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  June, 
1821,  a  great  concourse  of  people  assembled  at  the  Center  church  to 
engage  in  appropriate  exercises,  and  to  listen  to  an  address  prepared 
by  Abraham  Bishop,  Esq.  It  was  replete  with  eloquent  and  impres- 
sive sentiments.  The  clergy  of  the  various  denominations  were 
present:  and  the  occasion  was  long  to  be  remembered.  Mr.  James 
Hillhouse  acted  as  chairman  and  chief  manager,  and  superintended 
the  transfer  of  the  monuments.  In  the  year  1845,  the  corner-stone  of 
the  beautiful  gateway  was  laid  with  proper  ceremonies.  The  project 
of  a  new  cemetery  was  conceived  by  Honorable  James  Hillhouse,  and 
finally  consummated  by  the  Honorable  Aaron  N.  Skinner,  whose 
public  spirit  and  good  taste  and  good  judgment  were  for  .so  long  a 
period  at  the  service  of  the  city  of  his  adoption. 

"  How  few  of  those  among  us  remember  the  space  between  the 
Center  Church  and  the  present  State  House,  covered  with  the  monu- 
ments of  our  forefathers !  What  a  moral  does  it  teach  of  the  brevity 
of  human  life  !  Let  us  who  survive  cherish  this  lesson  with  reverence 
and  submission  !  Let  us  give  our  influence  and  agency  in  perpetuating 
the  institutions  founded  by  our  fathers  to  promote  morals  and  religion, 
law  and  government."* 

*  In  November,  1800,  James  Brewster,  the  author  of  the  foregoing,  died  in 
New  Haven  at  the  age  of  78  years.  He  was  one  of  the  most  usefiil  men  that  ever 
lived  in  the  city,  his  public  spirit  always  seeking  some  opportunity  to  benefit  his 
fellow  men.  He  was  thus  prompted  to  found  and  maintain  several  benevolent 
institutions.  He  came  to  New  Haven  in  180i)  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer  carriage 
manufacturers  of  the  city,  aiding  to  develop  that  industry  imtilit  was  the  principal 
one  in  the  city.  His  sons,  James  B.  and  Henry,  removed  to  New  York  where 
they  became  the  principal  carriage  manufacturers  in  the  United  States. 

8 


114  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Under  the  stimulus  of  steamboat  navigation,  begun  in  I8I0,  the 
operation  of  the  Farmington  canal  in  1S29  and  the  development  of 
the  railway  system  since  1839,  until  there  are  now  six  important 
lines,  New  Haven  has  grown  and  prospered,  becoming  the  largest 
city  in  the  state.    The  following  statistics  indicate  the  general  increase: 

Population:  1787,  'SMO;  1790,  4,448;  1800,  T),!.^?;  1810,  6,967:  1820, 
8,327;  1830,  10,678;  1840,  15,820;  1850,  22,529;  1800,  39,277;  1870,  50,840; 
1880,  62,880;  1890,  86,095. 

The  valuation  of  the  building  improvements  the  past  twenty  years 
has  been  as  follows:  1871,  $1,653,910;  1872,  $1,739,030;  1873,  $1,317,2.50; 
1874,  $968,105;  1875,  $1,086,650;  1876,  $596,075;  1877,  $946,470;  1878, 
$417,.5O0;  1879,  $624,000;  1880,  $415,.590;  1881,  $694,.550;  1882,  $1,035,8.50; 
1883,  $9.58,350;  1884,  $1,015,310;  1885,  1,088,375;  1886,  1,078,131;  1887, 
$1,253,850;  1888,  $1,481,625;  1889,  $1,513,075;  1890,  $1,455,685;  total, 
$21,339,606. 

The  following  was  prepared  for  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  in  1889, 
as  a  summary  of  the  property  valuation  of  the  city;  Dwelling  houses, 
$28,672,i503;  lands,  $3,485,663;  stores,  $4,247,364;  factories,  $3,791,638; 
horses,  $228,435;  carnages,  $193,338;  time-pieces,  $53,295;  pianos  and 
musical  instruments,  $86,060;  furniture  and  libraries,  $189,426;  amount 
invested  in  business,  $2,967,987;  amount  invested  in  manufacturing, 
$2,198,796;  amount  invested  in  vessels  and  commerce,  $.592,777;  bank 
stock,  $2,156,367;  insurance  stocks,  $399,100;  state  stocks,  $43,460: 
bridge  stocks,  $1,790;  western  farm  loans,  $83,6.50;  railroad  bonds, 
$490,623;  city  bonds,  .$98,931;  amount  at  interest,  $376,408;  amount  on 
deposit,  $310,391;  other  taxable  property,  $161,947.  On  a  fair  valua- 
tion the  real  value  of  the  real  estate  and  buildings  is  at  least  double 
the  amount  credited  them,  or  $80,000,000,  making  the  real  value  of  the 
city  in  the  close  neighborhood  of  $100,000,000. 

Soon  after  landing  at  New  Haven  the  settlers  adopted  a  plantation 
covenant,  under  which  they  were  governed  until  after  the  meeting 
of  June  4th,  1639,  when  the  civil  polity  was  more  clearly  defined  under 
the  terms  of  the  fundamental  agreement,  which  was  at  that  time 
solemnly  adopted.  Conforming  to  its  provisions,  the  church  was 
organized  August  22d,  1639,  and  the  civil  government  October  25th, 
1639.  At  this  meeting  it  was  decided  that  the  annual  elections 
shotild  be  held  in  the  last  week  of  October. 

At  the  meeting  held  the  following  month,  the  first  tax  was  levied 
to  raise  means  to  build  a  meeting  house  which  should  be  used  for  all 
the  public  purposes  of  the  community.  The  rate  of  the  levy  was  30 
shillings  on  i^lOO  of  valuation. 

At  the  November,  1639,  meeting  arrangements  were  also  made  for 
the  proper  disposition  of  the  public  lands,  and  a  proprietor's  com- 
mittee was  appointed  which  was  entrusted  with  those  matters.  This 
corporation  has  been  continued  ever  since.  Six  divisions  of  land  were 
made  between  1675  and  1722.     Besides  the  distribution  of  the  land 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  115 

among-  the  settlers,  much  of  the  town's  business  was  devoted  to  the 
regulation  of  matters  pertaining  to  live  stock.  The  proper  care  or 
restraint  of  animals  gave  the  town  much  concern.  Military  matters, 
also,  received  a  large  share  of  attention.  Orders  for  the  formation  of 
a  company  were  promulgated  in  November,  1639,  and  the  following 
year  the  .system  was  completed  by  the  establishment  of  a  regular 
watch. 

Closely  connected  with  the  military,  but  also  acting  independent 
of  that  service  was  the  town  drummer,  who  was  among  the  first 
official  appointees  and  for  whose  support  the  town  was  taxed  £iy  per 
year.  Robert  Bassett  first  served  in  that  capacity,  and  besides  beating 
his  drum  to  announce  the  usual  town  and  religious  meetings,  he  was 
required  to  beat  the  drum  at  sunset  and  every  morning  half  an  hour 
before  the  break  of  day.  Being  a  bold,  rolicking  fellow,  he  was  prob- 
ably well  fitted  for  this  work.  This  office,  in  the  course  of  years, 
became  obsolete,  in  consequence  of  the  use  of  church  bells.  Many 
other  offices  were  created  and  filled,  as  the  town  grew  in  population, 
until  the  officials  numbered  several  score. 

Tithingmen  have  been  elected  for  congregational  societies  almost 
from  the  beginning,  few  other  societies  continuing  this  office  after 
1866.  Such  officers  were  first  elected  for  the  Baptists  and  the  Metho- 
dists in  1821;  the  Episcopalians  in  1883;  the  Catholics  in  1836:  and  the 
Hebrews  in  1849. 

The  office  of  townsman  or  selectman  was  created  by  the  town 
court,  November  17th,  16.il,  when  the  following  action  was  taken: 

"  Itt  was  propounded  that  there  might  be  some  men  chosen  to  con- 
sider and  carry  on  the  towne  affaires,  that  these  meetings,  which  spend 
the  towne  much  time  may  not  be  so  often.  The  court  approved  the 
motion  and  chose  one  out  of  each  Quarter  to  this  work,  viz.:  Francis 
Newman,  John  Cooper,  Jarvise  Boykin,  Mr.  Atwater,  William  Fowler. 
Richard  ililes.  Henry  Lindon,  Thomas  Kimberley  and  Matthew 
Canfield,  which  are  to  stand  in  this  Trust  until  the  Towne  Election  in 
May  corae  twelve  month:  and  the}-  are  by  this  court  authorized  to 
be  Townesmen  to  order  all  matters  about  Fences.  Swine  and  all  other 
things  in  the  generall  occasions  of  the  Towne.  except  extraordinary 
charges,  matters  of  Election  in  May  yearly,  and  the  disposeing  of  the 
Towne's  land." 

It  will  be  seen  that  originally  the  business  of  the  townsmen  was  to 
look  after  the  interests  of  the  agricultural  classes,  a  townsman  being 
appointed  for  every  section.  In  16o3  the  number  in  this  office  was 
reduced  to  seven — the  number  still  elected — but  in  the  time  of  the 
revolution  it  was  increased  to  thirteen.  In  1660  the  powers  of  the 
townsmen  were  first  enlarged  and  since  that  time  they  have  been 
much  increased.     The  office  of  town  agent  has  been  distinct  since  1848. 

The  affairs  of  the  town  have  become  very  important,  requiring  an 
■outlay  of  more  than  8400.000  per  year  to  properly  carry  them  on. 


116  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Much  of  this  expense  arises  from  the  care  of  the  poor  and  those 
dependent  on  the  town's  support.  In  1788  the  town  followed  the 
custom  then  and  later  so  prevalent,  of  sellmg  the  poor  to  the  lowest 
responsible  keepers,  but  soon  adopted  other  measures  to  maintain 
them.  Among  other  means  at  present  used  is  the  almshouse,  but 
recently  occupied,  and  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $210,000.  It 
stands  on  the  Springside  Farm  of  257  acres,  lying  east  of  West  Rock, 
in  the  town  of  Hamden,  but  which  by  special  act  was  annexed  to  New 
Haven.  The  entire  inventory  of  the  farm  and  the  buildings  on  it, 
•with  the  attendant  property  is  $252,727.  The  construction  of  a  town 
"workhouse  is  contemplated  and  an  appropriation  to  begin  such  a 
building  has  been  made. 

The  first  deed  in  the  land  records  in  the  town  is  dated  February 
3d,  1678,  and  is  attested  by  John  Nash,  recorder.  His  signature  was 
last  affixed  April  22d,  1687.  In  August,  that  year,  William  Jones 
became  the  recorder,  and  served  until  May,  1695.  John  Ailing  was 
his  successor  from  July,  1695,  until  September,  1697,  when  the  title  of 
the  office  was  changed  to  clerk.  Ailing  continued  to  serve  in  the 
latter  capacity  until  1716,  when  Samuel  Bishop  was  appointed.  The 
subsequent  clerks  were  elected:  1747,  Samuel  Bishop,  Jr.;  1801.  Elisha 
Munson;  1832,  John  Scarritt;  1843.  Alfred  Terry;  1856,  Sylvanus 
Butler;  1863,  Milton  S.  Leonard;  1864,  Frank  D.  Sloat;  1865,  M.  S. 
Leonard:  1868,  John  Cunningham;  1873,  Frederick  Bottsford;  1876, 
Truman  S.  Foote;  1877,  Frederick  Bottsford;  1880,  Edwin  W.  Cooper; 
1883,  William  M.  Geary;  1884,  Philip  Hugo;  1887,  John  J.  Clerkin; 
1888,  Theodore  H.  McDonald;  1889,  Frederick  H.  Brethauer. 

Of  the  territory  in  the  town  of  New  Haven,  only  the  Westville 
section  and  that  part  of  the  town  lying  east  of  the  Quinnipiac,  which 
was  annexed  from  East  Haven  in  1881.  are  solely  under  the  town 
government.  The  other  parts  have  a  dual  government,  being  also 
subject  to  the  rule  of  the  city  authorities. 

The  town  of  New  Haven  long  maintained  its  large  area,  which 
embraced  all  the  present  adjacent  towns.  The  rural  population  did 
not  increase  in  the  same  ratio  as  that  of  the  village  of  New  Haven, 
nevertheless,  they  still  held  the  controlling  vote,  and  the  villagers 
found  it  difficult  to  secure  the  improvements  they  wanted  and  needed. 
Hence,  soon  after  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  when  an  impetus  was 
given  to  the  business  of  the  place,  an  effort  was  made  to  secure  the 
incorporation  of  the  village  as  a  city.  The  town  did  not  oppose  this 
step,  but,  at  a  meeting  held  December  Oth,  1771,  sanctioned  it,  and  a 
large  committee,  headed  by  Roger  Sherman,  was  appointed  to  investi- 
gate the  matter  and  report  on  the  propriety.  But  no  record  of  definite 
action  has  been  preserved  and  probably  none  was  reached.  Nothing 
further  was  done  until  after  the  revolution.  In  October,  1783,  a  peti- 
tion to  the  general  a.ssembly,  signed  by  214  pensons,  prayed  for  a  city 
charter,  but  that  body  postponed  action.     At  the  urgent  solicitation  of 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  117 

the  town,  in  January,  1784,  the  matter  was  at  once  taken  up  and  on 
the  Sth  day  of  that  month  a  charter  was  duly  granted  to  "  The  Mayor, 
Aldermen,  Common  Council  and  Freemen  of  the  City  of  New  Haven." 
The  first  election  was  held  January  21st,  1784,  those  chosen  being  the 
following:  Mayor,  Roger  Sherman;  sheriffs,  Elias  Stillwell,  Parsons 
Clarke:  collector  of  taxes,  Joseph  Peck;  treasurer,  Hezekiah  Sabin; 
city  clerk,  Joseph  Meigs;  aldermen,  David  Austin,  Isaac  Beers,  Samuel 
Bishop,  Thomas  Howell;  councilmen,  James  Hillhouse,  Pierpont 
Edwards,  Jeremiah  Atwater,  Abraham  Augur,  Henry  Daggett, Stephen 
Ball,  Ebenezer  Beardsley,  Joseph  Bradley,  Abel  Burritt,  Joel  Gilbert, 
Joseph  Howell,  Jonathan  Ingersoll,  Timothy  Jones,  Eneas  ]\lonson, 
James  Rice,  Elias  Shipman,  Joseph  Thomson,  Michael  Todd,  Ebenezer 
Townsend,  John  Whiting.  "  Though  many  honorable  and  talented 
individuals  have  been  connected  with  the  city  government  since  then, 
there  has,  probably,  never  been  a  time  when  so  many  remarkable 
men  were  united  in  its  various  offices  and  boards,  as  was  the  case  in 
the  first  year  of  its  operation."*  They  will  be  recognized  as  the  prin- 
cipal men  of  New  Haven  at  that  period.  The  city  government  was 
organized  on  the  18th  of  February  following,  and  since  that  time  its 
organic  existence,  with  many  modifications,  has  been  maintained. 

New  Haven  was  the  fifth  incorporated  city  in  the  United  States, 
only  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Albany  and  Richmond  having  charters 
granted  earlier,  and  this  was  the  first  incorporated  city  after  the  in- 
dependence of  the  colonies  was  recognized.  It  was  earlier  iinder 
corporate  rule  than  Boston  or  the  other  bay  towns,  older  than  New 
Haven. 

The  territory  comprised  within  the  limits  of  the  city  was  desig- 
nated as  that  "  lying  between  the  Quinnipiac  and  the  West  Rivers  and 
between  the  Mill  River  Meadows  and  the  Harbor."  The  line  was 
described  from  a  point  at  Lewis'  bridge.  The  territory  outlying  was 
the  town  of  New  Haven  proper,  yet  the  entire  area  was,  to  a  certain 
extent,  subject  to  town  rule.  This  form  of  dual  government  has  been 
maintained  to  the  present  time,  perhaps  to  the  disadvantage  of  the 
community,  since  the  area  of  the  town  out.side  of  the  city  is  so  small, 
that  nothing  but  respect  for  the  traditions  of  the  past  seems  to  demand 
this  arrangement.  In  the  course  of  years  the  eastern  part  of  the 
"  Neck,"  lying  between  the  Quinnipiac  and  Mill  rivers  was  taken  out 
of  the  city  limits  and  set  to  the  town.  But  in  1870  it  was  re-united  to 
the  city. 

Up  to  1853  the  city  had  no  division  into  wards,  but  that  year  four 
wards  were  created.  In  18.')7  the  number  was  made  six:  in  1874  ten; 
and  in  1877  twelve,  the  present  number.  Each  ward  is  entitled  to 
elect  two  aldermen  and  three  councilmen,  which  collectively  constitute 
the  court  of  common  council. 

At  first  the  city  government  assumed  but  few  functions,  limiting 

*  William  H.  Beckford. 


118  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

its  efforts  to  the  better  care  of  the  public  property,  the  regulation  of 
the  markets,  and  in  a  feeble  way  the  improvement  of  the  streets,  and 
the  due  regulation  of  the  internal  police.  In  the  exercise  of  the  first 
prerogative  the  city  soon  assumed  the  control  of  the  public  green  and 
in  1799  passed  laws  restraining  the  running  of  geese  on  those  grounds 
and  also  restricted  unriily  Yale  College  students.  In  1809  it  indicated 
to  the  proprietors  of  the  town,  that  the  right  to  grant  the  erection  of 
buildings  on  the  green  was  vested  in  it  only,  and  granted  liberty  to 
the  Methodists  to  set  up  a  church  on  the  northwest  corner,  and  by  a 
subsequent  act  confirmed  that  grant.  But  the  city  long  bore  a  village- 
like appearance;  indeed,  it  was  not  until  about  1860  that  the  place 
began  to  be  regulated  as  a  city.  Many  improvements  were  then  made 
or  projected  and  an  earnest  endeavor  was  made  to  improve  every 
department  of  the  service.  With  the  enlarged  powers  granted  by  the 
charter  of  1857  that  was  made  possible.  A  still  more  comprehensive 
charter  was  secured  in  1869:  and  the  present  liberal  one  in  1881.  It  is 
the  fifth  since  the  incorporation  of  the  city  and  has  been  amended  to 
keep  it  apace  with  the  growing  demands  of  the  city.  One  of  the  most 
important  amendments  was  that  of  1886  authorizing  the  issue  of  bonds 
to  the  amount  of  §100,000  for  a  free  library  and  permitting  the  yearly 
appropriation  of  $10,000  for  its  maintenance.  In  1889  an  amendment 
was  secured  permitting  an  expenditure  of  $200,000  on  the  extension 
of  the  public  park  system. 

Under  the  first  charter  the  mayor  was  chosen  by  the  freemen,  but 
he  held  his  office  at  the  pleasure  of  the  legislature.  His  duty,  among 
other  things,  was  to  preside  over  the  city  courts,  having  two  of  the 
senior  aldermen  as  assistants,  and  having  powers  somewhat  similar  to 
the  court  of  common  pleas.  In  1842  the  charter  was  amended  to 
create  a  new  judicial  office,  called  the  recorder's  court,  and  that 
arrangement  was  continued  until  1869,  when  the  new  charter  abolished 
the  recorder's  court  and  created  the  present  city  court.  The  judges 
and  assistants  of  this  court  are  appointed  by  the  legislature  of  the 
state.  In  this  connection  it  may  be  noted  that  in  1791,  the  city  began 
the  building  of  a  workhouse,  to  which  were  consigned  criminals  of 
every  species  and  also  insane  persons;  but  after  fifty  5-ears  the  latter 
found  separate  provision  for  them  in  the  state  asylums. 

In  September,  1784,  the  streets  of  the  city  were  first  officially  named, 
many  of  them  up  to  that  time  bearing  only  local  designations.  The 
improvement  of  the  streets  and  sidewalks  progres.sed  slowly.  Many 
of  the  ordinances  on  that  matter  were  disregarded.  In  1834  a  super- 
intendent of  sidewalks  was  appointed,  whose  efforts  aided  to  bring 
about  a  better  condition  in  that  respect.  In  more  recent  years,  there 
have  been  vast  outlays  on  the  streets,  the  expenditures  for  building, 
repairing  and  cleaning  being  more  than  $100,000  per  year.  Much  of 
the  credit  for  the  improved  condition  of  the  city  is  due  to  those  who 
have  served  as  mayors.     In  most  instances  they  have  been  leading 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  119 

citizens  and  filled  the  office  from  a  desire  to  serve  or  advance  the 
best  interests  of  the  city.  The  following  have  been  the  mayors  of 
New  Haven:  Honorable  Roger  Sherman,  from  February  lOth,  1784  to 
1793;  Samuel  Bishop,  from  August  19th,  1793  to  1803;  Elizur  Goodrich, 
from  vSeptember  1st,  1803  to  1822;  George  Hoadly,  from  June  4th, 
1822  to  1826;  Simeon  Baldwin,  from  June  6th,  1826  to  1827;  William 
Bristol,  from  June  5th,  1827  to  1828;  David  Daggett,  from  June  2d, 
1828  to  1830;  Ralph  I.  Ingersoll,  from  June  1st,  1830  to  1831;  Dennis 
Kimberley,  from  June  7th,  1831  to  1832;  Ebenezer  Seeley,  from  June 
Sth,  1832  to  1833;  Dennis  Kimberley,  from  June  4th,  1833  [Decl.]; 
Noyes  Darling,  from  June  10th,  1833  to  1834;  Henry  C.  Flagg,  from 
June  3d,  1834  to  1839;  Samuel  J.  Hitchcock,  from  June  3d,  1839  to  1842; 
Philip  S.  Galpin,  from  June  6th,  1842  to  1846;  Henry  Peck,  from  June 
1st,  1846  to  1850;  Aaron  N.  Skinner,  from  June  3d,  1850  to  1854; 
Chauncey  Jerome,  from  June  5th,  1854  to  1855;  Alfred  Blackman,from 
June  4th',  1855  to  1856;  Philip  S.  Galpin,  from  June  2d,  1856  to  1860; 
Harmanus  M.  Welch,  from  June  4th,  1860  to  1863;  Morris  Tyler,  from 
June  2d,  1863  to  1865;  Erastus  Scranton,  from  June  6th,  1865  to  1866; 
Lucien  \\\  Sperry,  from  June  5th,  1866  to  1869;  William  Fitch,  from 
June  1st,  1869  to  1870;  Henry  G.  Lewis,  from  June  7th,  1870  to  1877; 
William  R.  Shelton,  from  January  1st,  1877  to  1879;  Hobart  B.  Bigelow, 
from  January  1st,  1879  to  1881;  John  B.  Robertson,  from  January  1st, 
1881  to  1883;  Henry  G.  Lewis,  from  January  1st,  1883  to  1885;  George 
F.  Holcomb,  from  January  1st,  1885  to  1887;  Samuel  A.  York,  from 
January  1st,  1887  to  1889:  Henry  F.  Peck,  from  January  1st,  1889  to 
1891;  Joseph  B.  Sargent,  from  January  1st,  1891 . 

The  city  clerks  have  been:  1784-9,  Josiah  Meigs;  1789-1800, 
Simeon  Baldwin;  1800-5,  John  Skinner;  1805-41,  Elisha  Munson; 
1841-4,  Edward  C.  Herrick;  1844-50,  Joseph  Wood;  18.")0-4,  Alfred  H. 
Terry;  1855,  James  M.  Woodward;  1856-7,  James  D.  Keese;  1858-9, 
Samuel  C.  Blackman;  1860-4,  William  Downes;  1865-6,  DeWitt  C. 
Sprague;  1866-9,  William  Downes;  1870,  Gideon  H.  Welch;  1871-2, 
Timothy  J.  Fox;  1873,  James  L  Hoyes;  1874-7,  John  S.  Fowler; 
1878-9,  Seth  T.  Seeley;  1880-1,  Charles  T.  Alorse;  1882-4,  James  P. 
Pickett;  1886-7,  Timothy  J.  Crowley;  1888-9,  Leonard  J.  Shanley; 
1890-91,  Edward  Downes. 

The  office  of  city  auditor  was  established  in  1835  and  since  1883 
John  W.  Lake  has  filled  that  position. 

For  many  years  Harmanus  Welch  was  the  treasurer,  filling  that 
office  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1889.  Since  the  first  of  1890  the 
treasurer  has  been  Ezekiel  G.  Stoddard. 

One  of  the  reasons  urged  for  the  incorporation  of  the  cit}-  was  the 
desire  to  better  regulate  "the  internal  police."  But  it  does  not  appear 
that  this  laudable  purpose  was  realized.  Regular,  special  and  night 
"  watches  "  were  appointed,  but  in  many  years  their  employment  was 
almost  discontinued.     The  constables  and  special  constables  appointed 


120  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

for  unusual  occasions,  were  the  main  reliance  to  preserve  the  peace. 
In  the  period  of  railway  building,  when  there  was  a  great  influx  of 
foreign  elements,  a  regular  watch  was  estalilished.  In  1848  it  con- 
sisted of  ten  men  and  Jobamah  Gunn  was  the  captain.  A  few  years 
later  Major  Lyman  Bissell,  a  retired  officer  of  the  ^lexican  war,  was 
in  command  of  the  watch,  numbering  in  all  but  eight  men.  In  his 
administration,  March  17th,  1854,  occurred  a  celebrated  riot  between 
the  town  element  and  Yale  students,  which  at  one  time  seriously 
threatened  the  peace  of  the  city.  For  a  number  of  years  previous 
there  had  been  occasional  encounters  between  the  rowdy  elements  of 
the  city  and  Yale.  The  former  found  many  willing  recruits  among 
the  sailors  and  roustabouts  of  Long  Wharf,  who  relished  nothing 
better  than  a  free  fight.  On  the  night  named,  a  body  of  some  fifty 
students  were  in  attendance  at  Homan's  theatre,  the  only  place  of 
amusement  of  the  kind  in  the  city.  As  they  issued  from  the  hall  in  a 
body,  for  mutual  protection,  they  were  jeered  by  a  howling  mob  of 
more  than  a  thousand  town  boys,  who  would  have  violently  treated 
them,  if  they  had  not  been  held  in  check  by  the  small  force  of  police. 
By  the  advice  of  Bissell  the  students  kept  together  on  the  south  pave- 
ment of  Chapel  street,  walking,  two  by  two,  up  toward  the  college. 
When  opposite  Trinity  church  they  started  singing  their  great  college 
song:  "  Gnudeatiius,"  i.  c.  "  Let  us  rejoice  while  we're  young,"  when 
the  mob,  which  had  rolled  up  against  them,  filling  Chapel  street,  gave 
them  a  volley  of  brickbats,  which  knocked  down  some  of  the  students 
and  injured  others.  Picking  up  their  comrades  they  proceeded  on 
their  way,  when  another  attack  was  made,  but  as  before  the  students 
kept  on  their  way,  and  had  nearly  reached  the  top  of  the  hill  when 
the  ringleaders  of  the  mob  left  the  street  and  ru.slied  upon  them.  Now 
for  the  first  time  the  .students  acted  in  defense,  firing  several  pistol 
shots  into  the  ranks  of  the  town  mob. 

'•  Several  of  the  rabble  were  wounded,  and  the  chief  leader,  Patrick 
O'Neil,  fell,  stabbed  to  the  heart  with  a  dagger  by  one  of  the  students, 
who,  it  was  supposed,  struck  in  self  defence.  The  mystery  of  his 
death  and  the  murderer  was  never  cleared  up,  but  it  was  generally 
considered  that  he  provoked  and  deserved  his  sad  fate.  During  the 
ensuing  confusion  the  students  reached  the  campus  and  dispersed  to 
their  rooms.  When  it  was  known  that  their  leader  was  killed,  the 
mob  became  uncontrollable.  With  terrific  bowlings  they  surrounded 
South  College,  and  drew  up  an  old  cannon,  filled  to  the  muzzle  with 
ball,  grape-shot,  stones,  bricks,  etc.,  to  batter  down  the  walls.  But 
through  the  masterly  skill  of  Major  Bissell,  the  gun  had  been  spiked 
on  the  way  up.  This  alone  saved  old  vSouth  from  destruction:  on  the 
second  and  third  stories  of  which  the  students  were  silently  gathered, 
behind  thick  barricades,  and  heavily  armed  with  every  weapon 
obtainable,  read}^  to  give  their  assailants  a  warm  reception.  After 
they   had    hooted    and    bombarded   the    windows  with  brickbats  for 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  ]'21 

hours,  the  rabble  were  finally  dispersed  by  Major  Bissell  and  his  men. 
This  was  the  most  unprovoked  and  cowardly  of  all  the  assaults,  but 
none  of  the  offenders  were  ever  arrested,  though  it  was  barely  stopped 
in  time  to  prevent  New  Haven  from  witnessing  mob-rule  of  the  most 
lawless  description."  * 

In  July,  1861,  the  police  system  of  the  cit}-  was  reconstructed  and 
the  present  department  properly  formed,  Jonathan  W.  Pond  was 
appointed  the  chief;  Wales  French,  captain;  and  O.  A.  Monson,  lieu- 
tenant. There  were  at  that  time  twelve  patrolmen.  In  September, 
that  j-ear,  the  police  were  for  the  first  time  properly  uniformed. 

Charles  W.  Allen  was  the  chief  of  police  1877-9,  and  first  instituted 
regular  drills,  by  means  of  which  he  brought  the  force  to  a  high  state 
of  efficiency.  Since  ]u\y,  1885,  the  chief  of  police  has  been  Charles 
F.  Bollman,  and  under  his  direction  the  police  compares  favorably 
with  that  of  any  other  cit}^  of  the  same  size  in  this  country.  More  than 
a  hundred  patrolmen  are  on  the  force,  whose  annual  pay  roll  is  about 
$125,000.     The  entire  expenses  of  the  department  are  about  Sl'^'^.OOO. 

The  police  courts  were  held  in  the  city  hall  until  1873,  since  when 
they  have  been  held  in  a  chamber  of  the  new  police  building,  on 
Court  street.  A  "  Black  Maria  "  for  the  u.se  of  the  department  was 
procured  in  the  latter  year.  The  Grand  street  police  building  was 
erected  in  1883  for  the  use  of  the  precincts  in  that  part  of  the  city; 
and  the  following  year  the  Gamewell  system  of  police  signal  and  tele- 
phone was  introduced,  and  a  number  of  station  boxes  erected  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  city  and  one  in  East  Park. 

The  Fire  Department  of  the  city  of  New  Haven  dates  its  existence 
from  17S9.  On  the  last  day  of  that  year,  the  corporation  appointed 
James  Hillhouse,  Jeremiah  Atwater,  Josiah  Burr,  Colonel  Joseph 
Drake,  Benjamin  Sanford  and  Jo.seph  Howell,  fire  wardens.  It  also 
purchased  two  fire  engines,  made  by  Ebenezer  Chittenden  of  New 
Haven,  and  companies  were  that  year  formed  to  man  them.  Each 
company  had  17  men.  The  machines  used  were  simple  affairs  and 
the  service  of  the  department  was  very  limited.  In  ISIO  its  capacity 
was  increased  by  the  formation  of  a  hook  and  ladder  company;  and 
four  years  later  a  companj-  of  sackmen  was  formed,  which  included 
among  its  members  the  most  trusty  and  influential  men  of  the  city. 
It  was  a  sort  of  salvage  corps,  its  object  being  to  sack  up  property  at 
fires  and  carry  it  to  a  place  of  safety. 

Six  years  later,  October  27th,  1820,  occurred  the  first  great  fire  of 
New  Haven.  In  its  extent  and  the  amount  of  property  destroyed  it 
was  a  great  calamity  to  the  city.  On  the  night  of  that  day,  a  building 
on  Long  Wharf  took  fire  and  before  the  flames  could  be  stayed  the 
entire  wharf  was  fire  swept.     In  the  language  of  a  local  poet : 

■•  The  wharf  was  four  rods  wide, 
The  fire  did  rage  from  side  to  side." 
*  Beckford's  New  Haven,  Past  and  Present. 


122  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Thirty  buildings,  many  of  them  stores  filled  with  molasses,  rum  and 
other  goods  from  the  West  Indies,  warehouses  and  four  lumber  yards 
were  destroyed.  The  losses  have  been  variously  estimated  from 
$70,000  to  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars. 

The  catastrophe  had  the  effect  of  stimulating  the  improvement  of 
the  fire  department,  as  well  as  increasing  its  working  force.  In  1838 
six  companies  were  reported,  having  214  men  and  with  those  belong- 
ing to  the  hook  and  ladder  company  and  the  sackmen,  the  department 
was  three  hundred  men  strong.  In  1835  another  company  was  formed 
in  P^air  Haven,  whose  engine  subsequently  became  No.  8  in  the  city 
department.  A  hook  and  ladder  company  was  formed  in  the  same 
place  in  1837. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  1839,  the  splendid  steamboat  "  New  York  " 
was  burned  to  the  water's  edge  while  lying  at  the  dock  at  New 
Haven.     An  effort  to  save  her  proved  in  vain. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  1841,  the  unfriendly  feeling  which  had 
long  existed  between  Yale  students  and  the  firemen  of  the  city 
culminated  in  a  quarrel,  which  led  to  the  arrest  of  several  of  the 
students  and  the  subsequent  attempt  of  other  students  to  seek 
revenge  by  the  destruction  of  firemen's  property.  A  large  company 
of  students  stormed  the  engine  house  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
college,  demolished  the  engine,  cut  the  hose  in  pieces,  etc.,  etc.  The 
firemen  sought  to  retaliate  by  gathering  in  a  great  crowd  and  threat- 
ening to  storm  the  college.  But  they  were  dissuaded  from  their  pur- 
pose, and  the  college  authorities  settled  the  matter  by  paying  $700  for 
the  damages  done.  Unfortunately  this  did  not  end  the  matter,  and 
feelings  of  resentment  were  cherished  until  they  ended  in  a  tragedy 
February  9th,  1858.  On  that  day  occurred  a  wordy  altercation 
between  some  students,  members  of  the  "Crocodile  Club,"  of  the 
junior  cla.ss,  and  the  firemen  of  Engine  Company  No.  2,  which  termin- 
ated in  a  fierce  fight.  All  sorts  of  weapons  were  used,  and  in  the 
excitement  which  followed  Assistant  Foreman  William  Miles  was  shot 
and  killed.  Several  of  the  students  were  arrested  and  placed  under 
bonds,  but,  through  the  mediation  of  the  faculty,  this  case  was  also 
settled.  They  ordered  the  club  to  disband  and  purchased  the  engine 
house,  so  that  the  company  removed  to  another  locality.  In  the  more 
stirring  and  patriotic  events  of  the  civil  war,  which  soon  followed, 
these  bitter  feelings  were  forgotten,  and  have  not  since  been  revived. 

These  troublesome  events  came  in  the  last  days  of  the  volunteer 
system.  In  1860  the  city  began  the  use  of  steam  fire  engines,  and  m 
1861-2  the  fire  department  was  thoroughly  remodeled  and  placed 
under  the  control  of  a  board  of  six  commissioners.  Since  that  time 
its  efficiency  has  been  steadily  increased.  Albert  C.  Kendrick  has 
been  the  chief  engineer  since  1865,  and  the  present  department  has 
been  practically  created  in  his  administration.  As  now  organized  it 
had  its  first  review  September  27th,  18G5. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTV.  123 

The  following  year  was  characterized  by  many  destructive  fires, 
among  them  being:  January  lOth,  180G,  the  carriage  factory  of  George 
T.  Newhall,  loss  83(),00():  the  Xew  Haven  Clock  Factory,  April  Both, 
1866,  loss  $181,724;  the  Plant  Manufacturing  Company.  December  7th, 
1866,  loss  81911,07!).  About  one-half  of  the  aggregate  loss  was  covered 
by  insurance. 

In  October,  1868.  the  city  began  the  use  of  the  Gamewell  Fire 
Alarm  System,  which  was  introduced  at  a  cost  of  §10,000.  It  has- 
aided  in  reducing  the  losses  by  fire  very  considerably. 

Among  the  more  recent  disastrous  fires  have  been  the  following: 
N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  machine  shop,  January  1st,  1869,  loss  S157,r)50; 
fire  at  L.  Candee  Rubber  Company's  works,  November  19th,  1877,  loss 
S520,90o:  Edward  Malley's  store,  spring  of  1882,  loss  $189,873.  Prob- 
ably the  above  were  insured  for  two-thirds  of  the  amounts  named, 
which  still  left  a  large  loss  for  the  years  named. 

The  city  expends  yearly  from  $75,000  to  $90,000  on  this  depart- 
ment, whose  present  condition,  compared  with  what  it  was  a  quarter 
of  a  century  ago,  is  thiis  shown  by  Chief  Kendrick: 

18(w.  1890. 

Population  of  the  city 4:^.000  86,000 

Number  of  steam  fire  engines 3  7 

Number  of  horse  hose  tenders 3  8 

Number  of  hand  hose  carriages 2  0 

Number  of  hook  and  ladder  trucks 1  2 

Number  of  feet  of  hose 9.000  IT. 000 

Number  of  engine  company  houses 3  T 

Number  of  hose  company  houses  "2  1 

Number  of  hook  and  ladder  company  houses 1  & 

Number  of  horses 9  35 

Number  of  fire  hydrants 237  754 

Number  of  permanent  men 7  67 

Number  of  substitutes. —  20 

Number  of  fire  alarm  boxes  —  104 

Number  of  reserve  or  spare  apparatus —  4 

Number  of  fires  38  159 

Losses  during  the  year 874,301  860,753  7^ 

Insurance  paid 31.806  57.863  54 

Loss  over  insurance 42,495  2.890  OO 

Valuation  of  fire  department  property 80,139  292,994  00 

The  nature  of  the  soil  at  Xew  Haven  permitted  wells  to  be  easily 
dug,  and  there  was  a  copious  supply  of  water  by  that  means  for  more 
than  two  hundred  years.  These  wells  were  from  five  to  twenty  feet 
deep  and  the  quality  of  the  water,  when  the  city  was  small,  was  good. 
Several  thousand  are  still  in  use.  When  the  city  was  founded  there 
were  several  springs  near  the  center,  one  of  them  being  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  green,  around  which,  for  many  years,  was  an  alder  swamp. 
It  is  supposed  that  this  abundance  of  water  and  the  ease  of  digging 
wells  was  one  of  the  reasons  why  this  plain  was  selected  as  the  site 


124  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

for  the  homes  of  the  first  settlers  instead  of  Oyster  Point,  whose  topog- 
raphy would  more  naturally  commend  it  for  a  sea-coast  town.  At 
the  latter  place  it  was  found  difficult  to  dig  wells. 

The  question  of  an  exterior  water  supply  was  long  agitated  as  a 
sanitary  measure,  necessitated  by  the  rapidly  increasing  population, 
and  in  1849  the  New  Haven  Water  Company  was  chartered  to  serve 
this  need.  The  company  failing  to  build  works,  the  charter  was 
amended  to  permit  the  city  to  construct  them,  and  from  1S.'")2  to  1854 
the  project  was  before  the  public  for  its  approval.  The  propositions 
were  defeated,  and  in  1856  the  old  company  assigned  its  charter  to 
Eli  Whitney  and  others,  who  reorganized  the  company,  and,  largely 
through  Mr.  Whitney's  efforts,  the  work  of  construction  was  begun 
in  the  spring  of  1860. 

The  old  dam  at  Whitneyville  was  made  the  base  for  the  works, 
and  was  raised  to  afford  an  immense  reservoir.*  The  works  were 
completed  at  a  cost  of  several  hundred  thou.sand  dollars,  and  water 
was  first  introduced  into  the  ]8  miles  of  mains  laid  January  1st,  1862. 
That  3^ear  the  city  made  a  contract  with  the  company  for  its  water 
supply  for  twenty  years  for  the  iise  of  the  fire  department,  with 
privilege  to  purchase  the  works  at  the  close  of  that  time.  But  a 
proposition  to  that  end  was  defeated  by  the  citizens  of  New  Haven, 
and  the  city  has  since  procured  its  water  supply  from  the  above  com- 
pany at  an  outlay  of  $16,000  per  year. 

The  company  has  added  to  its  original  source  of  supply  at  Mill 
river,  the  M^aters  of  Maltby  lake,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  city, 
Saltonstall  lake,  in  the  town  of  East  Haven,  and  the  West  river  above 
Westville,  in  the  town  of  Woodbridge.  The  summer  resources  of 
these  four  places  of  supply  are  1,530,000,000  gallons  daily.  Over  one 
hundred  miles  of  mains  are  now  in  use,  and  the  daily  consumption  of 
water  is  more  than  9,000,000  gallons.  The  pumping  capacity  of  the 
works  is  nearly  double  that  daily,  and  the  water  in  the  various  reserve 
reservoirs  measure  6,000,000  gallons.  In  the  extent  of  supply  and  the 
quality  of  the  water  used  but  few  places  in  the  country  surpass  this 
city. 

The  location  of  the  city  is  not  the  most  advantageous  for  natural 
surface  drainege.  It  is  mainly  on  a  sandy  plain,  elevated  from  20  to 
45  feet  above  tide  water,  the  latter  height  being  on  the  summit 
between  the  Mill  and  West  rivers.  The  college  campus  is  somewhat 
less  in  elevation,  and  the  lower  part  of  the  green  is  but  little  more 
than  twenty  feet  above  sea  level.  A  small  sewer  was  laid  in  Chapel 
street  near  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  but  in  the  main  the 
porosity  of  the  soil  afforded  the  principal  drainage  until  the  canal  was 
built  in  1828,  when  the  sewerage  in  that  section  was  improved  by  that 
means.  But  it  became  apparent,  many  years  ago.  that  nature  unaided 
would  not  ab.sorb  or  remove  the  refuse  of  a  large  and  constantly 
*  See  sketch  of  Hamden. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  125 

increasing  population.  It  was  thought,  too,  a  difficult  matter  to  estab- 
lish a  system  of  sewerage  which  would  prove  satisfactory.  But  it  was 
attempted  and  successfully  accomplished  in  the  administration  of 
Mayor  Henry  G.  Lewis,  1870-7,  and  has  been  extended  by  his  succes- 
sors. The  first  surveys  for  this  system  were  made  by  E.  S.  Ches- 
brough,  at  that  time  chief  engineer  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  whose  loca- 
tion, but  little  above  the  level  of  water,  has  many  points  of  resemblance 
to  New  Haven. 

His  success  there  aided  him  here,  and  his  reports,  made,  first, 
March,  1871,  and,  finally,  December,  1872,  indicated  the  possibility  of 
such  a  system.  He  divided  the  corporate  area  of  3,800  acres  (of  which 
200  acres  were  salt  marshes)  into  three  general  sections;  the  eastern, 
about  800  acres,  to  drain  into  Mill  river;  the  central  section  of  about 
1,200  acres,  to  drain  into  the  harbor,  and  the  we.stern  section  of  1,600 
acres  into  the  West  river.  Subsequently,  by  the  addition  of  Fair 
Haven,  that  section  was  drained  into  the  Ouinnipiac  river.  The 
sewers  have  been  built  of  brick  or  vitrified  stone  ware,  and  the  con- 
struction has  been  steadily  carried  on  until  the  city  has  more  than 
sixty  miles  of  sewers,  and.  yearly  expends  about  $125,000  on  the  exten- 
sion and  perfection  of  that  system  of  promoting  the  cleanliness  and 
health  of  the  place.  As  a  beneficial  result  of  this  superior  drainage, 
the  city  has  been  remarkably  exempt  from  contagious  or  epidemic 
diseases.  The  death  rate  in  1889  was  seventeen  and  four-tenths  to 
the  thousand.  This  low  rate  has  also  been  in  consequence  of  other 
causes,  as  the  influence  of  sea  breezes,  pure  water  and  the  shelter 
afforded  by  the  hills  on  the  northwest  and  east  of  the  city. 

The  first  city  buildings  of  any  importance  are  the  ones  at  present 
in  use.  Previous  to  their  occupancy  many  of  the  offices,  courts,  etc., 
were  in  the  state  and  county  buildings  or  in  rooms  rented  in  different 
parts  of  the  city.  The  City  Hall,  or  Hall  of  Records,  was  biiilt  by  the 
joint  efforts  of  the  city  and  the  town  upon  the  site  of  the  old  county 
house  and  jail,  east  of  the  green,  on  Church  street,  which  was  .secured 
in  1856.  The  plans  for  the  edifice  were  prepared  by  Henry  Austin, 
and  the  building  was  begun  in  1860.  It  was  completed  for  use  Octo- 
ber 1st,  1862,  when  it  was  occupied  by  the  town  and  city  officers,  the 
probate  and  other  courts.  It  is  an  imposing  edifice  of  Nova  Scotia 
stone  and  brick,  with  a  very  attractive  front,  and  is  four  stories  high. 
In  its  arrangement  and  elegance  of  appointments  it  was,  when  com- 
pleted, the  finest  hall  of  the  kind  in  the  East.  Rising  from  the  north- 
west corner  is  a  high  tower,  in  which  are  the  city  clock  and  bells.  A 
passenger  elevator  was  supplied  in  the  spring  of  1891.  The  property 
is  valued  at  §150,000. 

On  the  north  side  of  this  hall  are  the  county  buildings,  adjoined  by 
a  corridor,  which  were  erected  in  1871-3.  Their  fronts  have  the  same 
general  appearance  as  the  city  hall.  East  from  the  latter,  on  Court 
street,  is  the  City  Police  Building,  also  erected  in  1873.     Its  front  is  76 


126  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COLNTY. 

feet,  and  it  is  three  stories  high.  The  material  is  Philadelphia  pressed 
brick,  trimmed  with  Nova  Scotia  and  Portland  sandstone.  The 
building  extends  to  the  rear  to  afford  quarters  for  the  police  force,  a 
drilling  room,  the  various  offices  connected  with  the  department  and 
other  offices  of  the  city  not  accommodated  in  the  main  hall,  with 
which  this  is  also  connected.  The  value  of  this  property,  which  has 
been  pronounced  '•  the  most  handsome  and  best  constructed  of  the 
kind  in  the  country,"  is  more  than  §100,000.  The  entire  value  of 
the  city  property  of  whatever  kind  is  more  than  $2,000,000. 

There  was  but  little  illumination  of  the  streets  of  the  city  prior 
to  the  use  of  gas  lamps.  A  few  persons,  at  their  own  expense,  pro- 
"vided  whale  oil  lamps  in  front  of  their  stores  or  residences,  but  there 
was  no  general  plan  of  lighting.  The  New  Haven  Gas  Company 
was  chartered  in  1847,  and  was  organized  with  W.  W.  Boardman  as 
the  first  president.  The  following  year  .some  private  houses  were 
first  illuminated  by  gas,  and  its  use  in  the  street  lamps  began  in 
the  spring  of  1849.  New  Haven  was  thus  next  to  Trenton,  N.  J., 
the  second  small  city  in  the  Union  to  light  its  streets  by  gas.  Its 
introduction  was  quite  rapid,  there  being  at  the  end  of  the  next  six 
years  more  than  1,000  private  consumers  and  189  public  lamps.  The 
use  has  been  constantly  extended  until  more  than  1,200  public  lamps 
were  in  use,  and  the  other  consumers  numbered  between  5,000  and 
6,000  families.  As  a  street  illuminant  its  use  since  1881  has,  to  some 
extent,  been  superseded  by  electricity.  In  the  year  named  a  com- 
pany was  organized  to  light  by  the  Weston  system,  but,  after  more 
than  a  year's  trial,  the  effort  was  abandoned  as  unsatisfactory.  The 
corporation  was  now  re-organized  as  the  New  Haven  Electric  Light 
Company,  and  by  using  the  Thompson-Houston  system  better  results 
have  been  obtained.  Several  hundred  arc  lamps  have  been  placed  on 
the  streets  and  public  grounds  of  the  city  since  December,  1883,  result- 
ing in  brilliant  illumination.  The  yearly  expenditure  by  the  city  for 
electric  lights,  gas  and  naptha  lamps  is  about  §68,000. 

In  addition  to  the  illuminants  furnished  by  the  above  corporations, 
a  number  of  the  large  manufacturing  establishments  have  their  own 
electric  plants,  and  the  use  of  that  agent  has  become  very  general  in 
the  past  few  years,  many  firms  also  employing  it  to  more  thoroughly 
light  the  approaches  to  their  places  of  business. 

The  fame  of  New  Haven's  elms  is  world  wide ;  and  no  place  better 
deserves  the  title  of  the  "  Elm  City."  That  noble  tree  is  here  found 
in  the  greatest  perfection,  and  has  been  cherished  as  a  part  of  the 
city's  life  for  more  than  two  hundred  years.     Said  Henry  Howe: 

1'  The  first  of  the  elms  known  in  the  history  of  our  city,  two  in 
number,  were  planted  in  1686.  They  stood  on  Elm  street  before  the 
Bristol  mansion,  the  last  one  remaining  iintil  1839.  It  was  then  146 
years  from  its  setting  out.  Reverend  James  Pierpont  was  settled  in 
1685,  the  successor  of  John  Davenport,  when  the  people  built  for  him 


HiSTORV  OF  m:\v  haven  COL'XTY.  1-27 

a  new  house  on  that  site,  furnished  it  and  brought  free-will  offerings 
of  various  kinds.  One  poor  man,  William  Cooper  by  name,  having 
nothing  else  to  give,  brought  these  elms  and  put  them  before  the  good 
man's  door.  'Under  their  shade,  some  forty  years  after  (17"i6),  Jona- 
than Edwards  spoke  words  of  mingled  love  and  piety  in  the  ears  of 
Sarah  Pierpont.  Under  their  shade,  when  some  sixty  summers  had 
passed  over  (1746),  Whitefield  stood  on  a  platform  and  lifted  up  that 
voice,  the  tones  of  which  lingered  so  long:  in  thousands  of  hearts.' 

"  The  planting  of  our  elms  appears  to  have  had  its  origin  in  a 
paper  drawn  up  by  James  Hillhouse,  dated  in  the  spring  of  1787,  to 
"which  various  citizens  subscribed,  stating  what  each  would  pay  for 
beautifying  the  green,  by  planting  elms  and  preventing  the  washing 
■of  the  sand.  It  was  at  this  time  that  Hillhouse  laid  out  Temple  street, 
in  conformity  with  a  vote  passed  at  a  city  meeting  on  the  ."ith  of  June 
■of  that  year.  He  planted  the  streets  with  elms,  and  also,  in  1792, 
through  Hillhouse  avenue,  then  a  part  of  his  farm  and  unopened.  He 
-set  out  the  elms  around  the  green,  all  but  the  inner  rows,  which  were 
,set  out  by  David  Austin.  Hillhouse  was  the  most  enterprising,  pub- 
lic-.spirited  man  the  city  ever  had.  and  an  untiring  worker,  laboring  in 
elm-planting  with  his  own  hands.  The  green,  up  to  the  beginning  of 
this  century,  was  a  rough  spot,  all  an  open  common,  when,  through 
the  public  spirit  of  James  Hillhouse,  David  Austin,  Pierpont  Edwards 
and  Isaac  Beers,  it  was  improved,  and  a  wood  fence  put  arotind  it:  it 
was  then  divided  into  two  parts  b}'  fencing  through  Temple  street.  In 
184o  the  present  iron  fence  was  erected  at  an  expense  of  about  §7,000, 
by  a  faithful  builder,  Nathan  Hayward." 

The  most  noted  elms  of  the  present  time  are  known  as  the  Frank- 
lin elm  and  the  Nathan  Beers  elm.  The  former  was  planted  on  the 
day  of  the  death  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  April  17th,  1700.  at  the  corner 
-of  Church  and  Chapel  streets.  It  was  carried  to  New  Haven  on  the 
back  of  Jerry  Ailing,  the  poet  of  Hamden,  who  brought  it  from  the 
plains  of  that  town  for  Thaddeus  Beecher,  a  grocer  of  the  city.  The 
tree  is  now  more  than  SO  feet  high,  and  two  feet  above  the  ground  its 
girth  is  16  feet.  The  Nathan  Beers  elpi  is  at  the  entrance  of  Hill- 
house avenue,  and  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  foregoing.  It  com- 
memorates the  memory  of  this  distinguished  patriot,  who  was  born 
February  14th,  17o3,  and  died  February  11th,  1849,  having  rounded 
■out  nearly  a  century  of  years.  He  was  a  paymaster  in  the  revolution- 
■ary  army  from  March,  1777,  until  the  troops  were  disbanded,  and  was 
a  son  of  the  Nathan  Beers  who  was  murdered  in  cold  blood  at  the 
time  the  British  invaded  New  Haven.  For  4.^  years  he  was  a  deacon 
of  the  North  church.  The  elms  on  Broadway  were  .set  out  about 
1880. 

The  parks  of  New  Haven  are,  large  and  small,  some  twenty  in 
number,  embracing  about  400  acres  of  land.  The  oldest  park  in  the 
present  system  is,  of  course,  the  famous  New   Haven  Green,  in  the 


128  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

central  part  of  the  old  city.  Around  it  are  clustered  associations  of 
every  phase  of  life  of  the  city  and  the  town.  Originally  it  was  set 
aside  as  a  market  place  and  for  all  sorts  of  public  uses.  Its  improve- 
ment as  a  park  began  soon  after  the  city  was  incorporated,  but  it  was 
many  years  before  the  condition  of  its  present  beauty  was  attained. 
The  entire  area  of  the  tract,  includingf  its  boundins:  streets,  is  about 
21  acres.  What  is  enclosed  as  the  green  proper  is  a  little  more  than 
16  acres.  The  maples  in  the  upper  part  of  the  green  were  planted 
about  isr)2. 

The  next  largest  park  in  the  city  proper  is  Wooster  Square,  con- 
taining 41  acres.  It  was  bought  in  182.5  for  $6,0()(»,  and  was  first 
enclosed  with  a  wooden  fence.  Individuals  planted  the  trees  at  a 
cost  of  $1,500,  and  in  1853  the  ground  was  enclosed  with  an  iron  rail- 
ing, costing  §4,000.  The  park  is  densely  shaded,  and  is  surrounded 
by  fine  mansions,  making  a  quiet  and  attractive  spot.  Clinton  Park 
contains  nearly  four  acres:  Jocelyn  Square,  2.61  acres,  donated  to  the 
city  in  1836;  and  York  Square,  a  little  more  than  an  acre,  and  was 
set  aside  for  public  use  about  the  same  time  as  the  latter.  A  num- 
ber of  smaller  parks  contain  less  than  an  acre  and  are  mere  breath- 
ing spots. 

East  Rock  Park  is  the  newest  of  the  principal  public  places,  and 
will  soon  be  by  far  the  most  important.  Its  improvement  was  begun 
soon  after  the  East  Rock  Park  Commission  was  chartered  by  the 
legislature  in  1880.  The  park  embraces  about  353  acres  on  the  East 
Rock  ridge,  of  which  50  acres  were  donated  by  John  W.  Bi.shop. 
One  hundred  and  forty-four  acres  lie  in  the  town  of  New  Haven, 
the  remainder  in  Hamden.  The  park  is  about  two  miles  from  the 
center  of  the  city,  and  is  approached  on  both  sides  by  lines  of  street 
railways  and  by  fine  avenues. 

The  plans  "for  the  harmonious  development"  of  the  park  were 
prepared  by  Donald  G.  Mitchell  in  1882.  The  following  year  Farnam 
Drive  was  constructed  to  the  northern  summit,  2^^  miles,  at  an  expense 
of  §15,000,  defrayed  by  the  estate  of  Henry  Farnam.  The  use  of  this 
revealed  the  beauties  of  the  place,  and  its  fitness  for  a  park  became 
apparent.  The  English  Drive  on  the  west  side  was  begun  in  1885, 
having  as  a  basis  for  its  construction  the  §10,000  donated  for  that  pur- 
pose by  James  E.  English.  It  was  completed  the  following  year,  and 
there  are  now  more  than  five  miles  of  good  carriage  drives,  making 
all  parts  of  this  rugged  piece  of  natural  beauty  easily  accessible. 
Numerous  other  improvements  have  been  made,  more  than  $100,000 
having  been  expended  on  this  park,  which  has  already  become  very 
popular. 

One  of  the  most  striking  features  of  the  park  is  the  fine  new 
So/i/nrs'  Monv.iiicnt,  which  occupies  a  commanding  position  near  the 
south  face  of  the  Rock.  It  was  formally  dedicated  June  17th,  1887, 
the  ceremonies  being  witnes.sed  by  75,000  people.     Among  the  dis- 


HISTORY   OK  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  129 

tinguished  guests  present  were  Generals  Sherman  and  Sheridan,  and 
a  fleet  of  United  States  war  vessels  was  in  the  harbor.  A  great 
parade  was  one  of  the  features  of  the  day.  Twenty  thousand  men 
were  in  line,  and  it  took  three  hours  to  pass  a  given  point.  Doctor 
Newman  Smyth  delivered  the  oration. 

The  movement  to  build  a  memorial  to  the  soldiers  of  the  late  war 
had  its  origin  in  the  action  of  Admiral  Foote  Post,  No.  17,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  which,  in  April,  1879,  asked  permission  of  the 
city  to  place  a  memorial  on  the  green,  in  the  shape  of  a  large  granite 
drinking  fountain.  Consent  having  been  obtained,  the  site  near  the 
liberty  pole  was  dedicated  on  Decoration  Day,  that  year,  but  that  plan 
was  not  carried  out.  The  project  now  rested  until  the  latter  part  of 
1883,  when  the  Post  urged  the  matter  of  a  suitable  monument  upon 
the  town,  which  appropriated  S.'jO.OOO  to  build  a  monument.  The 
foregoing  site  on  East  Rock  was  selected,  and  a  design  by  Moffatt  & 
Do^'le  of  New  York  was  chosen  for  the  memorial,  by  the  following 
committee;  vS.  E.  2klerwin,  Jr.,  chairman;  S.  J.  Fox,  secretary;  Gov.  H. 
B.  Harrison,  Prof.  John  F.  Weir,  Col.  John  Healey,  John  Reynolds, 
Hon.  H.  B.  Bigelow,  Gen.  Frank  D.  Sloat,  Col.  J.  D.  Plunkett,  John 
McCarthy,  Hon.  James  E.  English,  Col.  Samuel  Tolles,  Theo.  A. 
Tuttle,  Conrad  Hofacker. 

The  monument  was  built  under  the  direction  of  S.  E.  Merwin.  Jr.. 
James  E.  English  and  Philo  Chatfield.  It  has  been  described  as 
follows :  * 

"  The  height  of  this  tribute  to  the  heroes  of  America's  battle  fields, 
from  the  base  to  the  apex  of  the  statue  of  the  Angel  of  Peace,  which 
surmounts  it,  is  110  feet;  the  height  of  the  Angel  of  Peace  is  11  feet. 
The  pedestal  of  the  monument  is  a  series  of  five  steps  of  granite,  the 
lowest  course  of  which  is  40  feet  square.  These  steps,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  top  one,  are  18  inches  wide;  the  top  step  is  made  4  feet 
wide,  forming  a  promenade  around  the  monument.  The  base  is  17 
feet  in  height,  and  constructed  of  uniform  blocks  of  split  or  rough- 
faced  granite.  In  each  side  of  this  masonry  casements  are  built,  but 
the  only  entrance  is  through  the  front  one,  which  is  supplied  with 
heavy  folding  doors,  and  approached  by  three  granite  steps.  The 
other  casements  are  imitation  entrances,  but  .are  also  approached  by 
.steps. 

•'  Between  the  base  and  the  foot  of  the  shaft  there  are  8  feet  of 
ornamental  masonry,  on  the  four  corners  of  which  statues  of  Pros- 
perity, History,  Victory  and  Patriotism  are  placed  in  a  sitting  position. 
They  are  9  feet  in  height,  and  made  of  bronze.  The  Genius  of  His- 
tory is  .seated  in  a  graceful  attitude,  perusing  a  book,  which  she  holds 
in  her  lap:  Victory  holds  the  usual  laurel  wreath  and  trumpet  in  her 
hands;  Prosperity  has  the  familiar  horn  of  plenty  on  her  shoulder,  and 
Patriotism  is  a  bare-armed  and  bare-necked  warrior  in  the  attitude  of 

*  New  ^Javen,  Past  and  Present. 
9 


130  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

drawing  a  sword.  Between  the  statues  and  on  each  face  of  the 
masonry  are  four  historical  bas-reliefs,  commemorating  the  four  great 
wars  in  which  this  country  has  been  engaged  since  the  first  blow  for 
liberty  was  struck  at  Lexington.  Over  the  entrance  the  scene 
depicted  in  this  way  is  the  surrender  of  General  Lee  to  General  Grant 
at  Appomattox.  Figures  of  Grant  and  Lee  occupy  the  foreground, 
and  between  them  stands  a  little  table  on  which  the  terms  of  uncon- 
ditional surrender  were  made.  On  the  topmost  portion  of  the  base 
and  under  the  bas-relief  are  the  words,  m  raised  letters  of  granite: 
'SniLOH,  Gettysburg  and  Antjetam,' and  below  these  words  and 
over  the  top  of  the  casement,  '  1861-1865.' 

"  A  bas-relief  of  General  Scott  entering  the  conquered  city  of 
Mexico  occupies  one  of  the  other  faces.  '  Palo  Alto,  Monterey  and 
Chapultepec,'  and  the  dates  '1846-1848'  are  on  the  stone  below. 

"  On  the  back  of  the  monument  the  scene  depicted  is  that  of  Com- 
modore Perry  on  Lake  Erie.  The  great  commander  is  in  the  act  of 
writing  his  famous  despatch:  '  We  have  met  the  enemy  and  they  are 
ours.'  This  picture  also  represents  the  dismantled  British  fleet.  On 
the  base,  under  this  picture,  are  inscribed  the  words:  '  Lake  Erie, 
Bridgewater  and  New  Orleans.'  The  dates  over  the  casement  are 
1812-1815. 

"  The  fourth  bas-relief  is  a  picture  of  the  surrender  of  General 
Cornwallis  at  Yorktown.  A  figure  of  Washington  stands  in  the  fore- 
ground,  receiving  the  British  generals'  swords.  '  Bunker  Hill,  Ben- 
nington and  Yorktown,'  and  the  dates  ] 775-1788  are  below  it. 

"  The  shaft  proper  of  the  monument  is  75  feet  high,  circular,  and 
slightly  tapering,  and  10  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base,  which  rests  on  a 
sculptured  wreath.  Above  this  wreath  appears  a  few  feet  of  orna- 
mental masonry,  and  then  a  band  of  thirteen  chiseled  stars,  represent- 
ing the  thirteen  original  states.  Above  this  are  uniform  unorna- 
mented  blocks  of  granite  until  the  look-out  windows  are  reached.  The 
casements  of  these  windows  stand  out  prominently,  and  the  ornamen- 
tations below  them  are  very  beautiful  in  design.  The  windows  are 
about  five  feet  high  by  two  feet  wide,  and  are  at  the  termination  of  a 
spiral  staircase,  which  winds  its  way  up  through  the  column  from  the 
base.  The  apex  of  the  monument  is  very  nearly  cone-shaped,  and  is 
surmounted  by  the  pedestal  on  which  the  Angel  of  Peace  stands." 

So  conspicuous  is  the  position  of  the  monument  that  it  has  become 
one  of  the  most  noteworthy  objects  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county, 
and  is  seen  from  far  out  at  sea,  standing  like  a  beacon  of  liberty,  as 
well  as  a  memorial  to  those  who  died  in  the  cause  of  freedom. 

The  commerce  and  shipping  of  New  Haven  have,  from  the  begin- 
ning, as  has  already  been  related,  been  important  elements  of  its  busi- 
ness life.  Many  of  the  early  settlers  were  seafaring  men,  and  sought 
opportunities  to  engage  in  that  pursuit  here.  The  disastrous  loss  of 
the   "Fellowship,"    with    Captain    Lamberton    and    many   others   on 


HISTORY   OF   Ni:W    HAVEN   COUNTV.  1:^1 

board,  in  the  early  part  of  1047,  cast  a  gloom  upon  the  hopes  which 
had  been  so  fondly  cherished,  that  New  Haven  would  speedily  have  a 
profitable  commerce,  and  several  years  elapsed  before  other  ventures 
were  made.  In  1646  Isaac  Allerton,  who  has  been  called  the  "  father 
of  New  England  commerce,"  came  to  New  Haven  from  Plymouth 
colony,  whose  business  agent  he  had  been  many  years.  He  here 
engaged  in  trade,  having  a  large  warehouse  and  owning  a  number  of 
small  vessels  which  were  in  the  coastwise  trade.  He  was  the  leader 
of  commerce,  and  before  his  death,  in  1659,  the  shipping  business  at 
this  port  had  been  much  revived.  After  his  decease  the  maritime 
business  fell  off,  what  little  trade  there  was  being  confined  to  near-by 
points. 

Sometime  about  1680  another  attempt  was  made  to  encourage  com- 
merce, and  soon  after  the  work  of  building  a  wharf  into  the  harbor 
was  begun.  This  has  been  extended  to  meet  the  wants  of  trade,  and 
has  long  been  known  by  the  name  of  Long  Wharf.  In  1748  it  was 
lengthened  about  twenty  rods,  and  thirty  rods  more  in  1765.  About 
the  same  time  the  pier  on  the  west  side  of  the  channel  was  com- 
menced, but  was  not  completed  until  1770.  Soon  after  a  fruitless 
attempt  was  made  to  connect  the  pier  and  Long  Wharf,  the  aid  of  a 
lottery  being  sought  to  raise  means.  In  1810  a  new  wharf  company 
was  formed,  which  extended  the  wharf  to  nearly  its  present  length, 
8,943  feet.  The  wharf  was  widened  on  the  west  side,  and  stores  and 
warehouses  built  on  it.  On  the  night  of  October  28th,  1820,  a  fire 
broke  out,  which,  before  it  was  checked,  burned  26  stores  and  ware- 
houses, many  of  them  filled  with  West  India  produce.  The  loss  was 
about  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars,  and  the  blow  to  the  shipping 
interest  was  very  severe. 

About  1750  foreign  commerce  was  revived  and  vessels  began  to 
arrive  from  various  European  ports.  In  1764  the  brig  "  Derby,"  from 
Dublin,  brought  the  first  cargo  of  coal.  Since  that  time  New  Haven 
has  become  one  of  the  greatest  coal  depots  in  New  England.  The 
same  vessel  brought  38  Irish  peasants,  as  servants.  The  exports  at 
this  time  were  mainly  flax  and  lime,  whose  manufacture  had  become 
one  of  the  interests  of  the  town.  In  1774  the  exports  amounted  to 
more  than  $140,000.  In  1776  the  town  had  thirtv  vessels,  in  three  of 
which  Benedict  Arnold,  at  that  time  a  merchant  and  trader  at  New 
Haven,  was  interested.  The  revolution  interrupted  this  commercial 
activity,  but  after  the  war  it  speedily  revived.  In  1787  there  were  61 
vessels  and  110  stores,  and  for  twenty  j-ears  the  business  was  verj- 
prosperous.  Much  of  the  trade  was  with  Barbadoes.  and  rich  cargoes 
were  brought  into  the  city. 

"  Again,  in  1793,  the  disturbances  in  France  brought  great  disaster 
on  our  shipping,  through  privateer  depredations.  Several  score  of 
ships  and  many  hundred  thousand  dollars  worth  of  property  were  lost 
about  this  time — New  Haven  losing  more  in  proportion  than  any  other 


132  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

city  in  the  Union.  In  spite  of  the.se  great  losses,  however,  New 
Haven's  commerce  continued  to  rapidly  increase.  In  1801  over  11,000 
tons  of  shipping  were  registered  at  this  port.  Though  her  ships  were 
searched,  pillaged  and  confiscated  by  the  vessels  of  both  the  great 
naval  powers  of  the  world,  England  and  France,  the  end  of  her  com- 
mercial importance  was  not  yet. 

"  A  fleet  of  some  twenty  ships,  called  the  New  Haven  South  Sea 
Fleet,  was  manned  and  set  out  about  this  time.  They  were  mainly 
engaged  in  the  seal  fishery.  After  obtaining  a  cargo  of  seals  these 
were  sold  in  Canton,  and  a  load  of  silks  and  teas  was  taken  in,  after 
which  they  circumnavigated  the  globe  on  their  way  home,  through 
the  Indian  and  Atlantic  Oceans."  ■'• 

"The  most  successful,  perhaps,  of  all  American  voyages  was  that 
of  the  '  Neptune,'  twenty  guns,  manned  by  forty-five  active,  bright 
New  Haven  county  young  men  from  our  solid  families.  She  was 
owned  by  Ebenezer  Townsend,  called  'The  Merchant  Prince  '  of  New 
Haven;  commanded  by  Captain  David  Greene,  a  complete  seaman, 
who  lived  in  the  '  Old  Cottage  '  on  Water  street,  near  Sargent's  fac- 
tory. She  returned  from  her  three  years'  voyage  around  the  world 
July,  1799.  Her  voyage  gave  a  profit  of  $260,000,  nearly  equal  to  a 
million  now.  Her  custom-house  duties  were  $75,000,  which  was  a 
quarter  more  than  the  civil-list  tax  of  the  whole  state  of  Connecticut 
at  that  time.  Her  arrival  filled  the  town  with  joy.  The  military 
marched  down  to  the  Cedars,  on  the  west  shore,  drums  beating,  colors 
flying,  and  fired  guns  in  welcome;  and  in  the  balmy  air  of  the  sum- 
mer evening  the  boys  met  on  the  street  corners  and  sang  patriotic 
songs."  t 

In  1807  the  custom  duties  paid  at  this  port  were  more  than  $150,000, 
and  great  prosperity  prevailed,  in  spite  of  the  annoyance  to  trade  and 
the  despoiling  of  ves.sels  by  the  French  and  the  English,  and  which 
finally  brought  on  the  war  of  1812.  But  the  embargo  act  which  was 
passed  December  7th,  1807,  and  which  was  intended  to  injure  Great 
Britain,  affected  New  Haven  so  seriously  that  it  practically  ruined 
trade,  and  great  distress  prevailed,  as  for  more  than  a  year  not  a 
vessel  was  allowed  to  leave  this  harbor. 

Trowbridge,  in  his  "  Maritime  Hi.story,"  says: 

"  There  were  birt  few  of  our  citizens  who  were  not,  directly  or 
indirectly,  dependent  upon  foreign  commerce.  About  lOO  ship- 
wrights were  living  in  the  place,  B2  commercial  houses,  82  .ships  were 
engaged  in  foreign  trade,  and  hundreds  of  seamen  here  had  their 
homes.  On  the  anniversary  of  its  passage,  next  year,  there  was  a  day 
of  mourning  for  the  death  of  American  commerce.  The  flags  on  the 
shipping  hung  at  half-mast;  a  procession  was  formed  on  Fleet  street, 
comprising  all  classes  and  grades  of  .society.  It  was  led  by  a  young 
man  clad  in  mourning,  and  mounted  on  a  black  hor.se.     He  carried  in 

*New  Haven.  Past  and  Present.     +  Henry  Howe. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  133 

his  hand  a  banner,  on  which  was  inscribed:  'Bonaparte — O-grab-me .' ' 
which  last  word  the  reader  will  find  spells  '  Embargo,'  if  read  from 
the  right.  Following  the  leader  was  a  company  of  .seamen,  neatly 
dressed,  with  crape  attached  to  their  left  arms.  Six  of  them  bore  a 
boat,  the  flag  of  which  was  at  half-mast,  shrouded  in  mourning,  being 
emblematical  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  Throngs  of 
people  joined  in  the  procession  as  it  passed  through  State  and  Chapel 
streets:  and  when  it  reached  the  Green,  where  an  address  was  deliv- 
ered, it  was  estimated  there  were  1,400  people  in  the  procession,  nearly 
one  quarter  of  the  entire  population  of  the  city.  When,  early  in  1809, 
President  Jeffer.son,  by  proclamation,  ended  the  embargo,  great  joy 
prevailed,  and  a  splendid  dinner  was  given  at  Butler's  famous 
tavern." 

When  the  war  of  1812  broke  out  six  hundred  American  seamen 
had  their  homes  in  New  Haven,  and  that  conflict  of  arms  was  very 
tmpopular  here.  Through  its  influence  the  merchant  marine  M'as  so 
much  affected  that  it  never  again  was  restored  to  its  former  prestige. 
The  foreign  trade  was  diverted  to  New  York,  whose  rapid  growth, 
after  the  war,  injured  all  near-by  seaports.  All  the  channels  of  trade 
were  diverted  to  the  metropolis,  and  have  since  flown  thither.  In  the 
past  fifty  years  the  foreign  commerce  of  New  Haven  has  been  com- 
paratively light,  the  shipping  trade  being  done  principally  through 
New  York. 

After  the  war  steamboat  service  between  New  York  and  New 
Haven  was  established.  The  first  steamboat  to  enter  New  Haven 
harbor  was  the  "  Fulton,"  Captain  Bunker,  which  arrived  here  "  from 
New  York,  March  21,  1815,  with  thirty  passengers:  passage  11-1^  hours. 
Previous  to  that  time  it  had  been  considered  doubtful  if  a  steamboat 
could  navigate  the  Sound.  She  then  began  making  two  trips  per 
week — fare,  $ii.OO.  Previously  passengers  and  goods  had  been  trans- 
ported by  packets,  which  were  sometimes  a  week  on  the  way.  Land 
passage  by  stages  occupied  parts  of  two  days."* 

Since  1815  one  or  more  lines  of  steamboats  have  plied  regularly 
between  these  ports;  and  from  1839,  when  the  Hartford  railroad  was 
built,  until  1848,  when  the  New  York  &  New  Haven  railroad  was 
completed,  they  carried  many  passengers.  The  present  steamboat 
facilities  are  first  class,  two  companies  supplying  a  service  which 
embraces  three  boats,  to  and  from  New  York  daily.  Excellent  oppor- 
tunities for  the  shipment  of  heavy  freights  are  thus  afforded.  Foreign 
commerce  has  also  increased,  and  the  commercial  importance  of  this 
port  is  again  conceded.  From  1872  to  1888  there  were  collected  in 
customs  duties  $5,500,000,  placing  the  port  of  New  Haven  seventh  in 
a  column  of  seaports  arranged  according  to  the  amount  paid  into  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States  for  duties  on  imports.  In  the  customs 
district  there  were  owned  in  this  year  318  vessels. 

*  Henrv  Howe. 


184  HISTORY    OF   XEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

The  manufacturing  interests  have  done  much  to  increase  the  com- 
merce in  recent  years.  Of  their  effect  upon  the  city,  the  Reverend 
Thomas  R.  Bacon  said,  in  his  "  Century  Oration,"  in  1884,  in  speaking 
of  the  purposes  of  the  framers  of  the  city  government: 

■'  They  hoped  for  a  great  commercial  center  sending  out  its  mer- 
chant fleets  to  the  ends  of  the  earth:  they  did  not  expect  a  great  manu- 
facturing city,  as  New  Haven  has  become.  In  1784  the  manufactories 
of  New  Haven  were  apparently  a  paper  mill  and  a  blacksmith  shop, 
and  now  our  manufactured  products  in  vast  variety  are  found  through- 
out the  civilized  world.  And  to  the  use  of  the  manufacturing  interests, 
more  than  anyone  agency,  nay,  more  than  to  all  the  i^est  put  together, 
has  been  due  the  growth  of  the  city  from  ^..'ido  to  some  70,000  inhabit- 
ants. These  vast  industries  of  to-day,  which  have  sprung  from  the 
mechanical  inventions  and  discoveries  of  the  century,  have  given  to 
American  civilization  an  unexpected  aspect  and  development.  In 
the  history  of  its  manufacturing  industries  New  Haven  has  been 
peculiarly  happy.  This  great  variety  has  saved  us  from  those  pro- 
longed and  extensive  periods  of  depression  and  paralysis  which  have 
fallen  upon  towns  devoted  to  a  single  industry.  The  same  cause  has 
prevented  such  great  struggles  between  labor  and  capital,  culminat- 
ing in  wholesale  strikes  and  lockouts,  and  entailing  much  variety  of 
suffering,  whi:h  have  been  so  frequent  elsewhere.  This  growth  of 
manufactures  in  the  .state  of  Connecticut  has  had  the  effect  of  drawing 
the  population  away  from  the  barren  farm  lands  to  the  villages  and 
cities,  and  then  to  change  the  whole  character  of  its  life.  And  in  this 
great  change  New  Haven  has  taken  the  lead,  until  by  the  census  of 
1880  our  gross  manufactured  products  were  valued  at  $24,040,22."»:  our 
net  products  at  $0,558,062.  The  number  of  hands  employed  was 
15,156,  and  the  amount  paid  in  wages  $5,761,375.  Surely  here  is  some- 
thing that  helps  to  account  for  the  century's  growth." 

And  said  another  writer: 

"  The  first  quarter  of  the  century  had  not  passed  away  before  the 
manufacturing  and  mercantile  interests  of  the  city  had  attained 
extensive  dimensions.  The  manufacturing  of  carriages — in  which 
line  New  Haven  has  since  been  one  of  the  leading  cities  of  the  world 
— had  been  inaugurated  by  James  Brewster,  in  1827.  The  manufac- 
ture of  firearms  had  already  become  an  impoi-tant  industry,  having 
been  founded  in  1798,  by  Eli  Whitney,  the  famous  inventor  of  the 
cotton-gin.  Charles  Goodyear,  a  native  of  New  Haven,  was  perfect- 
ing the  great  discovery  which  soon  made  his  name  famous  through- 
out the  world,  and  a  few  years  later  the  first  India-rubber  clothing 
ever  manufactured  was  turned  out  in  this  city.  The  chief  houses 
which  represent  these  three  branches  of  industry  in  New  Haven 
to-day,  as  well  as  those  representing  the  production  of  clocks,  locks, 
pianos,  corsets,  chairs,  paper  boxes  and  hardware,  rank  among  the 
largest  and  best  of  their  kind  in  existence,  and  have  sent  their  goods 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  135 

and  made  the  name  of  our  city  known   and  honored  throughout  the 
civilized  world."* 

In  all,  there  are  in  the  city  more  than  seven  hundred  manufactur- 
ing establishments,  including  more  than  a  hundred  and  thirty 
incorporated  companies,  one  having  a  capital  stock  of  §1,500,000. 
There  were  in  1888  more  than  3,800  business  and  mechanical  occupa- 
tions, and  the  valuation  of  buildings  and  stock  employed  in  the  manu- 
facturing and  commercial  interests  of  the  city  was  about  §;28,000,OoO. 
Almost  all  conceivable  articles  of  manufactures  are  produced  by  work- 
men as  skillful  as  are  found  in  any  civilized  community.  Considering 
the  indifference  to  mechanic  pursuits,  so  long  prevalent  in  New 
Haven— an  indifference  which  prevented  them  for  many  years  from 
having  even  a  blacksmith— this  is,  indeed,  a  striking  transition  of 
occupations. 

Most  likely,  the  blacksmith  shop  alluded  to  by  Doctor  Bacon,  in 
the  paragraph  above,  was  the  one  conducted  by  Captain  Ezekiel 
Hayes,  the  ancestor  of  President  Hayes,  who  was  in  his  time  a  famous 
axe  and  scythe  maker.  But  so  poorly  was  his  work  compensated  that 
in  1775  he  announced  in  a  newspaper  card  that  he  would  be  necessi- 
tated to  return  to  his  old  place  in  Branford,  unless  the  New  Haven 
public  would  •'  allow  me  75  per  cent,  on  my  work  and  the  first  cost  of 
my  stock,  or  I  must  infallibly  heave  up  my  trade."  Grain  and  paper 
mills  were  early  operated  at  Whitueyville  and  at  Westville,  where 
water  power  could  easily  be  used. 

In  1785  a  small  mint  for  the  coining  of  copper  coins  was  started  by 
a  company  organized  for  that  purpose,  which  had  among  its  members 
Samuel  Bishop,  James  Hillhouse  and  Abel  Buell,  the  latter  being  the 
practical  man  of  the  concern.  He  produced  a  machine  capable  of 
coining  120  coppers  per  minute.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  this 
"  New  Haven  Mint "  was  authorized  to  make  copper  coins  for  con- 
gress. In  1787  James  Jarvis  was  the  owner  of  the  establishment, 
which  was  continued  a  number  of  years. 

In  1789  a  cotton  mill  was  established  on  West  river,  which  was 
deemed  so  important  that  the  state  granted  it  a  subsidy  of  $3,000. 
The  following  year  calico  printing  was  begun  by  John  Mix,  who  also 
made  metal  buttons.  That  article  was  also  made  by  Phineas  Bradley. 
Jotham  Fenton  made  telescopes,  etc.,  about  the  same  time;  and  other 
small  manufacturing  interests  were  begun  about  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century.  Soon  after  leather  tanning  became  an  important 
business,  and  in  1840  five  tanneries,  with  capital  aggregating  more 
than  $100,000,  had  an  output  of  §380,000. 

The  manufacture  of  carriages  was  the  next  important  industry 

established,  there  being  in  1840  twelve  shops,  whose  product  amounted 

to  8234,000.     This  business  and  the  manufacture  of  carriage  parts  is 

now  carried  on  in  about  forty  es.tablishments,  in  which  more  than 

'  William  H.  Beckford. 


136  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

2,000  men  are  employed,  and  the  output  amounts  to  §2,000,000  per 
year.  It  is  claimed  that  G.  T.  Newhall  of  this  city  was  the  first  in 
America  to  adopt  machinery  in  the  manufacture  of  carriages — a 
method  which  is  now  almost  universally  used.  For  many  years  Henry 
Hooker  &  Co.  had  here  the  largest  carriage  manufacturing  establish- 
ment in  the  world. 

Closely  allied  with  the  carriage  business  is  the  industry  of  manu- 
facturing hardware  specialties,  several  dozen  firms  being  at  present 
engaged  in  that  interest.  J.  B.  Sargent  &  Co.  were  among  the 
pioneers  in  that  line,  and  their  establi.shment  has  become  the  greatest 
in  the  world.  Acres  of  land  are  covered  with  large  buildings,  in 
which  about  2,000  people  are  employed,  and  so  many  kinds  of  hard- 
ware goods  are  made  that  a  volume  of  more  than  1,100  pages  is 
required  to  catalogue  them.  In  their  extent,  equipments  and  variety 
of  products  these  works  have  no  equal  in  this  or  any  other  country. 
O.  B.  North  &  Co.  rank  among  the  oldest  manufacturers  of  saddlery 
hardware.  The  wholesale  hardware  business  has  had  a  place  in  the 
city  since  1784,  before  the  era  of  manufacturing.  The  Mallory- 
Wheeler  Company  are  representative  lockmakers.  Their  interest  was 
founded  in  1834,  and  has  grown  to  such  proportions  that  25  buildings 
are  occupied,  and  500  workmen  are  employed.  Immense  quantities 
of  all  kinds  of  locks  are  produced. 

The  manufacture  of  firearms  has  been  carried  on  at  New  Haven 
the  greater  part  of  a  century,  being  here  begun  on  a  large  scale  by 
Eli  Whitney,  and  has,  through  the  Winchester  and  other  companies, 
been  developed  into  one  of  the  largest  industries  of  the  kind  in  this 
country.  The  Winchester  Repeating  Arms  Company  was  organized 
in  18.")8.  Most  of  the  buildings  at  present  occupied  were  erected  in 
1870  and  cover  the  area  of  two  city  squares.  The  floor  area  is  nine  acres; 
3,000  different  machines  are  operated  by  1,000-horse  power  steam  and 
150-hor.se  power  water  motors,  and  15,000  workmen  are  employed. 
Their  firearms  and  ammunition  are  sold  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  This 
corporation  has  absorbed  the  old  Whitney  armory.  The  Marlin  Fire 
Arms  Company  has  had  a  more  recent  origin,  but  is  a  prosperous  and 
growing  industry.  Excellent  arms  are  produced,  and  more  than  200 
men  are  employed. 

In  the  manufacture  of  machinery  there  are  about  three  dozen  con- 
cerns engaged.  The  oldest  iron  foundry  is  that  of  vS.  H.  Barnum, 
which  was  established  in  1832.  Of  these  concerns  one  is  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  flour  mill  machinery,  and  is  noted  for  the  superi- 
ority of  its  products,  which  are  shipped  all  over  the  globe;  six  estab- 
lishments  build  engines,  several  being  extensive;  three  make  drop 
forgings,  two  are  safe  works  and  two  make  cutlery.  The  brass  goods 
manufacturing  establishment  of  A.  B.  Hendryx  &  Co.  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  of  its  kind  in  the  Union,  a  position  occupied  in  other 
products  of  brass  goods  by  Peck  Brothers  &  Co.     A  dozen  concerns 


HISTORY   UF   NliW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  1S7 

are  devoted  to  brass  goods  manufactures,  and  many  skillful  workmen 
are  employed. 

In  the  manufacture  of  clocks  New  Haven  is  also  in  the  lead.  The 
New  Haven  Clock  Company  has  one  of  the  largest  works  in  this 
country.  The  companj^  began  to  make  movements  in  ISnS,  but  since 
1856  have  produced  finished  clocks  of  many  different  kinds.  A  num- 
ber of  large  buildings,  covering  nearly  two  city  squares,  are  occupied, 
and  more  than  700  men  are  employed  by  this  thrifty  company,  of 
which  Hiram  Camp  has  long  been  the  head. 

In  the  manufacture  of  rubber  goods  but  few  places  surpa.ss  this 
city.  The  largest  establishment  is  that  of  L.  Candee  &  Co.,  founded 
in  1842,  and  one  of  the  first  to  manufacture  under  the  Goodyear 
patents.  The  works  cover  more  than  2^-  acres,  and  are  very  complete 
in  their  equipments.  Fifteen  hundred  men  are  employed  in  the 
various  departments,  and  the  products  have  a  most  excellent  reputa- 
tion in  every  state  in  the  Union,  and  since  1871  have  been  sold  direct 
to  the  trade. 

"Another  important  industry  of  New  Haven,  and  one  which  is  of 
quite  recent  origin  in  this  country,  is  the  manufacture  of  corsets. 
This  city  is  the  birthplace  and  home  of  this  industry  in  America,  and 
there  are  at  present  eight  considerable  corset  factories  devoted  to  it. 
The  first  corsets  made  in  a  factory  in  America  were  produced  in  this 
city  in  1860  by  Isaac  Straus,  who  is  still  in  the  business  here,  and  now 
one  factory  alone  employs  upwards  of  l.oOO  operatives.  Concerning 
the  productions  of  these  factories,  it  may  be  said  that  they  are  fully 
equal  to  the  imported  articles,  and  have  been  placed  on  the  market  at 
such  low  prices  as  to  have  almost  entirely  driven  the  foreign  goods 
out  of  American  consumption." 

The  manufacture  of  musical  instruments  forms  a  considerable  part 
of  the  business  of  New  Haven.  One  of  the  oldest  firms  in  that 
industry  is  B.  Shoninger  &  Co.,  who  began  in  a  small  wa}-  in  18."i0  as 
organ  builders.  The  manufacture  of  pianos  was  added  in  1870,  only 
about  100  per  year  being  made.  This  output  has  been  increased  until 
now  1,800  are  made  yearh%  and  their  works  have  become  so  extensive 
that  the}'  rank  among  the  first  in  the  world. 

New  Haven  has  also  become  an  important  wholesale  center,  sup- 
plying many  of  the  adjoining  towns  with  the  products  of  trade.  In 
1889  there  were  in  the  citj'  "  five  wholesale  grocery  houses  ^the  first 
was  established  in  1825),  two  wholesale  drug  houses,  three  wholesale 
hardware  houses,  four  wholesale  paper  houses,  two  wholesale  boot  and 
shoe  houses,  three  wholesale  china  and  glassware  houses,  two  whole- 
sale paint  and  oil  houses,  three  coffee  and  spice  mills,  three  wholesale 
cigar  houses,  besides  a  number  of  others  smaller  in  size  and  repre- 
senting other  lines  of  merchandise." 

The  commercial  prosperity  of  New  Haven  has  been  greatly  pro- 
moted and  conserved  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  which  was  organ- 


138  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ized  April  9th,  1794,  and  which  has  continuously  existed  since  that 
time.  It  is  thus  one  of  the  oldest  associations  of  the  kind  in  America. 
At  present  it  has  several  hundred  members,  including  the  principal 
business  men  of  the  city,  and  the  following  officers:  President,  J.  D. 
Dewell;  vice-presidents,  Samuel  E.  Merwin,  Nathan  Easterbrook,  Jr.; 
treasurer,  Wilbur  F.  Day:  corresponding  and  recording  secretary,  T. 
Attwater  Barnes;  directors,  N.  D.  Sperry,  Joel  A.  Sparry,  John  H. 
Leeds,  Charles  H.  Townsend,  George  H.  Ford. 

Smce  the  city  has  so  many  diverse  interests  it  requires  large  bank- 
ing facilities,  which  are  supplied  by  fourteen  monetary  institutions, 
commanding  capital  to  the  amount  of  §12,000,000.  Seven  of  these 
banks  are  organized  under  the  national  banking  laws  and  four  are 
.savings  banks,  which  have  a  local  deposit  of  nearly  $12,000,000  and  a 
surplus  approximating  §40(1,000.  The  volume  of  business  done  by 
these  banks  is  shown  by  the  returns  of  the  Clearing  House,  which 
indicate  that  the  exchanges  of  the  local  banks  in  1888  amounted  to 
$60,782,206. 

The  first  bank  in  the  city  was  organized  December  22d,  179.5, 
as  the  New  Haven  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  §50,000.  It  had  been 
chartered  in  October,  1792,  with  a  capital  of  S10<'.000,  which  amount 
could  not  be  raised,  as  contemplated,  and  an  amendment  reducing , 
the  minimum  capital  was  found  necessary.  David  Austin  was  the 
first  president  and  William  Lyon  the  cashier.  In  186.5  this  bank  was 
reorganized  under  the  national  banking  laws,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  substantial  monetary  institutions  in  the  state.  It  is 
known  as  the  National  New  Haven  Bank,  and  Wilbur  F.  Day  has 
been  the  president  since  1869.  In  this  period  more  than  §1,000,000 
have  been  paid  to  the  stockholders  as  net  profits.  ^Iv.  Day  is  also  the 
president  of  the  New  Haven  Clearing  House. 

The  city  has  more  than  six  hundred  professional  men,  and  every 
generation  has  had,  in  all  of  the  leading  professions,  some  of  the 
brightest  minds  in  the  country — men  greatly  honored  at  home  and 
abroad  for  their  learning  and  success  as  practitioners.  Among  those 
in  the  legal  profession  who  left  their  impress  upon  affairs  which  have 
come  down  to  the  present  generation,  none  was  greater  than  Roger 
Sherman.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1754,  and  removed  to  New 
Haven  in  1761,  where  he  died  in  1793.  He  was  not  only  one  of  the 
foremost  men  in  the  city  and  state,  but  also  of  the  nation.  As  a 
member  of  the  continental  congress,  he  was  one  of  the  committee  of 
five  to  draft  the  declaration  of  American  independence,  and  Jefferson 
said  of  him  that  he  had  the  best  common  sense  of  any  man  in  that 
body.  He  was  known  as  a  Christian  statesman,  whose  life  was  a 
benediction  at  home  and  abroad.  He  lived  in  the  house  on  Chapel 
street  next  we.st  of  the  opera  hou.se,  and  was,  perhaps,  one  of  the 
greatest  men  the  county  had  ever  adopted  as  a  citizen.  Jared  Inger- 
sol  and  James  A.  Hillhouse  were  also  able  lawyers  before  the  revolt:- 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTV.  VSU 

tion.  Since  that  time,  among  the  principal  lawyers  have  been:  Pierre- 
pont  Edwards,  Nathaniel  Smith,  David  Daggett,  Dyer  White,  Jona- 
than Ingersoll,  Simeon  Baldwin,  Eleazer  Foster,  John  Hart  Lynde, 
Seth  Staples,  Samuel  Hitchcock,  Isaac  H.  Townsend,  William  W. 
Boardman,  Dennis  Kimberley,  Roger  S.  Baldwin,  Alfred  Blackman. 
Ralph  I.  Ingersoll,  Charles  Ingersoll,  Clark  Bissell,  Henry  Dutton, 
Jonathan  Stoddard,  Henry  White,  Eleazer  K.  Foster,  William  Bristol, 
John  Beach,  Charles  Ives,  Thomas  B.  Osborne,  Dexter  R.  Wright  and 
some  others,  named  in  the  preceding  pages,  all  deceased. 

The  attorneys  in  1889-90,  according  to  the  list  furnished  the  secre- 
tary of  state,  were  the  following: 

John  W.  Ailing,  S.  W.  F.  Andrews.  Edward  A.  Anketell,  George 
L.  Armstrong.  E.  P.  Arvine,  Harry  W.  Asher,  Ward  Bailey,  Frederick 
W.  Babcock,  Simeon  E.  Baldwin.  Francis  G.  Beach,  John  K.  Beach, 
Rodman  V.  Beach,  George  E.  Beers,  William  L.  Bennett,  Herbert  E. 
Benton.  Stuart  Bidwell,  James  Bishop.  Henry  T.  Blake,  Levi  X. 
Blydenburgh.  Charles  F.  Bollmann,  John  W.  Bristol,  Louis  H.  Bristol, 
Samuel  L.  Bronson,  Edward  G.  Buckland,  James  J.  Buchanan,  Charles 
K.  Bush,  Julius  C.  Cable,  David  Callahan,  William  C.  Case,  William 
Scoville  Case,  Jonathan  W.  Chapin.  Prentice  W.  Chase,  James  G. 
Clark,  L.  W.  Cleaveland,  George  R.  Cooley,  Leonard  M.  Daggett, 
Hugh  Dailey,  Lucius  P.  Deming,  George  L.  Dickerman,  T.  E.  Doo- 
little.  Edwin  C.  Dow,  Edward  Downes,  Cornelius  T.  Driscoll,  D.  Cady 
Eaton,  William  H.  Ely,  Jacob  E.  Emery,  John  T.  Fitzgerald,  Charles 
H.  Fowler,  John  S.  Fowler,  O.  H.  D.  Fowler,  Timothy  J.  Fox,  John  C. 
Gallagher,  Jacob  P.  Goodhart,  William  L.  Green,  George  M.  Gunn.  E. 
Edwin  Hall.  Charles  S.  Hamilton.  Henry  B.  Harrison,  Lynde  Harri- 
son, Charles  A.  Harrison,  Charles  B.  Hawkes,  Charles  H.  Hayden. 
Carlton  E.  Hoadley,  J.  C.  Hollister,  H.  L.  Hotchkiss,  Leverett  M. 
Hubbard,  Savilian  R.  Hull,  C.  R.  Ingersoll,  Francis  G.  Ingersoll, 
George  P.  Ingersoll,  Jonathan  IngensoU,  Frank  H.  Kelly,  Jr.,  William 
H.  Kenyon,  P.  F.  Kiernan,  Charles  Kleiner,  William  H.  Law,  Edward 
L.  Lindsley,  Seymour  C.  Loomis,  Burton  Mansfield,  A.  McC.  Mathew- 
son,  Charles  B.  Mathewman,  Kojiro  Matsugata,  Eli  INIix,  James  T. 
Moran,  John  L.  Morehouse,  Samuel  C.  Morehouse,  Luzon  B.  Morris, 
Joseph  B.  Morse,  Albert  H.  Moulton,  Lyman  E.  Munson,  Henry  G. 
Newton,  William  P.  Niles,  Arthur  D.  Osborne,  Arthur  S.  Osborne. 
William  S.  Pardee,  Albert  D.  Penney,  L.  L.  Phelps,  John  P.  Phillips, 
Rufus  S.  Pickett,  James  P.  Pigott,  Henry  C.  Piatt,  Johnson  T.  Piatt, 
Joseph  D.  Pluukett,  Walter  Pond,  Edwin  Purrington,  A.  Heaton 
Robertson,  George  W.  Robinson,  William  C.  Robinson,  John  A. 
Robinson,  Edward  H.  Rogers,  Henry  D.  Russell,  Talcott  H.  Russell, 
George  D.  Seymour,  Bernard  J.  Shanley,  Joseph  Sheldon,  Edwin  A. 
Smith,  Siegwart  Spier,  Henry  Stoddard,  William  B.  Stoddard,  David 
Strouse,  John  P.  Studley,  Charles  L.  Swan,  Jr.,  James  S.  Thompson, 
Jason  P.  Thomson,  William  K.  Townsend.  Dwight  W.  Tuttle.  Grove 


140  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

J.  Tuttle,  Julius  Twiss,  Morris  F.  Tyler,  George  A.  Tyler,  Charles  L. 
Ullman,  S.  Harrison  Wagner,  John  B.  Ward,  Willard  D.  Warren, 
George  D.  Watrous,  Francis  Wayland,  James  H.  Webb,  Alfred  N. 
Wheeler,  Cyrus  B.  Whitcomb,  Charles  A.  White,  Henry  C.  White, 
Henry  D.  White,  Roger  S.  White,  Oliver  S.  White,  John  H.  Whiting, 
Isaac  Wolfe,  Tames  A.  Wood.  Arthur  B.  Wright,  William  A.  Wright, 
Samuel  A.  York,  Edmund  Zacher,  Fair  Haven,  Curtis  S.  Bushnell. 

In  the  same  year  the  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  town  of  New 
Haven  were  as  given  in  the  appended  list,  taken  from  the  "  Register 
of  the  State: " 

Allopathists;  Francis  Bacon,  F.  E.  Beckwith,  Frederick  Bellosa, 
E.  H.  Bishop,  Louis  B.  Bishop,  Timothy  H.  Bishop,  Evelyn  L.  Bissell, 
W.  L.  Bradley,  Charles  H.  Brockett,  Henry  Bronson,  T.  M.  Cahill,  W. 
H.  Carmalt,  H.  A.  Carrington,  S.  H.  Chapman,  George  F.  Converse,  C. 
V.  R.  Creed,  Lucy  M.  Creemer,  M.  A.  Cremin,  D.  L.  Daggett,  William 
G.  Daggett,  Louis  S.  DeForest,  Charles  F.  Dibble,  F.  L.  Dibble,  Gus- 
tavus  Eliot,  C.  L.  Fitch,  H.  Fleischner,  C.  J.  Foote,  J.  P.  C.  Foster,  L. 
M.  Gilbert,  S.  D.  Gilbert,  William  W.  Hawkes,  C.  H.  Howland, 
Stephen  G.  Hubbard,  Levi  Ives,  Robert  S.  Ives,  Walter  Judson,  B.  L. 
Lambert,  D.  C.  Leavenworth,  Thomas  G.  Lee,  A.  W.  Leighton,  B.  S. 
Lewis,  Charles  A.  Lindsley,  C.  P.  Lind.sley,  William  E.  Lockwood, 
John  F.  Luby,  Edward  G.  Madden.  Stephen  J.  Maher,  Max  Mailhouse, 
Mary  B.  Moody,  John  Nicoll,  M.  C.  O'Connor,  OHver  T.  Osborn, 
Charles  E.  Park,  Henry  Pierpont,  Edward  K.  Roberts,  Arthur 
Ruickoldt,  Thomas  H.  Russell,  L.  J.  Sanford,  J.  W.  Seaver,  H.  E. 
Smith.  Marvin  Smith,  J.  E.  .Stetson,  W.  H.  Stowe,  Henry  L.  Swain, 
James  K.  Thacher,  W.  H.  Thomson,  J.  H.  Townsend.  R.  B.  West, 
Frank  H.  Wheeler,  C.  S.  White,  F.  O.  White,  Moses  C.  White,  F.  H. 
Whittemore,  S.  W.  Williston,  A.  E.  Winchell,  F.  W.  Wright,  Willis 
G.  Ailing,  Arthur  O.  Baribault,  A.  Brown,  George  M.  Bush,  John  J. 
Crane,  Robert  Crane,  V.  M.  Dow,  Aaron  Ignal,  RoUin  McNeil, 
Alphonse  Oulman,  Joseph  Reed,  James  M.  Reilly,  William  Sprenger, 
Henry  A.  Street,  E.  L.  R.  Thomson,  E.  L.  Washburne,  William  J. 
Whiting. 

Homoeopathists:  C.  B.  Adams,  M.  J.  Adams,  William  D.  Anderson, 

B.  H.  Cheney,  C.  A.  Dorman,  Edwin  "c.  M.  Hall,  John  A.  Hutchinson, 
J.  W.  Jewett,  Mrs.  Adelaide  Lambert,  William  H.  Sage,  P.  C.  Skiff,  A. 
L.  Talmadge,  Charles  Vishno,  C.  W.  Vishno,  E.  J.  W^alker,  I.  S. 
Miller,  Isadore  L.  Murray,  Charles  Rawling,  W.  W.  Rodman,  Walter 

C.  Skiff. 

Eclectics:  H.  J.  Bradley,  M.  F.  Linquist,  M.  F.  Linquist,  Jr.,  James 
C.  Chesley,  C.  F.  Edson,  John  L.  Lyon,  Wcstvillc,  H.  B.  Smith. 

The  New  Haven  post  office  was  established  in  April,  1755,  by 
order  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  postmaster  general  of  the  King  for  the 
British  colonies  in  America.  John  Holt,  of  the  firm  of  James  Parker 
&  Co.,  printers  and  publishers  of  the  Coiiuccticut  Gazette,  was  appointed 


HISTORY    01'    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  .  141 

postmaster,  and  the  office  was  kept  at  their  printing  house  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  city.  The  first  mail  service  in  this  part  of  the 
country  was  limited,  and  was  primarily  for  the  benefit  of  the  troops 
engaged  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  the  soldiers  being  thus 
enabled  to  communicate  with  their  friends  at  home  and  in  the 
colonies,  to  which  the  system  had  been  extended.  Gradually  the 
convenience  of  the  system  was  recognized,  more  offices  were  estab- 
lished in  the  county,  and  the  service  was  improved. 

In  1760  Postmaster  John  Holt  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Green, 
another  of  the  Gazette  partners,  who  was  followed  by  Benjamin 
Mecom,  who  had  become  the  publisher  of  the  Gazette.  In  1768  Luke 
Babcock,  the  publisher  of  a  rival  paper,  took  charge  of  the  office,  but 
served  only  about  a  year.  [n  1769  Christopher  Kilby  became  the 
postmaster,  and  continued  until  his  death  in  March,  1774.  Near  the 
end  of  the  same  year  Elias  Beers  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  the 
New  Haven  office,  which  he  removed  to  his  shop,  which  stood  on  the 
.site  of  the  present  New  Haven  Hou.se.  Under  his  administration 
the  business  of  the  office  developed,  the  number  of  mails  being 
increased  to  four  per  week  (two  from  the  East  and  two  from  the 
West)  in  1780. 

After  a  long  service  Jesse  Atwater  succeeded  Beers,  in  jNIarch, 
1802,  and  was  the  postma.ster  until  his  death,  in  1814.  Then  came 
William  H.  Jones,  who  also  served  a  long  term  of  years.  His 
appointment  by  the  postmaster  general  continued  until  July  9th, 
1836,  when  he  was  commissioned  as  the  first  presidential  appointee. 
In  1842  he  gave  place  to  Henry  Huggins,  whose  administration  was 
short,  continuing  only  two  years.  Edward  A.  Mitchell  succeeded 
him,  in  October,  1844,  and  while  he  was  postmaster  he  introduced  the 
use  of  stamped  envelopes,  anticipating  their  use  by  the  general 
government  a  number  of  years.  It  is  said  that  ilr.  Mitchell's  method 
of  using  stamps  was  the  first  in  the  Union,  and  was  at  the  time  con- 
sidered a  remarkable  innovation. 

John  B.  Robertson  became  the  postmaster  June  14th,  1849,  keeping 
the  office  in  the  Brewster  Block.  Lucius  A.  Thomas  succeeded  him  in 
]853,  and  in  his  administration  the  present  post  office  building,  on 
Church  street,  was  erected  in  1860,  at  a  cost  of  more  than  §200,000.  It 
was,  at  that  period,  one  of  the  best  buildings  of  the  kind  in  the  East. 

In  April,  1861,  Nehemiah  D.  Sperry  was  appointed  postmaster  by 
President  Lincoln,  and  served  with  great  acceptance  for  24  years. 
Under  the  administration  of  President  Cleveland  he  gave  room  for 
Benjamin  R.  English,  as  his  successor,  who,  after  four  years,  was  him- 
self succeeded  by  his  predecessor,  Nehemiah  D.  Sperry,  the  present 
postmaster.  The  office  ranks  as  the  first  in  the  state,  and  is  near  the 
head  of  the  foremost  ones  in  the  Union.  In  1888  8,000,000  pieces  of 
mail  matter  were  handled. 

The  city  has  been   much   benefitted   by  its  system  of  street  rail- 


142  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ways,  some  of  which  have  been  successfully  operated  for  25  years. 
The  oldest  company  was  chartered  in  1860,  to  build  from  Fair  Haven 
East  to  Westville,  and  given  franchises  to  build  lateral  lines.  Many 
of  the  principal  streets  have  been  occupied,  and  all  the  main  points 
of  the  cit}'  can  be  reached  by  it.  Five  other  lines  were  subsequently 
chartered,  namely:  the  New  Haven  and  West  Haven  Company,  to 
Savm  Rock,  in  1865;  New  Haven  and  Centerville,  the  same  year,  via 
Broadway:  State  Street,  in  1868;  New  Haven  and  Allingtown,  in  1872, 
and  the  Whitney  Avenue,  more  recently.  The  latter  companies  were 
authorized,  after  the  granting  of  their  first  charters,  to  modify  their 
lines,  so  as  to  build  to  the  corner  of  Chapel  and  Church  streets,  which 
has  become  the  point  where  all  the  lines  now  center,  and  from  which 
place  any  part  of  the  city  or  any  of  its  suburbs  can  be  speedil}'  reached. 

The  city  is  well  supplied  with  charitable  and  philanthropic  institu- 
tions, the  oldest  and  most  extensive  being  the  General  Hospital  of 
Connecticut.  In  ^lay,  1826,  the  legislature  chartered  the  General 
Hospital  Society  of  the  state,  and  appropriated  $5,000  toward  the 
erection  of  such  an  institution.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  indi- 
vidual contributions  were  made  to  supplement  that  sum,  and  the  first 
building  of  the  kind  was  begun  in  New  Haven.  It  was  completed  in 
July,  1832,  and  was  of  sandstone  stuccoed,  having  an  extreme  length 
of  lis  feet.  There  were  twenty  rooms,  and  the  whole  expense  of  the 
building  was  about  $12,000.  In  1861  the  hospital  offered  accommoda- 
tions for  sick  and  wounded  Union  soldiers,  and  gradually  its  use  for 
that  purpose  was  extended  until,  in  April,  1868,  a  military  hospital 
was  here  established,  with  the  name  of  the  Knight  General  Hospital, 
in  compliment  to  Doctor  Jonathan  Knight;  $10,000  was  expended  upon 
temporary  extensions,  which  increased  the  capacity  to  l,50(i  beds.  In 
the  spring  of  1865  the  u.se  of  the  hospital  by  the  national  government 
ceased,  and  it  again  reverted  to  its  original  use.  In  1875  the  hospital 
was  enlarged,  the  new  buildings  being  supplied  with  modern  appli- 
ances, and  the  wards  were  so  arranged  that  each  patient  covild  be 
given  1,600  cubic  feet  of  air.  These  improvements  cost  $88,000.  The 
hospital  grounds  are  at  the  corner  of  Howard  and  Congress  avenues, 
and  occupy  an  entire  block.  It  is  now  well  equipped,  and  is  most 
efficient  in  its  work. 

The  New  Haven  Dispensary  was  organized  in  1872,  and  has  an 
office  on  York  street,  near  the  Yale  Medical  College,  where  its  chosen 
work  is  well  carried  on,  to  the  great  benefit  of  those  who  need  its  help. 

The  New  Haven  Orphan  Asylum  was  begun  in  a  very  humble  way 
in  February,  1833.  In  1854  the  late  James  Brewster  offered  to  build  a 
new  asylum,  on  condition  that  the  town  would  provide  a  proper  site. 
His  offer  being  accepted,  he  built  a  part  of  the  present  asylum  soon 
after,  and.  in  the  course  of  eight  years,  added  a  wing.  His  gifts  to 
this  object  amounted  to  $2o,(t()0.  The  asj-lum  has  a  good  location  on 
Elm  street,  and  has  become  a  noble  charity.  » 


HISTORV    OF   NEW    IIAVKN   COUNTY.  143 

St.  Francis  Orphan  Asylum,  on  Highland  street,  is  maintained  by 
the  Roman  Catholic  parishes  of  the  city.  It  was  incorporated  in  May, 
1865,  and  commodious  buildings  have  been  erected  for  its  use.  In  its 
chosen  sphere  this  asylum  has  done  good  service,  furnishing  a  home 
for  about  l.')!)  children. 

The  New  Haven  Home  for  the  Friendless  was  placed  upon  a 
permanent  basis  by  a  number  of  benevolent  people  some  time  after 
its  incorporation,  in  1867.  A  comfortable  place  on  Clinton  avenue  is 
occupied, and  the  home  enlists  the  support  of  many  charitable  people. 
Its  benefits  have  been  extended  to  more  than  a  thousand  pensons. 

The  New  Haven  Aid  Society  had  its  origin  in  the  fall  of  1864,  as  a 
work  and  aid  society,  taking  its  present  name  in  1867.  Its  collections 
and  disbursements  in  aid  of  those  who  need  this  assistance  have  been 
more  than  $2,i)00  per  year. 

There  are  numerous  other  charities  in  the  city,  and  since  1878 
their  work  has  been  much  systematized  through  the  agency  of  the 
Board  of  Associated  Charities.  That  body  was  organized  June  1st, 
1878,  and  nearly  all  other  bodies  now  cooperate  with  it  to  the  mani- 
fest advantage  of  the  community  at  large. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  there  are  several  Christian  a.ssocia- 
tions,  whose  work  is,  to  a  large  extent,  philanthropic.  The  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized  a  number  of  years  ago,  but 
interest  in  its  work  had  greatly  declined.  In  the  past  few  years  its 
usefulness  has  been  extended,  and  fine  quarters  have  been  secured 
for  it  at  a  generous  outlay  of  means.  There  are  attractive  parlors, 
reading  and  recreation  rooms  maintained  both  at  New  Haven  and 
Fair  Haven,  and  at  the  former  place  is  also  a  large  and  well  equipped 
gvmnasium.  Its  work  among  young  men  has  been  revived,  and  its 
influence  is  again  increasing. 

The  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  was  organized  in  1880, 
and  became  a  corporate  bod}'  two  years  later.  A  home  in  the  interest 
of  young  ladies  has  been  opened;  gratuitous  instruction  has  also  been 
imparted.  The  mission  of  the  association  is  a  noble  one,  and  good 
work  has  been  done. 

There  are  26  Masonic  lodges,  28  Odd  Fellows  lodges  and  37  other 
secret  organizations,  besides  27  temperance  secret  societies,  making  in 
all  118  secret  organizations.  There  are  also  114  societies  for  charit- 
able, benevolent  and  other  purposes,  aside  from  a  number  of  mutual 
benefit,  mutual  aid  and  mutual  insurance  .societies. 

There  are  five  permanent  political  societies  and  eight  military 
organizations.  Twenty-five  societies  support  or  maintain  rooms  for 
social  visiting  and  as  places  of  amusement.  Few  cities  excel  New 
Haven  in  provisions  of  this  nature.  The  oldest  secret  society  is 
Hiram  Lodge,  No.  1.  F.  &  A.  M.,  which  was  instituted  in  17o(i:  and 
Franklin  Chapter,  No.  2,  R.  A.  M.,  was  instituted  in  1795.  All 
the  other  lodges  were  organized  in  the  present  centur}'. 


CHAPTER  III. 


TOWN  AND  CITY  OF  NEW  HAVEN. 


Early  School  Teachers. — Hopkins  Grammar  School. — Other  Ear-ly  Schools. — Later  Select 
Schools. — The  Lancasteriau  School. — Graded  Schools  Established. — Present  Condi- 
tion of  Public  Schools. — Yale  University. — The  Periodical  Press. — First  CongreKa- 
tional  Church. — North  Church. — Yale  College  Church. — Third  Congregrtional 
Church. — Dixwell  Avenvie  Church.— College  Street  Church.— Chinch  of  the 
Redeemer. — Davenport  Church.— Howard  Avenue  Church. — Humphrey  Street 
Church. — Taylor  Church. — Dwight  Place  Church. — Ferry  Street  Church. — Eman- 
uel Church. — First  Presbyterian  Church. — Trinity  Church. — St.  Paul's  Church. — 
St.  John's  Church. — Church  of  the  Ascension. — St.  Thomas'  Church. — Christ 
Church. — Grace  Church. — St.  Luke's  Church. — All  Saints'  Chapel. — Trinity  Chapel. 
— Methodist  Churches. — Baptist  Churches. — Lutherans. — Second  Adventists. — Uni- 
versalists. — Hebrews. — Roman  Catholics. — Cemeteries. — Fair  Haven. — Westville. — 
Biograpliioal  Sketches. 


THE  planters  of  Ouinnipiac  brought  a  schoolmaster  with  them, 
in  the  person  of  Ezekiel  Cheever,  at  that  time  but  23  years  old. 
As  soon  as  his  house  could  be  prepared  for  that  purpose  the 
school  was  opened,  for  the  early  settlers  believed  in  education,  and 
this  matter  from  the  begfinning;  received  their  most  careful  attention. 
One  of  his  pupils,  in  1639,  Michael  Wigglesworth,  bears  testimony  to 
the  proficiency  of  Mr.  Cheever,  when  he  says,  "In  a  year  or  two  I 
profited  so  much,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  that  I  began  to  make 
Latin  and  to  get  on  apace."  His  salary  was  about  $150  per  year,  and 
he  taught  here  about  twelve  years,  when  he  removed  to  Ipswich.  He 
was  also  an  author,  and  his  book  called  "  Accidence,  or  Short  Intro- 
duction to  the  Latin  Tongue,"  was  one  of  the  first  text  books  in  this 
country,  and  was  used  in  schools  for  ISO  years.  Cotton  Mather  thus 
spoke  of  this  book: 

"  A  mighty  tribe  of  well-instructed  youth 
Tell  what  they  owe  to  him,  and  tell  with  truth. 
All  the  eight  parts  of  speech  he  taught  to  them, 
They  now  employ  to  trumpet  his  esteem. 
Magistcr  pleas'd  them  well  because  'twas  he; 
They  say  that  bonus  did  with  it  agree. 
While  they  said  a  mo,  they  the  hint  improve, 
Him  for  to  make  the  object  of  their  love. 
No  concord  so  inviolate  they  knew 
As  to  pay  honor  to  their  master  due. 
With  interjections  they  break  off  at  last. 
But  ah  is  all  they  use,  oh  and  alas .' 


HISTORY    OF    NF.W    HAVEN    COUNTY.  145 

"  He  lived,  and  to  vast  age  no  illness  knew; 
Till  Time's  scythe,  waiting  for  him,  rusty  grew. 
He  lived  axiA  wrought;  his  labors  were  immense; 
But  ne'er  declined  to  prieter  perfect  tense." 

He  died  in  Boston  in  17U8,  in  the  94th  year  of  hi.s  age,  having,  in  all 
these  years,  borne  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  successful 
teachers  of  his  time. 

The  town  secured  the  services  of  other  teachers  as  instructors  of 
its  boys,  there  being  at  that  time  but  little  attention  paid  to  the  edu- 
cation of  girls,  many  of  them  not  being  able.even,  to  write  their  own 
names.  In  1657  ex-Governor  Edward  Hopkins  died  in  England,  leaving 
large  legacies  to  executors  in  the  colonies,  "  for  the  breeding  up  of 
hopeful  youths  both  at  the  grammar  school  and  college,  for  the  public 
service  of  the  country  in  future  times." 

This  fund  made  it  possible  to  carry  out  what  Mr.  Davenport  had 
designed  from  the  beginning:  "  that  a  small  college  should  be  settled 
at  New  Haven."  In  1660  a  .small  collegiate  .school  was  established  by 
New  Haven  colony,  and  four  years  later  this  was  absorbed  into  the 
Hopkins  Grammar  School,  which  hasalmo.st  uninterruptedly  been  con- 
tinued since  that  time.  It  has  justly  become  celebrated,  and  is  one  of 
the  oldest  schools  of  this  kind  in  America.  It  is  controlled  by  a  board 
of  trustees,  mo.st  of  whom  are  connected  with  Yale  Univer.sity.  It  is 
now  mainly  a  preparatory  school  for  that  institution,  and  contains 
students  from  all  parts  of  the  countr}'.  The  excellent  high  schools  in 
various  parts  of  the  county  have,  in  a  large  measure,  relieved  it  of 
local  patronage.  After  1716  this  school  and  Yale  afforded  the  young 
men  all  the  privileges  they  wanted  to  acquire  a  higher  education,  but 
schools  for  the  co-education  of  the  sexes,  or  for  young  ladies  alone, 
were  also  early  established.  Among  the  schools  of  that  nature,  a 
century  and  a  half  ago,  were  those  of  Samuel  Mix  and  Moses  Mans- 
field. Abel  Moses  had  a  select  school  for  young  ladies  as  early  as 
1783,  and  was  assisted  by  Jedediah  Monse,  who  subsequently  became' 
known  as  the  "  father  of  American  geography."  The  American  and 
Orleans  Academies  were  in  existence  in  1790;  and  in  1799  Jared  Mans- 
field, LL.  D.,  was  at  the  head  of  a  select  school. 

In  1806  the  New  Haven  Union  School,  for  both  sexes,  was  ably 
maintained  and  largely  patronized.  About  1810  the  New  Township 
Academy  was  erected  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  and  was  kept  up 
until  1881.  Contemporary  with  this,  in  the  western  part  of  the  city, 
was  the  school  for  young  ladies,  kept  by  Reverend  Claudius  Herrick. 
Other  reputable  schools  were  kept  by  Reverend  John  M.  Garfield  and 
Miss  vS.  Hotchkiss.  Dwight's  Gymnasium,  by  Sereno  E.  and  Henr}' 
Dwight,  brothers,  was  very  popular  for  a  time,  but  did  not  long 
continue. 

Of  the  later  private  schools,  the  most  important  are  the  West  End 
Institute,' for  young  ladies,  established  in  1870,  by  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Cady; 
10 


146  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  Collegiate  and  Commercial  Institute,  for  boys,  founded  b)'  General 
William  H.  Russell  in  1830,  and  the  Business  College,  in  the  Insur- 
ance Building. 

In   1790  an  effort  was  made  to  elevate  the  .standard  of  the  city 

schools,  but  apparently  without  much  success,  and  several  scores  of 

,  years  elapsed  before  the  schools  were  placed  upon  an  effective  basis. 

"  A  La /ictrs/i-ria/i  Sc//oo/ was  o-pene6.  whh  240  scholars,  on  the  22d 
of  April,  1822,  in  the  basement  of  the  Methodist  church  on  the  green, 
by  John  E.  Lovell,  a  pupil  of  Lancaster,  in  England.  Hundreds  of 
pupils  were  simultaneously  taught  by  a  classified  system  of  monitors 
among  the  boys:  the  younger  were  taught  by  the  older,  and  they  in 
turn  were  taught  by  the  head  of  the  school.  Beside  the  ordinary 
monitors,  there  were  six  monitor  generals,  all  bearing  badges.  The 
school  was  highly  popular,  and  some  of  our  strong  men  received  there 
their  only  schooling.  In  1827  the  city  built  a  new  school  building, 
near  the  site  of  the  high  school,  on  Orange  street,  which  Mr.  Lovell 
conducted  on  the  Lancaster  plan.  Prior  to  this  the  town  did  not  own 
a  single  school  building,  excepting  a  slight  structure  in  Fair  Haven, 
of  no  special  value."  - 

After  about  thirtj-  years,  in  which  Mr.  Lovell  diligently  devoted 
himself  to  teaching,  he  retired  from  the  schoolroom,  but  lived  at  New 
Haven  until  he  was  more  than  90  j-ears  old,  and  was  universally 
respected.  The  Lancasterian  system  gave  place  to  graded  schools, 
which  were  established  in  the  city  in  1854.  Two  years  thereafter  the 
city  board  of  education  was  organized,  and  that  body  has  since  con- 
trolled and  managed  the  schools,  the  city  district  at  present  embrac- 
ing all  of  the  town  of  New  Haven,  except  the  Westville  section, 
which  forms  a  separate  district.  The  city  district  has  a  number  of 
sub-districts,  each  of  which  has  its  own  buildings  and,  in  a  certain 
sense,  its  own  management,  conforming  to  the  general  plan,  and 
being  under  the  direction  of  a  city  superintendent.  There  are  twelve 
grades  in  the  course  of  instruction,  and  the  standard  of  graduation  is 
very  high.  It  ends  in  the  completion  of  the  course  in  the  Hillhouse 
High  School,  which  was  established  in  1859.  The  present  elegant 
building  on  Orange  street  was  erected  in  1872,  at  a  cost  of  §125,000. 
It  has  a  seating  capacity  for  400  students.  The  buildings  of  the  town 
accommodate  more  than  15,000  pupils,  and  more  than  a  dozen  of  the 
thirty-odd  structures  seat  600  each.  The  schools  are  maintained  at  a 
}'earl3-  outlay  of  nearly  §400,000,  and  are  reputed  among  the  best  in 
New  England. 

The  following  account  of  Yale  University  was  prepared  for  this 
work  by  Reverend  Frank  Countryman. 

Sixty-five  years  after  the  colonization  of  Connecticut  was  begun, 
and  sixty-three  after  that  of  New  Haven,  a  serious  attempt  was  made 
toward  the  founding  of  what  is  now  Yale  L'niversity.     Harvard  Col- 
*  Henry  Howe. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTS'.  147 

lege,  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  was  already  in  existence,  having 
been  founded  in  1636,  by  graduates  of  English  universities.  The  col- 
lege of  William  and  Mary,  in  Virginia,  had  been  chartered  in  1693. 
The  two  institutions  supplied  means  for  the  higher  education  of  the 
infant  colonies.  But  the  people  of  Connecticut  and  New  Haven, 
friendh'  toward  learning,  desired  a  collegiate  institution  in  their  own 
midst.  So,  in  IvOl-,  we  begin  to  find  traces  of  a  movement  to  estab- 
lish a  college.  Foremost  among  the  promoters  of  the  new  enterprise 
was  the  Reverend  James  Pierpont,  pastor  of  the  New  Haven  church, 
and  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  in  the  year  1681.  Equally  interested  was 
the  Reverend  Abraham  Pierson,  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  in  the  year 
1668,  of  Killingworth,  now  Clinton.  These  two  clergymen  met 
together,  with  their  brother  ministers,  to  consult  as  to  the  expediency 
of  founding  a  college.  They  sought  the  advice  of  leading  laymen 
and  ministers  in  Boston  and  Cambridge  and  elsewhere,  and  finally,  if 
tradition  be  correct,  a  few  of  the  Connecticut  pastors  met  together  in 
Branford,  about  the  last  of  .September,  1701.  They  then  gave,  it  is 
stated,  a  collection  of  books  as  a  foundation  for  a  college  in  the 
colony.  It  is  evident  that  nothing  more  than  a  general  line  of  policy 
had  been  adopted  at  this  meeting  in  Branford,  to  be  developed  later. 
No  details  as  to  the  government  of' the  proposed  college  had  as  yet 
been  worked  out. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Pierpont  and  others  had  sent  on  to  Boston  a 
paper  of  suggestions  for  a  draft  of  a  charter  to  be  procured  from  the 
legislature,  which  was  to  meet  in  New  Haven  October  9th.  Such  a 
charter  was  framed,  probably  on  October  16th,  as  follows: 

"An  act  for'Liberty  to  erect  a  Collegiate  School:  Whereas  several 
well  disposed,  and  Publick  spirited  Persons  of  their  sincere  Regard  to 
■&  Zeal  for  upholding  &  Propagating  of  the  Christian  Protestant 
Religion  by  a  succession  of  Learned  &  Orthodox  men  have  expressed 
by  Petition  their  earnest  desires  that  full  Liberty  &  Priveledge  be 
granted  unto  certain  L^ndertakers  for  the  founding,  suitably  endow- 
ing &  ordering  a  Collegiate  School  within  his  Maj'''^''  Colony  of  Con- 
necticot  wherein  Youth  may  be  instructed  in  the  Arts  &  Sciences  who 
thorough  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God  may  be  fitted  for  Publick 
employment  both  in  Church  &  Civil  State.  To  the  intent  therefore 
that  all  due  incouragement  be  Given  to  such  Pious  Resolutions  and 
that  so  necessary  &  Religious  an  undertakeing  may  be  sett  forward, 
supported  &  well  managed: — 

"  Be  it  Enacted  by  the  Govern''  &  Company  of  the  s^  Colon)-  of 
Connecticot,  in  General  Court  now  Assembled,  And  it  is  enacted  & 
ordained  by  the  Authority  of  the  same  that  there  be  &  hereby  is  full 
Liberty,  Right  and  Priveledge  Granted  unto  the  Reverend  M"'  James 
Noyes  of  Stonnington,  M''  Israel  Chauncey  of  Stratford,  M''  Thomas 
Buckingham  of  Saybrook,  M""  Abraham  Pierson  of  Kennel  worth, 
M''  Samuel   Mather  of   Windsor,   M"'   Samuel   Andrew  of    Millford, 


148  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

M''  Timothy  Woodbridge  of  Hartford,  'SV  James  Pierpont  of  New- 
Haven,  M''  Noadiah  Russell  of  Middletown,  M''  Joseph  Webb  of  Fair- 
field, being  Rev'^'  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  &  inhabitants  within  ye 
s*^  Colony,  proposed  to  stand  as  Trustees,  Partners,  or  Undertakers  for 
the  s''  School,  to  them  &  their  successors,  To  Erect,  form,  direct,  order, 
esfablish,  improve  and  att  all  times  in  all  suitable  wayes  for  the  future 
to  encourage  the  s"*  School  in  such  convenient  place  or  Places,  &  in 
such  form  &  manner,  &  under  such  order  &  Rules  as  to  them  shall 
seem  meet  &  most  conducive  to  the  afores'*  end  thereof,  so  as  such 
Rules  or  Orders  be  not  Repugnant  to  the  Laws  of  the  Civil  Governm', 
as  also  to  imploy  the  moneys  or  any  other  estate  which  shall  be 
Granted  by  this  Court  or  otherwise  Contributed  to  that  use  according 
to  their  discretion  for  the  benefit  of  the  s'^  Collegiate  School  from  time 
to  time  &  att  all  times  henceforward. 

"  And  be  it  further  Enacted  by  the  Authority  afores''  that  the 
before  named  Trustees,  Partners  or  Undertakers  together  with  such 
others  as  they  shall  associate  to  themselves  (not  exceeding  the  num- 
ber of  Eleven,  or  att  any  time  being  less  than  Seven,  Provided  also 
that  Persons  nominated  or  associated  from  time  to  time  to  fill  up 
s'^  number  be  ministers  of  the  gospel  inhabiting  within  this  Colony  & 
above  the  Age  of  forty  years)  or  the  major  Part  of  them,  the 
s''  M''  James  Noyes  [etc]  undertakers,  &  of  .such  Persons  so  chosen  & 
associated  as  aboves**  att  any  time  hereafter.  Have  and  shall  have 
henceforward  the  oversight,  full  &  compleat  Right,  Liberty,  power,  & 
Priveledge  to  furnish,  direct,  manage,  order,  improve  &  encourage 
from  time  to  time  &  in  all  times  hereafter  the  s":'  Collegiate  School  so 
Erected  &  formed  by  them  in  such  ways,  orders  &  manner,  &  by  such 
Persons,  Rector  or  master  and  officers  appointed  by  them,  as  shall 
according  to  their  best  discretion  be  most  conducible  to  attaine  the 
afores''  mentioned  end  thereof. 

"And  Moreover  it  is  Enacted  &  ordered  by  the  Governor,  Coiincil 
&  Representatives  of  y'^  Colony  afores"^  met  in  General  Assembly — 

"That  the  s''  M''  James  Noyes  |etc]  Undertakers,  Trustees  or  Part- 
ners, &  ye  sd  Persons  taken  from  time  to  time  into  Partnership,  or 
associated  as  afores'^  with  themselves  shall  Have  &  receive  &  it  is 
hereby  Given  and  Granted  unto  them,  the  full  &  just  sum  of  one 
hundred  &  twenty  pounds  in  Country  Pay  to  be  paid  Annually  & 
att  all  times  hereafter  until  this  court  order  otherwise,  to  them  & 
to  such  Person  or  Persons  only  as  they  shall  appoint  &  impower  to 
Receiv  the  same,  to  be  faithfully  disposed  of  by  ye  s''  Trustees, 
Partners  or  Undertakers  for  the  end  afores*^  according  to  their  dis- 
cretion, which  s"^'  sum  shall  be  raised  &  Paid  in  such  ways  &  man- 
ners &  att  such  a  value  as  y-'  Country  Rates  of  s''  Colony  are  &  have 
been  usually  raised  &  Paid. 

"  It  is  also  further  Enacted  by  the  Authority  afores'^  that  the 
s''  Undertakers   and   Partners   &   their  successors   be  &  hereby  are 


HISTORV   UF   XEW    IIAVEX   COUNTY.  149 

further  impowered  to  have,  a.ccept,  acquire,  purchase,  or  otherwise 
lawfully  enter  upon  Any  Lands,  Tenements  &  Hereditam*'-  to  the 
use  of  the  s'^  School,  not  exceeding  the  value  of  five  hundred 
Pounds  p''  Ann,  &  any  Goods,  Chattels,  Sum  or  Sums  of  money 
whatsoever  as  have  heretofore  already  been  Granted,  bestowed, 
bequeathed,  devised  or  settled  by  any  Person  or  Persons  whatsoever 
upon  &  to  &  for  the  use  of  y''  s'l  School  towards  the  founding,  erect- 
ing or  endowing  the  same,  &  to  sue  for.  Recover  &  receiv  all  such 
Gifts,  Legacies,  bequests,  annuities.  Rents,  issues  &  profits  arising 
therefrom  &  to  imploy  the  same  accordingly,  &  out  of  y  estate, 
Revenues,  Rents,  profits,  incoms,  accrueing  &  belonging  to  s'^  School 
to  support  &  pay  as  the  s^'  Undertakers  shall  agree  &  see  cause,  the 
s''  Rector  or  ISlaster,  Tutors,  Ushers  or  other  officers  their  Respective 
annual  Salaries  or  Allowances.  As  also  for  the  encouragem'  of  the 
Students  to  grant  degrees  or  Licences  as  the}-  or  those  deputed  by 
them  shall  see  cause  to  order  &  appoint." 

Under  this  charter  an  organization  of  the  "  Collegiate  School  "  was 
effected  in  November,  1701,  in  Saybrook,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Con- 
necticut river.  The  seven  trustees  present  at  the  organization  voted 
to  fix  the  school  at  Saybrook,  and  chose  the  Reverend  Mr.  Pierson  as 
rector.  vSaybrook  seems  to  have  been  chosen  as  the  site  for  the  school 
because  it  was  a  convenient  spot,  where  two  streams  of  population 
met.  The  line  of  towns  on  the  Connecticut  river  met  there  the  line 
of  coast  towns.  But  the  inconveniences  arising  from  the  small  popu- 
lation of  the  place,  together  with  other  embarrassments,  which 
naturally  pressed  upon  a  new  institution  in  a  small  and  poor  colony, 
nearly  crushed  the  school  in  its  infancy.  The  first  rector,  Mr.  Pierson, 
never  lived  there,  because  the  funds  available  would  not  permit  the 
erection  of  a  building  .suitable  for  his  accommodation.  For  this 
reason  the  students  were  kept  at  Killingworth  until  Mr.  Pierson 's 
death,  in  1707.  However,  the  school  was  organized  and  started  with 
a  course  of  theological  instruction  outlined  by  the  trustees  for  Mr. 
Pierson's  guidance.  As  to  other  matters  in  the  curriculum  and  the 
general  administration  of  the  school,  the  rules  of  Harvard  College 
were  to  be  followed. 

The  first  student  who  offered  himself  was  Jacob  Hemingway  of 
New  Haven.  He  presented  himself  in  March,  1702,  and  on  Septem- 
ber 16th  the  first  commencement  was  held  at  the  house  of  the  Rever- 
end Thomas  Buckingham,  at  vSaybrook  Point,  in  the  present  town  of 
Old  Saybrook.  At  this  commencement  the  degree  of  master  of  arts 
was  conferred  on  four  young  Harvard  bachelors,  and  also  on  Nathaniel 
Chauncey,  of  Stratford.  He  had  been  privately  educated  by  his 
rmcle.  His  name  thus  stands  as  the  first  on  the  roll  of  the  academical 
graduates  of  Yale  University.  In  the  same  month  of  September 
more  students  entered,  and  a  tutor  was  appointed  to  assist  in  instruc- 
tion.    The  institution  depended  for  support  on  the  tuition  fees  of  the 


160  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

few  students  and  the  annual  grant  of  £\20  in  "  country  pay  "  from  the 
colony  legislature,  as  promised  in  the  charter.  The  revenues  were 
thus  not  very  great,  the  ^^120  "  country  pay"  being  equal  in  itself  to 
only  ^80  in  money.  Through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Lynde 
a  small  house  and  lot  of  land,  on  Saybrook  Point,  were  offered  in 
17u2  for  the  use  of  the  school.  The  annual  commencements  were 
always  attended  in  the  same  locality. 

The  rector,  Mr.  Pierson,  died  after  a  short  illness  March  oth,  1707, 
at  the  age  of  61.  He  has  left  behind  him  a  reputation  for  good 
scholarship  and  practical  wisdom  as  an  administrator.  A  manuscript 
text  book  on  natural  philosophy,  drawn  up  by  him,  was  in  use  by  the 
students  for  a  quarter  of  a  century;  and  an  old  oak  arm  chair,  said  to 
have  been  in  his  possession,  stands  in  the  library  of  the  university. 
On  the  college  grounds  stands,  in  a  conspicuous  position,  an  idealized 
statue  representing  him  in  classic  pose. 

After  his  death  the  Reverend  Samuel  Andrew,  of  Milford,  one  of 
the  original  trustees,  was  put  in  nominal  charge  as  rector.  It  was  not 
expected,  however,  that  he  should  remove  to  Saybrook.  The  instruc- 
tion there  was  carried  on  by  two  young  tutors.  This  arrangement  was 
decidedly  unsatisfactory,  for  the  institution  languished  for  six  or 
seven  years.  In  1713  efforts  were  begun  for  gifts  to  the  school,  espe- 
cially by  Jeremiah  Dummer,  the  agent  for  Connecticut  at  London.  As 
a  result,  nearly  1,0()()  volumes  of  great  value  were  sent  from  England 
in  1714-15.  Many  of  these,  it  is  said,  can  still  be  identified.  Among 
them  were  gifts  from  such  men  as  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  Richard  Steele, 
Richard  Bentley,  Edmund  Halley,  Matthew  Henry,  Sir  Edmund 
Andros,  Elihu  Yale  and  others.  It  was  at  this  time,  apparentl}-,  that 
Governor  Yale's  attention  was  first  turned  toward  the  school. 

_  Encouraged  by  these  gifts,  the  trustees  addressed  petitions  to  the 
colony  legislature  for  means  to  build  a  house  to  shelter  the  school.  In 
the  year  1715  a  grant  of  500  pounds  for  this  object  was  made.  The 
school  seemed  now  about  to  enter  upon  a  permanent  career.  But 
opposition  to  the  location  at  Saybrook  was  soon  manifest.  Hartford 
and  New  Haven,  more  prominent  and  populous  places,  entered  into 
competition  not  only  with  Saybrook,  but  also  with  each  other. 
Finally,  however,  a  majority  of  the  trustees  voted  for  New  Haven, 
where  a  popular  subscription  for  the  college  reached  a  higher  figure 
than  either  Saybrook  or  Hartford  could  produce.  The  decisive  vote 
was  passed  in  October,  1716,  and  committees  were  raised  to  proceed 
with  the  erection  of  a  rector's  hoiise  and  a  college  at  New  Haven  in 
the  following  spring.  But  this  action  did  not  give  complete  satisfac- 
tion. Hartford  was  not  pleased,  nor  was  Saybrook.  Of  the  two  tutors 
appointed  along  with  the  vote  to  build  at  New  Haven  one  immedi- 
ately established  himself  there  with  a  dozen  students.  The  other, 
under  the  influence  of  Hartford,  established  himself  at  Wethersfield 
with  as  manv,  if  not  more,  students.     Thus  a  rival  school  was  estab- 


HISTORY   Of   NEW    IIAVKN   COUNTY.  151 

lished,  with  which  Mr.  Elisha  Williams,  a  Harvard  graduate  and  of 
high  repute  as  an  instructor,  was  connected.  At  Saybrook  three  or 
four  students,  under  the  care  of  the  village  pastor,  a  former  tutor,  still 
remained.  The  school  thus  was  split  up  into  .sections.  The  work  of 
locating  at  Xew  Haven,  however,  still  went  on.  On  September  llth, 
1717.  commencement  was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  in  Xew  Haven. 
Two  weeks  later  the  trustees  bought  one  and  one-quarter  acres  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  what  is  now  the  College  Square.  On  this  lot  of 
land  the  building  was  raised  October  8th,  1717,  and  occupied  one  year 
from  that  day.  It  was  of  wood,  and  architecturally  an  ambitious 
structure.*  The  plan  was  drawn  by  Governor  Saltonstall.  It  was 
about  170  feet  long,  '2'2  feet  deep,  three  stories  high,  with  an  attic. 
There  were  in  it  a  dining  hall,  used  also  as  a  chapel,  a  library,  22 
sets  of  rooms  for  students,  each  of  which  would  accommodate  three 
persons.  Up  to  this  time,  in  all  probability,  as  many  as  thirty  persons 
had  never  been  in  attendance  at  the  school  at  an}'  one  time.  Plans 
were  thus  laid  for  a  great  future  enlargement. 

At  this  time  the  friends  of  Hartford  seem  to  have  abandoned  all 
hopes  of  defeating  the  New  Haven  project,  through  the  interference 
of  the  legislature,  and,  in  June,  171U,  the  school  in  Wethersfield  was 
finally  adjourned  to  New  Haven.  The  chief  agents  in  securing  this 
result  were  Governor  Saltonstall  and  the  Reverend  John  Davenport, 
of  Stamford.  There  yet  remained  Saybrook,  which  was  still  fiercely 
opposed  to  the  removal  of  the  college  to  New  Haven.  Although  the 
colony  legislature  tried  to  soothe  the  feelings  of  the  disappointed 
town  by  voting  a  gratuity  of  5()  pounds  to  the  public  .school  of  that 
place,  it  was  unconvinced.  When  steps  were  taken,  at  the  request  of 
the  legislature,  to  remove  to  New  Haven  the  college  property  still  in 
Saybrook,  much  opposition  was  shown.  The  angry  gentleman  in 
whose  hands  had  been  left  the  library  of  perhaps  1,300  volumes,  and 
the  records  of  the  trustees,  persisted  in  ignoring  the  claims  of  "  Yale 
College  "t  to  the  assets  of  the  Collegiate  School.  His  neighbors  sup- 
ported him  in  this  attitude,  and  it  was  not  till  the  sheriff's  aid  was 
called  in  that  the  requisition  of  the  legi-slature  was  perforce  honored. 
Even  then,  a  disgraceful  series  of  outrages  took  place,  by  which  one- 
fifth  of  the  library  was  lost,  together  with  the  records  of  the  trustees 
for  the  Saybrook  period  of  their  history.  Yale  College  now  began  to 
have  a  local  habitation  and  a  name.  Hitherto  .she  had  been  the  Col- 
legiate School  at  Saybrook,  with  no  buildings  worthy  the  name,  and 
with  her  pupils  scattered.  She  was  now  to  enter  upon  a  career  worthy 
of  her  character.  The  outlook  was  favorable,  and  the  hopes  of  her 
friends  grew  stronger. 

*  The  building  was  painted  a  lead  or  blue  color,  and  hence  was  long  known 
as  the  "  Blue  College." 

tAt  this  time  the  name  Yale  applied  properly  to  the  building  only,  but, 
naturally,  was  also  given  to  the  school. 


152  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Yale  College  was  first  known  by  that  name  in  1718.  The  influence 
of  Cotton  Alather  had  led  Governor  Yale  to  send  a  cargo  of  gifts  to 
the  new  institution.  Besides  a  large  box  of  books  and  a  portrait  of 
the  king,  which  is  still  in  existence,  there  were  sent  East  India  goods 
inventoried  at  ^200,  from  which  was  realized,  in  the  Boston  market, 
^562.  12  shillings,  sterling.  These  gifts  were  sent  for  the  benefit  of 
the  new  Collegiate  School  at  New  Haven.  The  commencement  of 
1718  was  a  joyful  one,  and,  in  gratitude  to  the  donor,  the  name  Yale 
College  was  applied  to  the  institution  in  its  new  home. 

The  man  thus  commemorated  was  of  New  Haven  stock.  His 
father,  David  Yale,  as  a  youth,  had  taken  part  in  the  founding  of  the 
new  town,  but  had  soon  migrated  to  Boston,  where  Elihu  Yale  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  born,  in  1648.  From  there  the  family  returned  to 
England.  The  son,  in  1670,  went  to  India  to  seek  his  fortune.  He 
found  employment  there,  rose  rapidly  to  the  position  of  governor  or 
president  of  the  settlement  at  Madras,  and  in  1699  came  back  to  Eng- 
land enormously  rich,  but  without  a  son  to  inherit  his  wealth.  He 
died  in  1721. 

The  college  now  being  on  a  good  foundation,  the  next  thing  to  be 
done  was  to  find  a  resident  rector,  in  whom  all  could  put  confidence. 
The  person  chosen  was  Reverend  Timothy  Cutler,  a  son-in-law  of 
Rector  Andrew.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  and  had,  for  nine 
years,  been  settled  over  the  Congregational  church  in  Stratford,  Con- 
necticut. He  had  made  a  favorable  impression  as  to  ability,  and  at 
once  accepted  the  position  of  rector.  He  entered  upon  his  duties  in 
the  year  1719.  A  house  for  his  occupation  was  built  in  1722,  near  the 
site  of  the  present  College  Street  church.  It  was  used  by  successive 
presidents  to  the  close  of  the  century.  Funds  for  its  erection  were 
given  by  Governor  Yale,  by  private  subscription,  and  by  the  churches 
in  the  colony,  which  took  necessary  collections.  The  balance  needed 
was  furnished  by  the  assembly  from  the  proceeds  of  a  tax  upon  rum. 

In  1722  the  new  rector's  career  came  to  a  sudden  end.  At  the 
commencement  of  that  year  it  was  made  known  that  the  rector,  the 
tutor  and  five  neighboring  clergymen  had  under  consideration  the 
qiiestion  of  declaring  for  Episcopacy.  At  that  date  the  Church  of 
England  had  few  avowed  members  in  Connecticut,  and  not  one  gath- 
ered congregation.  The  minds  of  men  were  filled  with  apprehension 
and  alarm.  A  formal  deposition  of  the  rector  took  place,  the  resigna- 
tion of  the  tutor  was  accepted,  and  an  act  passed  imposing  a  test  of 
theological  soundness,  by  which  the  faith  and  church  theories  of  the 
Puritans  should  be  maintained.  To  this  test  all  officers  of  instruction 
were  asked  to  subscribe.  This  provision  was  retained  until  1823. 
Two  new  tutors,  on  this  new  basis,  were  immediately  chosen  and 
inducted  into  office.  It  was  not,  however,  till  after  a  wide  search  that 
a  new  rector  was  chosen.  He  was  the  Reverend  Elisha  \Yilliams,  the 
same  who  had  been  connected  with  the  school  at  Wethersfield.     He 


HISTORV    OK   NKW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  1,')8 

came  into  office  in  ll'J').  He  was  a  man  well  known  for  his  success  in 
teaching,  his  wide  acquaintance  among  civilians  and  clergy,  and  by 
the  prominence  of  his  family.  For  fourteen  years  he  gave  himself  up 
to  the  work  of  teaching  in  the  college,  with  fidelity  and  success. 
Under  his  wise  administration  there  was  a  steady  enlargement  of 
resources.  An  additional  tutor  was  appointed  in  1728.  The  trustees 
appointed  a  standing  committee,  out  of  which  has  grown  the  pru- 
dential committee,  the  working  body  of  the  corporation  for  the  last 
ninety  years. 

The  most  notable  incident  of  Rector  Williams's  time  was  the  suc- 
cession of  valuable  gifts  received  in  1781-3  from  the  generous  George 
Berkeley,  dean  of  Derr\',  afterward  bishop  of  Cloyne.  He  came  to 
Rhode  Island  in  17"29,  in  the  hope  of  founding  a  college  in  Bermuda. 
Having  been  disappointed  in  this  hope,  he  returned  to  England.  He 
then  gave  to  Yale  College,  as  a  foundation  for  graduate  scholarships, 
and  undergraduate  prizes,  his  estate  of  "  White  Hall,"  near  Newport. 
He  also  sent  about  nine  hundred  volumes  to  the  library.  This  act  of 
generosity  on  the  part  of  Bishop  Berkeley,  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  England,  may  be  accounted  for  on  the  grounds  of  his  acquaintance 
and  friendship  with  Reverend  Samuel  Seabury,  a  graduate  of  Yale 
(1714)  and  a  former  tutor,  who  had  gone  over  to  Episcopacy  with 
Rector  Cutler.  The  Berkeley  scholarships  and  prizes  are  still  offered, 
while  some  of  the  books  have  long  since  disappeared.  A  painting  of 
Bishop  Berkeley  and  his  family  is  in  possession  of  the  university. 

In  October,  1789,  Rector  Williams  resigned  his  office  on  account  of 
impaired  health,  and  Reverend  Thomas  Clap  succeeded,  in  April, 
1740.  The  new  rector  was  a  native  of  Scituate,  in  Massachusetts,  and 
a  Harvard  graduate  (as  usualj.  He  had  been  for  thirteen  years  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Windham,  Connecticut.  His  administration  lasted 
until  September,  1766,  and  was  thus  one  of  the  longest  which  the  col- 
lege has  known.  It  was  also  most  eventful.  Having  already  been 
conspicuous  among  the  younger  ministry  of  the  colony,  it  was 
expected  that  he  would  bring  abundant  energy  and  practical  sense  to 
the  .service  of  the  college,  as  well  as  exact  scholarship.  He  justified 
these  expectations.  Xew  impulse  was  given  to  college  interests  at 
every  point.  He  was  felt  as  an  administrator  outside,  for  he  secured 
an  extension  of  the  chartered  powers  of  the  college.  He  resisted 
successfully  an  attempt  at  visitorial  interference.  He  withdrew  the 
college  congregation  in  the  face  of  violent  opposition,  from  the  Xew 
Haven  church  to  a  position  within  the  college  walls.  Within  the  col- 
lege his  administrative  powers  were  quickly  and  strongly  shown.  He 
systematized  the  laws  for  the  students.  He  broadened  the  course  of 
study,  so  that  it  might  be  abrea.st  of  the  age.  He  developed  the 
tutorial,  and  introduced  the  professorial  system,  so  that  the  college 
might  be  raised  to  the  highest  state  of  efficiency.  He  made  a  new 
arrangement  of  books  in  the  library  and  prepared   a  catalogue,  that 


154  HISTOKV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COQNTY. 

the  library  might  be  of  more  practical  value.  He  secured  an  increase 
of  funds  for  the  college,  and  during  his  term  of  office  additional 
buildings  were  erected. 

The  earlier  years  of  his  administration  were  marked  with  religious 
agitations.  New  England,  throughout  its  length  and  breadth,  was 
divided  into  the  hostile  camps  of  the  "New  Lights"  and  "Old 
Lights."  President  Clap  espoused  the  cause  of  the  "  Old  Lights,"  and 
stood  as  a  champion  of  orthodoxy.  Consequently,  he  was  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  government  policy*  of  repression  of  all  "  New  Light  " 
revival  movements.  The  evidences  of  his  vigor  and  orthodox)'  were, 
at  first,  generally  acceptable.  The  legislature,  under  his  influence, 
granted  an  increase  of  the  colony  grant  in  1743,  by  means  of  which  he 
was  able  to  secure  an  additional  tutor  for  the  .staff  of  instruction. 
More  than  this  he  secured  for  the  college.  In  1745  the  legislature 
passed  a  new  charter,  drafted  by  President  Clap,  without  a  single 
change.  This  charter  is  noteworthy,  among  other  things,  that  it 
made  legal  the  name  "Yale  College,"  which,  before  this,  had  been 
applied  to  the  single  building  standing  upon  the  college  grounds.  It 
now  gave  this  designation  to  the  institution  as  a  whole.  The  charter 
also  changed  the  titles  of  rector  and  trustees  to  president  and  fellows. 
This  change  signified  more  than  an  alteration  of  names.  It  involved 
the  exaltation  of  the  president  to  the  leadership  of  the  corporation. 
Before  this  time  the  rector  was  only  one  among  the  trustees.  Besides 
this,  more  explicit  and  liberal  statement  of  powers  and  privileges, 
conferred  in  1701  and  1723,  was  made.  A  fellow  might  also  be 
removed,  if  occasion  should  require. 

Under  this  charter  the  college  moved  forward  for  some  years  with 
increasing  prosperity.  The  number  of  students  increased,  and  new 
buildings  were  erected.  In  1750-2  a  brick  college  was  built  by  help 
from  the  legislature,  which  gave  more  than  i^l.OOO.  The  building 
was  originally  known  as  "  Connecticut  Hall,"  but  is  now  commonly 
called  "South  Middle."  It  is  the  oldest  of  the  buildings  now  stand- 
ing on  the  college  grounds.  In  1757-8  the  college  built  a  house  for 
the  incumbent  of  the  professorship  of  divinity,  established  in  1755. 
This  house  stood  on  York  street,  near  where  the  Medical  College  now 
stands.  In  1761  the  work  of  erecting  a  college  chapel  was  begun.  All 
available  college  funds  were  absorbed  in  the  enterprise,  and  subscrip- 
tions were  secured,  but  there  remained,  in  spite  of  all  efforts  by  the 
president,  a  deficit. 

In  1757  a  college  church  of  twelve  members  (eight  of  them  under- 
graduates) was  formed.  This  was  the  outcome  of  the  withdrawal  of 
the  college  congregation  from  the  church  in  New  Haven,  Reverend 
Joseph  Noyes,  pastor.  President  Clap  feared  the  influence  of  Mr. 
Noyes'  preaching.  The  latter  had  become  decidedly  unpopular 
because  of  his  vague  doctrinal  statements  and  his  dull  preaching. 
So,  when   Philip   Livingston,  of  the   Manor  of    Livingston,  in   New 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  155 

York  province,  gave  to  the  college  the  sum  of  ^28,  Ids.,  .sterling, 
it  was  voted  by  the  corporation,  through  President  Clap's  influence, 
to  appropriate  this  sum  to  a  fund  for  a  professorship  of  divinity!  In 
1753  the  president  wa.s  directed  to  hold  regular  services  in  the  College 
Hall.  At  the  same  time  strong  declarations  were  adopted,  securing 
for  the  future  the  adherence  of  the  college  to  the  Westminster  and 
Saybrook  standards.  In  1755  Reverend  Naphtali  Daggett,  a  graduate 
of  seven  years  standing,  was  secured  to  fill  the  professorship  of 
divinity  and  to  act  as  college  preacher. 

In  the  meantime,  during  this  season  of  energetic  work,  opposition 
began  to  be  manifest  against  President  Clap.  He  had  rendered  him- 
self obnoxious  to  many  by  his  course  in  regard  to  the  religious  posi- 
tion of  the  college.  In  1755  pamphlets  were  issued  against  him  and 
his  policy.  In  the  same  year  the  legislature  refused  to  give  the  usual 
grant  to  the  college.  Further  than  this,  a  proposal  of  visitation  on 
the  part  of  the  colony  authorities  was  openly  made  by  some  members 
of  the  corporation  in  1758.  The  matter  was  pushed  to  a  test  in  1763 
by  representative  clergymen  and  laymen  in  a  memorial  to  the  legis- 
lature. But  the  president  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  met,  single- 
handed,  two  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  day,  representing  the 
memorialists,  and  vanquished  them  in  argument,  notwithstanding  his 
unpopularity.  He  claimed  the  independent  right  of  the  corporation, 
as  representatives  of  the  founders,  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  college 
without  being  subject  to  visitation  from  the  legislature. 

President  Clap  had  now  triumphed  in  what  was,  perhaps,  the 
greate.st  contest  of  his  life,  but  disorders  were  rife  among  the  stu- 
dents, fomented  by  enemies  of  the  college  and  his  administration. 
The  unfortunate  inefficiency  of  .some  of  the  tutors  aided  in  this.  The 
college  was  almost  in  a  state  of  anarchy.  In  consequence  of  all  these 
troubles,  oppressed  with  the  approach  of  old  age  and  infirmit}',  he  felt 
compelled  to  resign,  in  17f56,  the  position  he  had  held  for  so  many 
years.  He  died  at  New  Haven  January  7th,  1767,  less  than  four 
months  after  his  resignation.  His  lot  was  cast  in  stormy  times.  It 
was,  undoubtedly,  well  that  Yale  College  then  had  at  the  head  a  man 
of  .so  much  energy,  decision  and  ability.  The  institution  received, 
during  his  administration,  many  improvements,  and  stood  upon  a 
higher  footing  than  before.  He  has  left  behind  a  small  volume  of 
"Annals  of  the  College  History,"  which  was  published  in  1766,  and  is. 
for  many  particulars,  our  only  authority. 

In  closing  the  account  of  this  administration,  it  may  be  noted  that 
David  Brainerd,  now  known  as  one  of  the  most  prominent  of 
American  Christians,  was  expelled  from  the  college.  This  took  place 
in  the  winter  of  1741-2,  in  consequence  of  his  religious  opinions. 

After  the  resignation  of  President  Clap  some  difficulty  was  experi- 
enced in  finding  a  successor.  The  corporation  elected  to  the  presi- 
dency Reverend  James  Lockwood.but  he  declined  the  office.    Finally. 


156  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  professor  of  theology,  Reverend  Naphtali  Daggett,  was  elected 
president /w-Zrw/crc.  This  arrangement  continued  for  nearly  eleven 
years.  These  years,  from  1766  to  1777,  were  years  of  political  excite- 
ment. The  opening  scenes  of  the  American  revolution  were  then 
taking  place.  Many  of  the  students  left  to  join  the  army,  and,  before 
the  clcse  of  the  war,  arrangements  were  made  for  the  freshman  class 
to  reside  in  Farmington,  the  sophomores  and  seniors  in  Glastonbury. 
The  progress  of  the  college  during  these  years  was  comparatively 
slow.  There  was,  however,  a  succession  of  brilliant  young  men,  who 
filled  the  tutorial  ofiSce.  They  did  much  to  redeem  the  otherwise 
backward  condition  of  the  college.  Among  them  was  John  Trumbull, 
author  of  "  MacFingal,"  said  to  have  pa.ssed  through  many  editions, 
and  Timothy  Dwight,  who,  at  the  age  of  19,  wrote  the  "Conquest  of 
Canaan."  These  men  inspired  their  students  with  new  zeal  for  learn- 
ing and  new  subjects  of  thought.  In  1770  the  corporation  established 
a  new  professorship  of  natural  philosophy,  to  which  Reverend  Nehe- 
miah  vStrong,  formerly  a  tutor,  and  then  pa.stor  of  the  church  in  East 
Granby,  Connecticut,  was  appointed.  He  held  the  position  till  Decem- 
ber, 1781. 

One  noteworthy  change  under  the  administration  of  Doctor 
Daggett  should  be  noted,  which  shows  the  march  of  public  sentiment. 
It  was  the  adoption,  in  the  year  1767,  of  an  alphabetical  arrange- 
ment in  the  class  lists  of  the  students.  Hitherto  the  names  had  been 
placed  in  the  order  of  family  rank  and  respectability.  The  Triennial 
Catalogue  still  retains  the  latter  arrangement  for  the  classes  down  to 
1767.  Another  evidence  of  democratic  tendencies  was  shown  in  the 
year  1768,  by  the  formation  of  a  new  literary  society  among  the 
students,  called  the  Brothers  in  Unity.  The  older  Linonian  Society, 
formed  in  1753,  was  supposed  to  embody  the  aristocratic  principle,  so 
the  other  was  started  in  opposition.  These  two  societies  had  great 
influence  over  the  students  till  they  began  to  lose  power  in  1850, 
owing  to  the  formation  of  smaller  class  societies.  In  1771  the  stu- 
dents grew  uneasy  under  the  unpopular  control  of  Doctor  Daggett, 
and,  as  the  spirit  of  restlessness  continued,  he  refused,  in  1777,  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  the  presidency  any  longer.  The  college  again 
was  without  a  head.  Owing  to  the  condition  of  the  times  and  the 
opposition  still  existing  against  the  college,  there  was  need  of  an  able, 
judicious  and  learned  man  to  meet  the  juncture.  That  man  the  corpo- 
ration found  in  the  Reverend  Doctor  Ezra  Stiles.  At  the  commence- 
ment, in  1777,  the  fellows,  with  the  general  approval  of  the  public, 
elected  Doctor  Stiles  to  the  vacant  office  of  president.  Doctor  Stiles 
was  a  graduate  of  the  college  m  1746,  had  long  and  successfully 
served  in  the  office  of  tutor,  had  been  a  friend  of  President  Clap,  and 
was  greatly  devoted  to  the  college  interests.  No  better  man  could 
have  been  chosen.  He  was  of  New  Haven  stock,  and  had  been  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Newport  until  driven  out  by  the  war.     He  had  then 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  157 

gone  to  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  had  ministered  to  a 
congregation.  After  some  consideration  Doctor  Stiles  accepted  the 
presidency,  but  did  not  remove  to  the  college  until  June,  lllH.  He 
found  a  bad  state  of  affairs.  The  students  were  much  demoralized  by 
their  irregular  residence  during  the  past  two  years  The  college  had, 
during  these  years,  been  practically  broken  up  and  the  several  classes 
scattered,  owing  to  financial  derangement  and  the  want  of  provisions. 
Doctor  Stiles  was  an  ardent-  patriot,  and  labored  hard  for  a  clo.ser 
union  between  the  college  and  the  state.  In  this  hope  he  persevered 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  revolution  and  the  confederation.  The 
two  professors  whom  he  had  found  in  the  college  when  he  entered 
upon  his  duties  soon  left  him.  Doctor  Daggett,  the  professor  of  the- 
ology, shouldered  a  musket  in  defense  of  the  college  and  town  when 
it  was  invaded  in  1779,  and  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  British.  Four- 
teen months  later  he  died,  his  death  being  hastened  by  the  brutal 
treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  enemy. ■■■  Professor  Strong,  on  the  other 
hand,  was  too  much  of  a  loyalist  to  relish  his  position  in  the  college, 
and  resigned  his  place  in  December,  1781. 

Thus  additional  duties  fell  upon  Doctor  Stiles.  He  not  only 
instructed  the  senior  class  in  mental  and  moral  philosophy,  but  also 
in  ecclesiastical  history,  of  which  he  had  been  constituted  professor, 
at  his  own  desire.  He  seems  to  have  been  competent  to  fill  any  of  the 
professorships,  for,  when  they  were  vacant,  he  took  itpon  himself 
their  duties.  He  gave  lectures  on  mathematics,  natural  philosophy 
and  astronomy.  In  addition  to  these  labors  he  had  to  look  out  for  the 
interests  of  a  larger  body  of  students  than  there  had  been  at  the  col- 
lege before.  The  places  of  those  who  had  gone  to  the  army  were 
more  than  filled  by  tho.se  who  desired  to  profit  by  exemption  from 
military  service,  secured  by  law  to  members  of  the  college  com- 
munity. At  the  end  of  the  war,  in  1788,  on  the  rolls  were  270  under- 
graduates, as  against  132  in  1777  and  139  in  1787. 

In  1782  an  attempt  was  made  to  fill  the  professorship  of  divinity. 
Reverend  Samuel  Wales,  of  Milford,  was  inducted  into  office,  but  in 
1783,  being  attacked  by  a  nervous  disorder,  by  means  of  which  he 
was  partially  disabled,  he  struggled  along  for  ten  years,  until  his 
retirement,  in  1793.  The  duties  of  the  office,  again  made  vacant,  fell 
upon  Doctor  Stiles. 

During  these  dismal  and  trying  years  the  college  was  cheered  by  a 
few  contributions  to  its  permanent  resources.  Among  them  was  a  gift 
of  a  tract  of  land  from  Reverend  Doctor  Richard  Salter,  of  ilansfield. 
Connecticut.  The  avails  of  this  land,  amounting  to  §3,700,  were  to 
endow  a  professorship  of  Hebrew  and  other  Oriental  languages. 
Other  gifts  were  given  for  the  library,  and  a  new  philo.sophical  appa- 
ratus. These  gifts  were  very  welcome,  as  the  college  had  suffered 
serious  losses  during  the  revolutionary  period.     In   the  autumn  of 

*  See  account  of  the  invasion  of  New  Haven. 


158  HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

1782  a  new  brick  building  was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  other  build- 
ings, to  serve  as  a  common  dining  hall  and  kitchen.  It  was  later 
known  and  used  as  a  chemical  laboratory.  The  original  college, 
erected  in  1717-18,  in  front  of  the  present  .South  College,  had  fallen 
into  decay,  and  was  removed  in  the  winter  of  177r)-r),  with  the  .excep- 
tion of  the  hall  and  kitchen  at  the  south  end.  These  were  retained 
until  the  erection  of  the  new  building  mentioned  above. 

Toward  the  close  of  Doctor  Stiles'  presidency  the  closer  union 
between  college  and  state  was  at  last  realized.  He  had  hoped  for  it, 
and  worked  for  it  all  these  years.  His  labors  had  been  carried  on  in 
the  face  of  much  opposition.  Outside  sentiment  had  not  grown 
favorable  to  the  college.  It  was  occasionally  the  subject  of  malicious 
comment  in  the  press,  of  pamphlet  attack,  of  memorials  to  the  legis- 
lature, as  in  President  Clap's  time.  Finally,  in  1792,  the  legislature 
adopted  a  plan  suggested  by  the  Honorable  James  Hillhouse,  treasurer 
of  the  college,  by  which,  in  return  for  a  grant  of  money  from  the 
state  treasury,  the  governor,  lieutenant  governor  and  the  six  senior 
members  of  the  Upper  House,  for  the  time  being,  became  cx-officio 
members  of  the  corporation.  The  new  arrangement  took  effect  by 
the  ratification  of  the  old  corporation  in  June,  1792.  Its  wisdom  was 
vindicated  by  the  advantages  experienced.  It  met  the  outside  demand 
for  state  oversight,  and  was  not  distasteful  to  the  president  and 
clerical  fellows. 

In  179B— 4  a  new  college  dormitor}'  was  erected  to  meet  the  want 
of  better  accommodations  for  the  student.  This  building  is  now 
known  as  .South  College. 

In  October,  1794,  after  a  vacancy  of  thirteen  years,  the  professor- 
ship of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy  was  filled  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Josiah  Meigs,  a  graduate  of  1778,  who  had  just  returned 
from  Bermuda,  and  who,  as  tutor  in  the  college  some  years  before, 
had  shown  special  aptitude  for  these  studies. 

Just  at  this  time,  when  signs  of  returning  prosperity  were  evident, 
Doctor  Stiles  died  after  a  brief  attack  of  fever.  May  12th,  1795,  in  the 
68th  year  of  his  age.  He  had  devoted  all  his  powers,  for  seventeen 
years,  to  the  interests  of  the  college,  and  had  seen  it  advance  steadily 
in  popular  reputation  and  in  solid  usefulness.  President  vStiles  was  a 
man  of  great  versatility,  and  was  interested  in  almost  every  branch 
of  learning.  He  kept  voluminous  journals  which  have  been  of  great 
assistance  to  the  historians  of  the  period  in  which  he  lived.  He  was, 
also,  a  broad  minded  and  generous  man,  clinging,  it  is  true,  to  the 
forms  and  usages  of  earlier  generations,  but  withal  humble  and 
charitable  in  his  religious  character.  No  president  ever  labored  with 
more  zeal  for  the  prosperity  of  Yale  College. 

Though  the  death  of  Doctor  .Stiles  was  sudden,  it  was  not  long 
before  the  corporation  agreed  upon  his  successor.  The  friends  of  the 
college  instinctively  turned  toward  Doctor  Timothy  Dwight.     Accord- 


HISTORV    OK    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  lo9 

ingly,  he  was  inducted  into  oiiice  in  179.").  He  had  been  a  tutor  at  the 
coUesre,  laborinof  with  remarkable  success  in  that  office,  but  at  the 
time  of  his  election  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Greenfield  Hill,  where 
he  had  also  conducted  a  flourishing  academy.  The  advent  of  Doctor 
Dwight  into  the  presidenc}'  was  received  with  satisfaction.  At  the 
outset  of  his  administration  the  action  of  the  faculty,  i.  c,  of  the  pro- 
fessors and  tutors,  sitting  in  consultation  with  the  president,  came  to 
be  a  vital  part  of  the  college  government.  This  was  in  11'.)^).  Later, 
in  1804,  the  ancient  system  of  fagging  was  given  up.  and  a  little  later 
the  system  of  pecuniary  fines  was  abolished. 

Doctor  Dwight  had  a  direct  personal  influence  upon  the  students. 
He  was  a  man  of  .striking  personality,  eloquent  as  a  preacher,  stimu- 
lating as  an  instructor.  At  first  he  was  not  called  to  the  office  of  col- 
lege preacher  and  the  professorship  of  divinity,  now  vacant.  Some 
of  the  fellows  did  not  like  his  position  as  an  ardent  exponent  of  the 
theology  of  his  grandfather,  Jonathan  Edwards.  But,  in  the  mean- 
time, he  temporarily  assumed  the  duties  of  the  vacant  professorship, 
and  thus  was  brought  into  closer  contact  with  the  students.  It  was 
during  this  period  that  he  met  and  vanquished  the  popular  infidelity 
of  the  day,  and  built  up  the  feeble  life  of  the  college  church.  In 
1805  he  was  formally  invited  to  the  chair  of  divinity,  and  held  it,  with 
the  presidency,  till  his  death.  Besides  the.se  duties,  he  gave  the  full 
attention  expected  from  tlie  president  to  the  studies  of  the  senior 
year,  in  philosophy,  and  did  much  to  create  a  new  department  of 
instruction,  tha:  of  rhetoric  and  English  literature,  for  which  he  had 
shown  special  adaptation  as  a  tutor. 

Doctor  Dwight  was  quite  successful  in  perpetuating  his  influence 
b}-  a  rare  insight  into  the  capacities  and  promise  of  those  he  invited 
to  permanent  positions  in  the  faculty.  He  called  to  his  side  such  men 
as  Benjamin  Silliman,  profes.sor  of  chemistry  in  18t»2:  Jeremiah  Day, 
appointed  professor  of  mathematics  in  1801;  James  L.  Kingsley,  pro- 
fe-s.sor  of  languaees  in  1805.  These  men  soon  became  eminent  in  the 
various  departments  to  which  they  belonged.  Doctor  Dwight  also 
interested  himself  in  the  formation  of  professional  schools  in  connec- 
tion with  the  college.  In  1806  the  first  steps  were  taken  by  the  corpo- 
ration toward  founding  a  medical  school  to  be  under  their  control, 
together  with  the  academical  department,  as  it  now  came  to  be  called. 
The  new  department  was  eventually  established  under  the  auspices 
of  Yale  College  and  the  State  Medical  Society.  In  1813  Doctors 
Nathan  Smith,  Eli  Ives  and  Jonathan  Knight  were  appointed  pro- 
fes.sors.  Professor  Silliman  filled  the  chair  of  chemistr}-  in  the  school. 
It  started  in  1813  with  37  students,  in  the  building  at  the  head  of  Col- 
lege street,  which  was  at  first  leased,  and  then  purchased  with  a  sum 
of  money  granted  by  the  state  in  1814.  The  first  class  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1814.  Before  this  Doctor  Dwight 
had  taken  deep  interest  in  the  formation  of  a  theological  school  at 


160  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Andover  (this  being  the  earliest  in  the  country),  and  had  begun  to 
entertain  the  idea  of  developing  a  similar  school  in  connection  with 
Yale  College.  His  plan  for  this,  however,  had  not  matured  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  In  addition,  he  had  in  mind,  also,  the  formation 
of  a  law  department,  but  this  also  failed  to  be  realized. 

Mention  may  be  made  of  the  appointments  to  new  chairs  of  pro- 
fessorial instruction.  Professor  Jeremiah  Day  succeeded  Josiah  Meigs 
in  the  chair  of  mathematics  in  ISO! .  Profes.sor  Benjamin  Silliman, 
Sr.,  was  appointed  to  the  new  chair  of  chemistry,  mineralogy  and 
geology.  Professor  James  L.  Kingsley  took  charge  of  the  new  pro- 
fessorship of  ancient  languages  and  ecclesiastical  history.  Professor 
Elizur  Goodrich  was  the  incumbent  of  the  new  professorship  of  law. 
These  new  professorships  were  a  great  addition  to  the  scheme  of 
in.struction.  The  results  were  soon  manifest  in  an  increase  of  stu- 
dents. In  1800  217  students  were  on  the  rolls,  as  against  llf)  four 
years  earlier.  To  meet  this  increase  new  buildings  were  required. 
Accordingly,  in  1801,  a  new  dormitory,  now  known  as  North  Middle 
College,  was  begun  anQ  completed  in  1803.  At  the  .same  time  the 
Lyceum  building,  containing  recitation  rooms,  a  library  and  a  chemi- 
cal laboratory,  was  completed.  The  legislative  grant  of  1792,  increased 
by  a  supplementary  vote  in  1796,  supplied  the  means  for  the  erection 
of  these  buildings.  The  president's  house  (built  in  1722"!  having 
fallen  into  partial  decay,  a  new  house  was  built  1797-9,  on  the  present 
site  of  Farnam  College.  The  land  for  all  these  buildings,  together 
with  the  larger  part  of  the  College  square,  had  been  acquired  by 
Doctor  D wight  in  1796. 

President  Dwight  died  in  January,  1817.  Under  his  management 
Yale  College  made  rapid  progress,  beginning  to  acquire  a  national 
reputation.  Doctor  Dwight  was  a  man  of  acknowledged  power  and 
ability.  He  exercised  a  remarkable  influence  over  the  young  men  of 
the  college,  and  this  contributed,  together  with  his  great  learning  and 
ability,  to  make  him  known  over  the  whole  country.  Under  him 
certain  principles  were  set  in  operation  which,  long  afterward,  bore 
their  fruits  for  the  well  being  of  the  college.  When  he  died  the  insti- 
tution was  no  longer  a  mere  collegiate  school,  but  was  moving  toward 
what  it  afterward  became,  a  university. 

After  his  death  Professor  Jeremiah  Day  was  elected  president. 
His  inauguration  took  place  in  1817.  The  new  president  was  not  a 
clergyman,  but,  having  studied  theology,  was  ordained  at  the  time  of 
his  induction  into  office.  The  professorship  of  mathematics  he  had 
hitherto  held  *was  filled  by  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Alexander  M. 
Fisher.  President  Dwight's  place  in  the  chair  of  divinity  was  sup- 
plied by  the  appointment  of  Reverend  Eleazar  T.  Fitch.  A  new  pro- 
fessorship of  rhetoric  was  established,  to  which  Reverend  Chauncey 
A.  Goodrich  was  appointed.  In  addition  to  these,  in  1831,  Mr.  Theo- 
dore D.  Woolsey  was  appointed  professor  of  Greek,  and  Mr.  Thomas. 


HISTORY   OF   XF.W    IIAVF.X   COUNTY.  161 

A.  Thatcher  as  assistant  professor  of  Latin,  in  1842.  Reverend 
]Malthew  Dutton,  in  1822,  succeeded  to  the  chair  of  mathematics  left 
vacant  by  the  death  of  Alexander  AI.  Fisher,  who  was  lost  on  a  voyage 
to  Europe  in  1822.  Profe.ssor  Dutton  diedinl82n.  Professor  Denison 
Olmsted  then  followed,  but  in  1836  the  chair  was  divided,  Professor 
Olmsted  devoting  himself  to  natural  philosophy  and  astronomy,  while 
Mr.  Anthony  D.  Stanley  was  appointed  professor  of  mathematics.  In 
1839  Professor  Goodrich  was  transferred  to  the  divinity  school,  and 
Reverend  William  A.  Larned  followed  him  as  professor  of  rhetoric 
and  English  literature.  Great  improvementswere  made  in  the  course 
of  instruction.  Some  elementary  subjects  were  discarded,  as  English 
grammar  and  geography  in  1826  and  arithmetic  in  1830.  New  sub- 
jects were  introduced.  There  was  greater  thoroughness  in  examina- 
tions. 

The  enlargement  of  the  academical  faculty  resulted  in  the  exercise 
of  greater  power  by  the  faculty,  and  developed  the  idea  that  in  grave 
matters  affecting  the  college  the  corporation  should  not  take  action 
until  the  faculty  had  been  con.sulted.  This  principle  has  become  a 
fixed  one  in  the  college.  The  need  of  additional  accommodations  for 
the  students  was  again  felt.  In  1818-19  a  large  dining  hall  was  built 
near  the  center  of  the  College  square.  It  was  three  stories  in  height, 
with  the  kitchen  in  the  basement.  The  upper  floor  was  devoted  to 
the  exhibition  of  the  mineralogical  cabinet  acquired  previously 
through  the  efforts  of  Professor  Silliman.  The  former  dining  hall 
was,  in  1820,  used  for  the  chemical  department.  In  1842,  however, 
the  system  of  a  common  dining  hall  was  abandoned,  and  the  rooms 
hitherto  used  for  this  purpose  were  devoted  to  the  uses  of  the  depart- 
ment of  natural  philosophy.  In  1820-1  North  College  was  built  in 
line  with  the  other  brick  colleges.  It  contained  32  rooms.  In  1823-4 
a  new  chapel  was  erected  between  North  and  North  Aliddle  colleges. 
The  upper  story  contained  rooms  for  students, and  the  attic  contained 
the  library,  which  had  been  removed  from  the  Lyceum.  In  1831-2 
the  Trumbull  Gallery,  now  known  as  the  Treasury  Building,  was 
built  to  contain  the  college  collection  of  paintings,  especially  those  by 
Colonel  John  Trumbull,  which,  at  first  deposited  by  the  artist,  after- 
ward became  the  property  of  the  college.  In  1842  a  library  building 
was  begun,  and  finished  in  1846,  at  a  cost  of  $34,000.  The  library 
funds  were  materially  increased  by  gifts  from  various  sources.  Addi- 
tions also  were  made  to  the  general  funds  of  the  college,  by  means  of 
which  separate  chairs  of  Greek  and  mathematics  were  established  and 
provision  made  for  the  employment  of  an  instructor  in  elocution. 

In  1832  Reverend  Wyllys  Warner  succeeded  the  Honorable  James 
Hillhou.se  as  treasurer  of  the  college,  at  his  death.  The  year  1822  .'^aw 
the  beginning  of  a  theological  department.  Reverend  Nathaniel  W. 
Taylor  was  inducted  into  the  professorship  of  didactic  theology  in 
this  department.  He  was  aided  by  Profes.sor  Chauncey  Goodrich, 
11 


162  HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

who,  in  18H9,  resigned  his  chair  in  the  academical  department  to  take 
the  professorship  of  the  pastoral  charge.  Mr.  Josiah  Gibbs  was 
appointed  lecturer  on  sacred  literature  in  18-24.  In  1826  the  lecture- 
ship became  a  full  professorship.  The  theological  department  thus 
formed  attracted  many  students,  so  that,  m  1835-6,  a  building  was 
erected  in  line  with  the  others  for  its  uses.  Doctor  Taylor  was  a 
tower  of  strength  to  this  department,  and  his  name  was  early  noi.sed 
abroad  as  an  instructor  and  theologian. 

The  advance  in  other  (departments  was  also  marked.  A  law  school 
was  established  in  1824.  In  1841  a  system  of  graduate  instruction, 
outside  of  the  three  learned  professions,  was  devised. 

The  medical  school  was  ably  conducted,  and,  until  the  establish- 
ment of  other  medical  schools,  had  a  growing  number  of  students. 

In  1846  President  Day  resigned  at  the  age  of  73.  He  had  tried 
twice  before  to  la}''  down  the  burdens  of  his  office,  but  had  been  pre- 
vailed upon  to  remain.  His  health  had  always  been  delicate,  yet 
he  served  the  college  with  ability  and  faithfulness  in  various  capac- 
ities for  a  great  many  years.  He  died  in  1867,  leaving  behind  him, 
as  one  has  said,  "  a  memory  for  universal  veneration." 

We  now  come  to  the  administration  of  President  Woolsey,  which 
is  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the  graduates  of  the  college.  He  en- 
tered  on  his  office  in  October,  1846,  and,  like  his  predecessor,  received 
ordination  when  inducted  into  the  presidency.  His  administration 
la.sted  25  years,  and  was  an  era  of  unprecedented  prosperity  for  the 
college.  A  great  advance  was  made  in  the  quality  of  instruction  and 
the  number  of  new  professorships  which  were  established.  In  1847 
Reverend  Noah  Porter  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  new  professor- 
ship of  moral  philosophy  and  metaphysics,  made  possible  by  the 
accumulation  of  a  fund  given  in  1823  by  Mr.  Sheldon  Clark,  of 
Oxford,  Connecticut.  President  Woolsey  himself  gave  instruction  in 
history,  political  science  and  international  law.  Mr.  James  Hadley 
took  charge  of  the  Greek  department,  over  which  President  Woolsey 
had  formerly  presided,  in  1848.  Mr.  Lewis  R.  Packard  was  promoted 
from  a  tutorship  in  1863  to  a  second  chair  in  this  department.  In 
1865  a  professorship  of  history  was  created,  to  which  Mr.  Arthur  M. 
Wheeler  was  called.  Geology  was,  in  1850,  assigned  to  a  distinct  pro- 
fessorship, to  which  Mr.  James  D.  Dana  (now  of  wide  fame  as  a  geolo- 
gist) was  appointed.     Mineralogy  was  added  in  1864. 

Doctor  Fitch  resigned  the  pastorate  in  1852,  and  was  followed  by 
Reverend  George  P.  Fisher  in  1854.  He  held  the  office  till  he  was 
transferred,  in  1861,  to  the  divinity  school.  He  was  succeeded,  1863 
to  1866,  by  Reverend  William  B.  Clarke,  who  in  turn  was  followed  by 
Reverend  Doctor  Oliver  E.  Daggett,  until  his  retirement  in  187(1. 
In  1855  Mr.  Hubert  A.  Newton  succeeded  to  the  chair  of  mathematics, 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Professor  Stanley  in  1853.  Professor 
Elias  Loomis  succeeded  Professor  Ohnsted    in   the  chair  of    natural 


HISTORV    OI-"    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTV.  163 

philosophy  and  astronomj'  in  1860.  Mr.  Cyrus  North rop  was  appointed 
successor  to  Professor  Larned  in  the  professorship  of  rhetoric  and 
English  literature  in  1862,  the  year  in  which  Professor  Larned  died. 
The  new  professorship  of  modern  languages,  endowed  by  Mr. 
Augustus  R.  Street,  of  New  Haven,  was  filled  by  Mr.  Edward  B.  Coe, 
who  began  his  instructions  in  1867. 

In  1846-8  four  freshman  scholarships  were  endowed  by  President 
Woolsey,  and  in  1848  a  scholarship  was  established  by  Charles  Astor 
Bristed,  of  New  York  city.  With  the  increase  in  professorships  and 
improvements  in  instruction  came  new  buildings.  A  stone  build- 
ing, called  Alumni  Hall,  was  erected  in  1852-3,  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  College  Square.  The  lower  floor  was  finished  as  one 
room,  in  which  were  to  be  held  alumni  meetings,  examinations  and 
general  meetings.  On  the  walls  were  afterward  hung  portraits  of 
officers  and  benefactors  of  the  college.  The  upper  floor  was  divided 
into  three  halls  for  the  u.se  of  the  large  literary  societies  of  the  col- 
lege. 

In  1869-71  two  new  dormitories,  with  accommodations  for  169 
persons,  were  built  by  the  generous  gifts  of  Mr.  Henry  Farnam,  of 
New  Haven,  and  Mr.  Bradford  M.  C.  Durfee,  of  Fall  River,  Massa- 
chusetts. These  two  new  buildings  were  called,  respectively,  Farnam 
and  Durfee  colleges.  The  old  Divinity  College,  in  line  with  the  old 
brick  row,  was  removed.  The  president's  house,  on  the  site  of  which 
Farnam  College  was  built,  had  been  removed  in  1860.  About  the 
time  of  the  erection  of  these  new  buildings  a  steam  boiler  house  was 
constructed,  from  which  most  of  the  buildings  on  the  college  grounds 
and  in  the  vicinity  are  heated. 

In  1864-6  a  fine  building,  to  be  devoted  to  the  School  of  Fine 
Arts,  was  erected  by  Mr.  Augustus  R.  Street,  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  square.  Two  of  the  professorships  in  this  school  were 
endowed  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Street.  To  one,  the  professorship  of  paint- 
ing, Mr.  John  F.  Weir,  N.  A.,  was  appointed.  He  was  also  director 
of  the  school  which  was  opened  to  students  in  1869.  To  the  other 
professorship,  that  of  the  history  of  art,  D.  Cady  Eaton  was  appointed. 
The  paintings  deposited  in  the  Trumbull  Gallery  by  Colonel  John 
Trumbull  were  transferred  to  the  art  school.  Not  far  from  the 
square  on  the  west  a  gymnasium  was  erected  in  1859. 

Under  President  Woolsey's  administration  funds  for  the  general 
use  of  the  college  and  for  the  library  increased.  But  prosperity  was 
not  confined  to  the  academical  department.  In  other  departments 
great  progress  was  manifest.  The  divinity  .school  entered  upon  a 
new  era.  The  old  professors  who  had  given  it  a  great  reputation 
had  died  or  resigned  by  the  year  1861,  and  new  ones  were  appointed. 
Such  men  as  Timothy  Dwight,  George  P.  Fisher,  George  E.  Day, 
Leonard  Bacon,  Samuel  Harris  and  others  were,  in  due  time,  called 
to  professorships.      Funds  were,  through  the  generosity  of   friends, 


164  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

provided  for  the  school.  In  1869-70  a  fine  building  was  erected  on 
the  square  next  north  of  the  college.  This  building  is  known  as  East 
Divinity  Hall.  Then  followed  the  erection  of  a  chapel  adjoining  this 
building,  given  by  Mr.  Frederick  Marquand  in  1871.  A  lectureship 
on  preaching  was  established  the  same  year  by  Mr.  Henry  W.  Sage, 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Other  important  additions  were  made  to  the 
scholarship  and  general  funds.  The  number  of  students  increased, 
and  the  school  began  its  career  of  steady  growth  and  prosperity, 
which  it  still  pursues. 

The  medical  school  underwent  an  entire  reconstruction  of  its 
faculty.  The  old  professors,  as  in  the  divinity  school,  died  or 
resigned,  and  new  ones  came  in  to  take  their  places.  In  1859  the  old 
building  and  grounds  belonging  to  the  school  were  sold,  and  a  new 
medical  college  built  in  1860  on  York  street.  vSince  that  time  efforts 
have  been  made  to  put  it  upon  a  good  basis,  but. the  lack  of  pecuniary 
endowments  has  interfered  with  all  plans. 

The  law  school  did  not  participate  in  the  general  prosperity  at  this 
time.  The  students  fell  off,  and  it  was  not  until  the  time  of  President 
Porter  that  the  school  was  put  upon  a  prosperous  basis,  through  the 
gifts  of  generous  friends.  The  school  was  at  that  time  entirel)'  recon- 
structed, and  is  now  in  a  high  state  of  efficiency. 

Before  1846  plans  were  laid  for  the  establishment  of  a  department 
of  graduate  instruction.  This,  in  time,  grew  partly  into  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Sheffield  vScientific  School.  At  first  the  Scientific 
School  had  poor  accommodations  in  the  old  president's  house  and  the 
attic  of  the  chapel.  In  1859,  however,  Mr.  Joseph  E.  Sheffield,  of  New 
Haven,  purchased  and  enlarged  for  the  use  of  the  school  the  old 
medical  college.  He  stocked  it  with  necessary  apparatus,  and  gave  a 
fund  of  $50,000  for  the  endowment  of  professorships.  In  1860  the 
school  came  to  be  known,  by  vote  of  the  corporation,  as  the  Sheffield 
Scientific  School.  This  school  has  grown  rapidly  in  facilities  for 
instruction  and  in  the  number  of  students  eager  to  take  advantage  of 
these  opportunities.  In  the  meantime,  the  other  courses  of  graduate 
study  not  provided  for  by  the  scientific  school,  were  steadily  main- 
tained by  Professor  Whitney  and  others.  Mr.  O.  C.  Marsh,  whose 
name  and  reputation  are  well  known,  was  added  in  1860  as  professor 
of  paleontology. 

The  important  event  that  marked  the  close  of  President  Woolsey's 
administration  was  the  change  in  the  composition  of  the  corporation. 
In  response  to  a  general  .sentiment  among  the  alumni,  which  Doctor 
Woolsey  favored,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  general  assembly,  in  Con- 
necticut, July,  1871.  consenting  that  six  of  the  graduates  of  the  college 
should  be  substituted  for  the  six  senior  senators  of  the  state  in  the 
membership  of  the  corporation.  This  change  gave  the  graduates  a 
more  direct  interest  in  the  college,  and  was  widely  welcomed.  Presi- 
dent Woolsey  resigned  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  70,  but  continued  till 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  165 

within  a  few  years  of  his  death  fin  1889)  to  give  valuable  assistance  to 
the  college.  He  was  a  man  of  preeminent  scholarship,  and  has  made 
the  fruits  of  that  scholarship  of  great  service  to  the  world.  To  all 
who  came  under  his  instruction  he  was  the  beloved  and  revered 
instructor,  the  scholar  and  the  Christian  gentleman.  As  an  adminis- 
trator his  influence  was  strongly  felt  in  the  marked  prosperity  which 
attended  the  college  during  the  2.t  years  of  his  presidency. 

After  the  resignation  of  President  Woolsey,  in  1871,  his  place  was 
filled  without  delay  by  Professor  Noah  Porter,  who  was  called  to  the 
presidency  from  the  chair  of  moral  philo.sophy  and  metaphysics, 
which  he  had  held  since  1846.  The  fifteen  years  of  his  administration 
was  a  period  of  steady  growth  and  prosperity.  The  early  years  of  his 
presidency  were  notable,  from  the  fact  that  a  permanent  fund,  raised 
by  subscription  and  called  by  the  name  of  President  Woolsey,  was 
established.  This  action  was  followed  by  a  continued  increase  in 
facilities  for  instruction.  All  the  graduate  and  undergraduate  courses 
not  included  in  the  departments  of  theology,  medicine  and  law  were 
in  1872  consolidated  under  the  name  of  the  department  of  philosophy 
and  the  arts.  There  was  also  an  extension  of  the  elective  system,  bj' 
means  of  which  nearly  one-half  of  the  work  of  the  last  two  years  was 
left  to  be  determined  by  the  student  himself  from  a  large  number  of 
elective  courses  left  open  to  him.  To  keep  pace  with  new  demands 
new  professorships  were  established.  Some  changes  also  occurred  in 
the  faculty  from  death  and  resignation.  Additional  buildings  were 
also  erected. 

In  1874-6  a  new  chapel  was  built  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
college  square,  and  received  the  name  of  Battell  Chapel,  in  honor  of 
Mr.  Joseph  Battell,  of  New  York  city,  from  whose  gifts  the  chief  part 
of  the  expense  was  defrayed.  The  old  chapel  was  rearranged  at  this 
time,  so  as  to  provide  much  needed  recitation  rooms. 

In  1882-3  a  physical  laboratory  was  erected  on  the  south  side  of 
Library  street.  The  expensfe  of  building  and  the  necessary  equip- 
ment for  use  were  provided  by  Messrs.  Henry  T.  and  Thomas  C. 
Sloane,  of  New  York  city,  as  a  memorial  to  their  father. 

In  1885-6  another  dormitory  was  built,  next  to  Farnam  College,  on 
the  south,  containing  42  suites  of  rooms,  and  of  five  stories  in  height. 
This  was  called  Lawrance  College,  in  memory  of  Thomas  Garner 
Lawrance,  of  New  York  city,  who  died  in  1884,  while  in  his  senior  year. 

In  these  same  years  was  erected  Dwight  Hall,  so  called  in  memory 
■of  President  Dwight.  The  funds  for  this  building  were  provided  by 
Mr.  Elbert  B.  Munroe,  of  New  York  city.  The  building  is  a  beautiful 
one,  and  furnishes  an  attractive  center  for  the  religious  life  of  the  col- 
lege, with  its  reading  room,  its  select  library,  its  rooms  for  class  meet- 
ings and  general  meetings. 

In  1876  the  initial  portion  of  the  Peabody  Museum  of  Natural 
History  was  built  on   High  street,  facing  Alumni  Hall,  at  a  cost  of 


166  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

$100,000.      The   expense   was   defrayed  from  a 'portion   of    the  fine 
endowment  provided  by  Mr.  George  Peabody,  of  London,  in  1866. 

Another  addition  was  the  Observatory,  for  astronomical  and 
physical  researches,  which  was  erected  in  1882. 

In  1871-2  the  libraries  belonging  to  the  Linonian  Society  and  the 
Brothers  in  Unity  were  consolidated. 

The  various  schools  connected  with  the  college  prospered  during 
this  period  as  perhaps  never  before.  The  Sheffield  vScientific  -School, 
the  Art  School,  the  Law  School,  the  Medical  School  attracted  a  large 
number  of  .students  and  offered  great  advantages.  The  law  school, 
in  particular,  received  great  impetus,  and  for  the  first  time  became 
worthy  of  the  university.  The  divinity  school  also  received  import- 
ant additions  to  its  funds,  its  professorships  and  its  buildings. 

In  1873-4  West  Divinity  Hall  was  built,  and  a  building  (called  the 
Bacon  Memorial  Library,  in  honor  of  Reverend  Doctor  Baconi  was 
erected  in  1881,  to  contain  the  reference  library  provided  for  by  Mr. 
Henry  Trowbridge,  of  Xew  Haven. 

Just  at  the  close  of  President  Porter's  administration  Doctor 
William  R.  Harper  was  appointed  professor  of  Semitic  languages, 
while  Mr.  Arthur  T.  Hadley  was  called  to  the  chair  of  political 
science.  Both  of  these  men  have  a  wide  reputation  in  their  respec- 
tive departments. 

The  continued  progress  so  manifest  under  the  administration  of 
President  Porter  still  continues  under  his  successor,  Timothy  Dwight. 
In  1886  President  Porter  resigned,  and  was  followed  by  Professor 
Timothy  Dwight,  a  grandson  of  the  former  President  Dwight,  and 
who  had  hitherto  been  professor  of  sacred  literature  in  the  divinity 
school.  Soon  after  his  accession  an  act  of  the  legislature,  in  March, 
1887,  made  legal  the  term  university  as  applied  to  the  corporation. 
From  this  time  Yale  became  in  name,  what  she  had  been  for  some 
■years  in  fact,  a  university.  The  first  official  use  of  the  name  "  Yale 
University  "  was  in  connection  with  the  annual  catalogue,  published 
in  1886.  During  the  period  of  President  Dwight's  administration  up 
to  this  time  (1891)  there  has  been  a  marked  progress  of  the  university 
idea.  All  departments  have  been  most  closely  linked  together,  and 
have,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  participated  in  a  common  university 
life. 

There  have  been  some  changes  in  the  faculty.  Professor  Barbour, 
called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  College  church,  in  connection  with  the 
duties  of  the  Chittenden  professorship  of  divinity  in  the  year  1877, 
resigned  in  December,  1886,  but  did  not  leave  until  the  close  of  the 
college  year.  Professor  Elias  Loomis  died  in  1889,  having  served  the 
university  29  years.  New  men  were  called  to  new  professorships. 
Notable  mention  may  be  made  of  the  establishment  of  a  professorship 
of  music,  to  which  Doctor  Gu.stave  J.  Stoeckel  was  appointed  in  1889. 
In  1888  a  new  building,  called  the  Kent  Laboratory,  was  completed, 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  167 

and  named  after  the  donor,  Mr.  Albert  E.  Kent,  of  Chicago,  ft  is 
located  on  the  corner  of  High  and  Library  streets.  In  18S9  a  new 
building  for  the  university  library  was  erected.  This  building  is 
called  the  Chittenden  Library,  in  honor  of  the  Hon.  Simeon  B.  Chit- 
tenden, of  Brooklyn,  X.  Y..  who  generously  gave  the  funds  necessary 
for  its  erection. 

The  year  1889  witnessed  the  completion  of  the  Osborn  Memorial 
Hall,  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  college  grounds.  This  fine  build- 
ing  contains  about  twenty  recitation  and  lecture  rooms.  It  was  the 
gift  of  ^Irs.  Miriam  Osborn,  of  New  York  city,  as  a  memorial  of  her 
husband,  the  late  Charles  J.  Osborn.  The  old  cabinet  building  was 
taken  down  in  the  summer  of  1890.  The  removal  of  this  building 
and  the  old  chemical  laboratory,  in  1888,  has  greatly  improved  the 
college  grounds.  There  is  left  but  one  of  the  old  buildings  in  the  line 
back  of  the  old  Brick  Row,  and  that  is  the  Treasury  Building,  formerly 
known  as  the  Trumbull  Gallery. 

With  the  completion  of  the  Chittenden  Library  building  the  books 
belonging  to  the  university  library  were  removed  into  the  new  build- 
ing in  1890.  The  books  belonging  to  the  consolidated  Linonian  vSociety 
and  Brothers  in  L'nity  were  at  the  same  time  removed  from  the  north 
wing  of  the  old  library  building  to  the  south  wing. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  college  grounds  a  new  dormitory  is  now 
(1891)  in  process  of  erection.  When  it  is  completed  one  side  of  the 
proposed  college  quadrangle  will  be  for  the  most  part  finished.  It  is 
hoped  that  the  quadrangle  will  in  a  few  j^ears  be  completed.  The  old 
"  Brick  Row  "  will  then  come  down  and  Yale  will  have  as  fine  a  quad- 
rangle or  interior  as  any  university  in  the  world.  Even  now  the 
beautiful  elms  still  remaining,  together  with  statues  of  Rector  Pierson 
and  Professor  Benjamin  Silliman,  Sr.,  and  fine  buildings  make  the 
college  campus  an  attractive  spot,  especially  to  the  graduate  who 
returns  to  renew  the  memories  of  the  past. 

A  new  gymnasium  on  Elm  street  is  being  built  and  will  probably, 
when  finished,  supply  the  needs  of  the  universitj-  in  this  direction  for 
many  years  to  come. 

By  the  death  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheffield  further  benefactions  have 
been  received  by  the  scientific  school.  Mr.  Sheffield's  house  and 
grounds  on  Hillhouse  avenue  have  been  generously  given  for  the  uses 
of  the  school. 

Yale  f  niversity  is  thus  prospering  externally.  In  breadth  of 
instruction  and  in  number  of  students  it  stands  among  the  finst  in  the 
country.  It  has  to-day  (1891)  l,64o  students,  as  against  1 ,076  five  years 
ago.  Its  graduates  have  made  their  mark  upon  the  public  life  of  our 
country.  As  President  Dwight  well  says  in  his  last  report,  "  It  is  a 
matter  of  much  satisfaction  to  the  atithorities  of  the  institution,  and 
it  may  well  be  to  all  the  graduates,  that  as  the  student  community 
grows  in  its  numbers  and  changes  of  various  kinds  necessarily  occur 


168  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

in  its  daily  life  and  workings,  the  Yale  spirit  abides  always  the  same — 
breathing  itself  into  the  mind  and  heart  of  every  worthy  student  who 
enters  the  gates  of  the  University  and  inspiring  for  their  career  ever 
afterwards  all  who  go  forth  with  its  gifts  into  the  activities  of  the 
world.  It  is  this  spirit  which  more  than  all  things  else  makes  the 
University  what  it  is."  The  Yale  of  the  future  will  be  undoubtedly 
true  to  the  spirit  of  its  past,  and  under  the  administration  of  the  second 
President  Dwight,  be  blessed  with  further  growth  and  prosperity. 
Her  graduates,  in  whose  hearts  Yale  University  has  a  warm  place,  will 
ever  wish  for  this  result. 

The  Connecticut  Crt^f/Zf  was  the  first  newspaper  issued  in  New  Haven. 
Its  publication  was  begun  in  April,  175.^,  by  James  Parker,  and  soon 
thereafter  was  carried  on  by  James  Parker  &  Co.,  John  Holt  and 
others  being  associated  with  him.  The  size  was  small,  the  sheet  being 
but  lOi  by  1,%  inches,  which  was  folded  to  make  four  pages;  each  page 
had  two  wide  columns.  The  matter  was  largely  local  and  there  was 
but  little  resemblance  to  the  newspaper  of  to-day.  Other  particulars 
in  regard  to  it  can  best  be  learned  from  an  announcement  in  the  paper 
itself,  as  follows: 

"  New  Haven: 

"  Printed  by  J.  Parker  &  Company,  at  the  Post  Office,  near  Captain 
Peck's,  at  the  Long  Wharf,  where  this  paper  may  be  had  at  2s.  6d. 
Laiv fill  Money,  per  quarter,  if  sent  by  the  special  post;  or  Is.  lOd.  Half 
Penny  without  Postage;  the  first  Quarter  to  be  paid  at  Entrance. 

''Note. — Thirteen  papers  go  to  a  quarter,  none  to  stop  but  at  the 

end  of  the  Quarter. 

~  "Saturday,  October  1st,  1757." 

The  issue  was  suspended  April  14th,  1764,  but  July  5th,  1765,  it  was 
revived  by  Benjamin  Mecom.'  In  his  announcement  of  the  resumption 
of  publication  he  stated  that  the  price  would  be  "  two  pence  for  each 
paper,"  and  that  no  increase  would  take  place  in  consequence  of  the 
stamp  act.  "All  kinds  of  Provisions,  Fire  Wood  and  other  suitable 
Country  Produce  will  be  taken  as  pay  of  those  who  cannot  spare 
money." 

Mr.  Mecom  invited  "  the  benevolent  of  all  parties  to  send  him  an 
account  of  whatever  novelties  they  think  may  be  useful  to  their  coun- 
trymen," and  promised,  on  his  part,  the  following:  "  Besides  the  help 
he  hopes  to  receive  from  different  Correspondents  in  this  Colony  and 
elsewhere,  the  Printer  has  sent  for  three  sorts  of  English  magazines, 
the  Monthly  Review  of  New  Books,  and  one  of  the  best  London  News- 
papers; these,  together  with  the  American  Intelligence  from  Nova 
Scotia  to  Georgia,  inclusive,  and  also  from  Canada,  cannot  fail  to  fur- 
nish him  a  constant  stock  of  Momentous  materials  and  fresh  advices 
to  fill  this  Gazette.  "  Benjamin  Mecom,  at  the 

"  July  5,  1765.  Post  office.  New  Haven." 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  169 

The  paper,  as  published  by  Mecom,  was  permanently  suspended 
after  the  issue  of  No.  5U(1,  February  lOth,  176S,  having  in  its  last  year 
to  contend  with  a  rival  paper,  the  Connecticut  Journal  and  Nc%v  Haven 
Post  Boy,  which  was  begun  October  23d,  1767,  by  Thomas  and  Samuel 
Green. 

Some  notices  and  items  extracted  from  these  early  papers  reveal 
strange  practices  and  quaint  ideas.  Both  poor  whites  and  blacks  were 
treated  as  chattels,  and  the  rudest  kind  of  punishment  was  meted  out 
to  law  breakers.     As  examples: 

"  New  Haven,  March  fi,  1762. 

"  Last  Saturday  afternoon,  David  Slusher  and  James  Daley  were 
crept,  branded  with  the  letter  B  on  their  Fore-heads,  and  received  each 
of  them  Fifteen  Stripes  on  their  naked  Bodies,  pursuant  to  their  sen- 
tences, for  sometime  since  breaking  open  and  robbing  the  shop  of  Mr. 
Philo  Mills,  of  Derby." 

"  A  likely  Negro  Wench  and  Child  to  be  sold. 

"  Inquire  of  the  Printer. 

"  To  be  sold  by  the  vSub.scriber  of  Branford,  a  likely  Negro  Wench, 

18  years  of  age,  is  acquainted  with  all  sorts  of  House  Work,  is  sold  fur 

no  fault.  "  June  15,  176;i 

'"Just  Imported  from  Dublin,  in  the  brig  Darby. 

"  A  parcel  of  Irish  vServants,  both  Men  and  Women,  to  be  sold 
cheap,  by  Israel  Boardman,  at  vStamford,  5th  January,  1764." 

"  The  subscribers  having  erected  a  Powder  Mill  near  this  town, 
would  hereby  inform  the  public  that  they  are  ready  to  receive  any 
quantity  of  Salt  Petre  for  Manufacturing  into  Powder. 

"  Isaac  Doolittle. 
"  Jeremiah  Atwater. 

"Who  want  to  purchase  a  quantity  of  .Sulphur,  for  which  they  will 
give  a  generous  price. 
"  July  10th,  1776." 

"  Any  Gentlemen,  Farmer  or  others,  that  may  have  any  juice 
extracted  from  Corn  Stalks,  which  they  are  desirous  of  having  distilled 
into  Rum,  are  hereby  notified  that  the  subscribers,  Distilleres  in  the 
town  of  New  Haven,  will  distill  the  same  on  shares,  or  otherwise,  as 
they  can  agree.  And  those  who  please  to  favor  them  with  their 
employ,  may  depend  on  having  the  strictest  justice  done  them,  and 
their  liqtior  distilled  to  the  fullest  proof.  Or  any  person  that  would 
rather  dispose  of  said  juice  or  Corn  Stalks,  on  delivering  it  at  the 
Distillery,  will  receive  the  Market  Price;  and  every  favor  will  be  most 
gratefully  acknowledged  by  the  Public's  very  obedient  servants, 

"Jacobs  &  Israel. 
"  September  24,  1777. 

"  N.  B. — Private  Families  may  have  Cider  distilled  for  their  own 
use  by  Jacobs  &  Israel." 


170  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The /our/ia/,  from  which  the  two  last  extracts  are  taken,  did  not 
find  it  smooth  sailing  altogether,  as  the  followingf  notice  will  show: 
,  "■•%,*  We  are  very  sorry  that  we  cannot  procure  a  sufficiency  of 
paper  to  publish  a  whole  sheet:  but  as  there  is  now  a  paper  mill  erected 
in  this  town,  we  expect,  after  a  few  weeks,  to  be  supplied  with  such  a 
quantity  as  to  publish  the  Journal  regularly  on  a  uniform  sized  paper, 
and  to  be  able  to  make  ample  amends  for  past  deficiencies. 
"  July  3, 1776." 

The  usual  size  of  the  paper  was  a  sheet  14  by  16  inches,  with  three 
columns  to  a  page.  It  was  printed  in  an  office  near  the  college.  After 
having  man}'  publishers  and  a  varied  career  extending  through  more 
than  half  a  century,  the  publication  of  this  paper  was  suspended  with 
No.  3,f)17,  April  7th,  1835. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  there  have  since  been  so  many  ventures 
in  journalism  that  the  names  of  some  of  the  most  important  ones 
only  can  here  be  given.  The  facts  pertaining  to  them  were  arranged 
by  a  former  librarian  of  Yale. 

In  1891  the  principal  papers  published  in  New  Haven  were  the 
following:  Morning  Journal  and  Courier,  Evening  Register,  Palladium, 
Union,  Morning  News,  Yale  News  and  Conneeticut  Repiddiekancr,  all 
dailies. 

The  weeklies  were  the  Columbian  Register,  Connecticut  Herald  and 
Journal,  Palladium,    Union,   Connecticut  Freie  Pressc,  Connecticut  Republi- 
kaner,    Connecticut    ]'olksblatt.    Nutmegs,  Standard,    Workmen  s  Advocate, 
Weekly  Record  and  Shore  Line  Times. 

Less  frequently  are  issued  the  old  and  popular  American  Journal  of 
Science,  a  bi-monthly,  established  in  1818  by  Professor  Silliman:  the 
New  Englander,  also  a  bi-monthly,  established  in  1843;  Loomis  Musical 
and  Masonic  Journal,  a  monthly,  published  since  1867;  the  Yale  Literary 
Magazine,  established  in  1836;  the  Yale  Co// rrtw/,  established  in  1865,  all 
of  which  have  well  merited  reputations. 

A  number  of  other  publications  were  established  more  recently, 
some  of  which  have  been  successfully  continued,  as  the  Household 
Pilot  and  Modern  Queen,  while  others  suspended  after  a  short 
existence. 

Among  the  dailies  the  Palladium  is  the  oldest,  dating  from  1841. 
The  Weekly  Palladium  was  founded  in  1829.  It  is  a  large,  well  edited 
sheet,  strongly  republican  in  politics.  A  fine  printing  house  is 
occupied. 

The  Nezv  Morning  Journal  and  Courier  is  the  largest  daily  in  the 
city,  and  its  weekly  issue  the  oldest,  its  history  dating  from  October. 
1767,  when  Samuel  and  Thomas  Green  first  issued  their  Connecticut 
Journal.  The  paper  has  seen  many  changes,  but  under  the  Carring- 
tons  has  become  a  staid,  conservative  and  reliable  paper,  whose  poli- 
tics are  also  republican. 

The  weekly  Columbian  Register  was  founded  in  1812,  and  has  since 


HISTORY   OK   Ni;\V    HAVEN   COUNTY.  171 

been  uninterruptedly  issued.  Since  1S4'2  the  Register  has  been  issued 
daily,  and  its  circulation  has  become  greater  than  that  of  any  other 
paper  m  the  state.  Minott  A.  Osborn  was  for  many  years  the  con- 
trolling spirit  of  the  paper,  and  since  his  death,  in  1877,  the  editor  has 
been  Colonel  Norris  G.  Osborn.  It  is  the  representative  democratic 
paper,  not  only  of  the  county  but  of  the  state,  and  wields  a  large 
influence.  vSince  1884  a  fine  printing  house  on  Crown  street  has  been 
occupied. 

The  Ciiiou  was  first  issued  as  a  Sunday  paper,  July  23d,  1871,  and 
was  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  workingmen  of  the  county,  (-)n 
the  1st  of  July,  1873,  the  Uiiio)i  became  a  daily  and  has  since  been  .so 
continued.  Its  politics  in  recent  years  have  been  democratic,  and  the 
paper  is  prosperous. 

The  Nczi.'  Haven  Morning  N^eivs  is  the  youngest  of  the  five  dailies  of 
the  city  devoted  to  general  news.  It  was  first  issued  December  4th. 
1882,  and  it  has  steadily  grown  in  public  favor  ever  since.  It  is 
aggressively  independent  and  very  outspoken  on  all  public  questions, 
being  the  first  paper  in  the  city  to  distinctively  occupy  this  po.sition. 
The  paper  is  very  popular  among  the  laboring  classes  of  the  county. 
"  At  different  times  book  publishing  has  been  very  active.  Durrie 
&  Peck  published  Lovell's  Readers,  and  several  hymn  books  and  other 
valuable  works.  Babcock  &  Co.  published  readers,  school  books,  story 
books,  etc.  Horace  Mansfield  published  Whitfield's  Life  and  Sermons, 
and  sold  6,000  copies.  Voyage  Round  the  World  20,000,  History  of  the 
Mexican  War  30,000,  Life  and  Voyages  of  Americus  Vespucius  l(),00o. 
Bunyan's  Life  and  Times  10,000,  also  Russian  War,  Indian  Wars. 
Livingstone's  Travels,  Life  of  Kossuth,  Remarkable  Events.  Henry 
Howe,  Esq.,  has  also  been  a  diligent  book-maker  and  publisher. 
George  S.  Lester  and  William  Gay  have  also  done  much  to  make  Xew- 
Haven  a  center  of  book  publishing.  H.  B.  Hubbard's  newspaper 
directories,  and  Price  &  Lee's  city  directories  have  become  well  known 
everywhere."* 

The  library  privileges  of  New  Haven  are  unusually  fine  and 
extensive,  even  aside  from  the  great  Yale  Library  and  those  of  the 
several  departments  of  that  institution.  The  main  Yale  Library  was 
founded  at  the  same  time  the  college  was  established,  in  1701,  when 
its  projectors  came  together,  each  bearing  his  gift  of  books,  which 
they  placed  in  care  of  Reverend  Samuel  Russell,  of  Branford,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  college,  which  they  then  and  there  founded.  The 
library  was  removed  from  Saybrook  to  New  Haven  in  1718,  and  has  had 
various  quarters  on  the  college  campus,  but  recently  occupying  the 
fine  buildingf  erected  through  the  munificence  of  the  Hon.  S.  B.  Chit- 
tenden,  a  native  of  Guilford.  A  part  also  remains  in  the  old  library 
building,  completed  in  1844.  Since  1867  a  reading  room  has  been 
maintained  in  connection  with  it.  This  library  has  practically 
*Elijah  C.  Baldwin's  "  Home  World,"  p.  702. 


172  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

absorbed  the  principal  society  libraries  of  the  college,  such  as  the 
Linonian  and  Brothers  of  Unit}'  libraries,  the  former  established  in 
1769.     In  its  keeping  is  also  the  Medical  Library  of  the  university. 

Of  the  department  libraries  that  of  the  law  school  is  the  most 
extensive.  It  was  commenced  in  184o,  but  was  first  placed  upon  a 
permanent  basis  in  1873,  through  the  efforts  of  the  Hon.  James  E. 
English  and  others.  It  is  kept  in  the  upper  story  of  the  county  court 
house  and  embraces  uearh'  10,000  volumes  of  law  and  reference 
books. 

The  library  of  the  Sheffield  Scientific  School,  embracing  more 
than  0,000  volumes,  was  begun  in  1866.  It  received  its  largest  and 
most  valuable  addition  in  1869,  when  Joseph  E.  Sheffield  added  $4,000 
worth  of  books  to  his  former  generous  gifts  to  the  school.  It  contains 
many  valuable  books. 

The  library  of  the  divinity  school  is  less  extensive,  but  in  its 
chosen  field  is  very  valuable.  Henry  Trowbridge  was  one  of  its  most 
generous  benefactors,  his  gifts  beginning  in  1870.  A  new  building  was 
erected  in  1881  for  the  accommodation  of  the  library. 

The  other  special  libraries  are  filled  with  rare  books  and  collections 
gathered  in  the  course  of  many  years,  affording  the  patrons  of  the 
university  unusual  facilities  for  study  and  investigation.  The  aggre- 
gate number  of  books  in  all  these  libraries  greatly  exceeds  one  hun- 
dred thousand  and  is  increasing  more  rapidly  at  present  than  in 
former  years. 

This  abundance  of  books  in  the  university  libraries  long  prevented 
the  growth  and  proper  encouragement  of  the  other  libraries  in  the 
city.  One  of  the  oldest  of  these  was  the  Mechanics'  Librar}-,  main- 
tained by  a  society  of  the  same  name  from  about  1795  until  1815,  when 
it  was  merged  with  the  Social  Library,  incorporated  in  1810.  It  had 
succeeded  in  gathering  together  about  900  books,  at  the  time  of  the 
union,  and  the  latter  had  about  the  same  number  of  books.  The  decline 
of  the  Social  Library  commenced  in  1833,  and  seven  years  later  its 
active  existence  ceased.  That  year  its  books  were  transferred  to  the 
"Young  Mechanics'  Institute."  The  latter  body  was  organized  in 
1828  and  had  in  1840  426  members.  It  was,  as  its  name  implies,  limited 
to  certain  classes.  In  August,  1840,  its  purposes  were  placed  upon  a 
broader  foundation,  and  in  May,  1841,  the  society  was  incorporated  as 
*'  The  New  Haven  Young  Men's  Institute,"  whose  organization  has 
been  continued  until  the  present  time.  In  recent  years,  however,  the 
institute  has  become  less  a  lyceum  and  more  exclusively  a  library. 
In  the  fifty  years  of  its  existence  it  has  been  a  useful  agent  in  the 
city,  for  many  years  maintaining  class  instruction  and  courses  of 
lectures,  by  eminent  and  noted  men.  In  this  period  its  fortunes  varied 
very  much.  In  October,  1856,  the  institute  occupied  its  new  building 
{the  present  Palladium  Block),  which  it  sold  in  1864,  in  consequence 
of  a  debt  of  §22,000.     The  present   building  was  occupied  in   1878. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN"   COUNTY.  173 

The  library  of  the  institute  now  has  more  than  12,000  volumes,  and 
enjoys  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity. 

The  Free  Public  Library  of  New  Haven*  was  established  by  the  city 
government  in  1880.  It  is  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  state  created  by 
municipal  action,  without  any  previous  library  as  a  foundation.  For 
some  years  prior  to  the  founding  of  this  library  a  fruitless  effort  was 
made  to  establish  a  free  library  by  the  joint  action  of  the  Young  Men's 
Institute  and  the  city  of  New  Haven.  That  purpose  having  failed, 
the  city  in  the  year  named  decided  to  act  independently,  and  appro- 
priated for  that  object  $6,000  in  1886,  and  a  like  sum  for  1887.  An 
organization  was  effected  by  choosing  a  board  of  directors,  which  is 
to  include  the  mayor  of  the  city  as  an  ex-officio  member.  The  first 
board  was  composed  of  James  N.  States,  C.  T.  Driscoll,  C.  S.  Mersick, 
Benton  Mansfield,  Joseph  Porter,  C.  S.  Hastings,  Charles  Kleiner,  F. 
J.  Bigelow,  John  H.  Leeds  and  the  mayor,  Samuel  A.  York.  Later 
Willis  K.  Stetson  was  chosen  librarian. 

Rooms  for  the  use  of  the  library  were  leased  at  739  Chapel  street, 
where  its  reading  room  was  opened,  February  2d,  1887.  On  the  7th 
of  June  following  the  library  proper  was  opened  with  about  2..")00 
volumes.  The  demands  upon  it  were  soon  so  great  that  the  supply  of 
reading  matter  was  found  insufficient.  The  court  of  common  council 
was  now  asked  for  an  additional  appropriation  of  §3,000,  which  was 
granted,  and  more  books  were  purchased.  The  demand  for  more 
room  also  became  very  urgent. 

The  success  of  the  library  encouraged  the  city  to  secure  the  pas- 
sage of  a  special  act,  by  the  general  assembh',  which  authorized  it  to 
issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $100,000,  to  provide  a  suitable  building. 
From  the  sale  of  these  bonds  a  fund  of  $110,000  was  realized,  $70,000 
of  which  was  used  in  1889  in  the  purchase  of  the  Third  church  prop- 
erty, opposite  the  east  end  of  the  green.  In  1890  $3."i,000  more  was 
expended  on  the  present  library  building,  which  was  ready  for  iise 
January  2d,  1891.  These  changes,  under  C.  H.  Stilson.  supervising 
architect,  resulted  in  an  edifice  capacious,  attractive  and  substantial, 
both  in  its  interior  and  exterior.  Besides  the  library  room  proper, 
which  has  a  capacity  for  more  than  75,000  volumes,  there  are  free 
reading  rooms  for  ladies  and  gentlemen,  distinct  and  separate,  a 
reference  library  room,  offices  and  a  lecture  room,  with  sittings  for 
200  persons. 

Since  1888  the  common  council  has  appropriated  $10,000  yearly  for 
the  support  of  the  library,  that  being  the  maximum  amount  allowed 
by  the  act  authorizing  the  library.  By  a  decision  of  the  superior 
court,  in  January.  1891,  the  library  is  entitled  to  the  use  of  the  Philip 
Marett  fund,  of  about  $65,000,  the  income  of  which  will  hereafter  be 
devoted  to  the  purchase  of  books.      < 

The  library  has  more  than  13,000  volumes  of  well  selected  books. 

*From  data  by  Willis  K.  Stetson. 


174  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

and  it  is  purposed  to  add  to  it  at  the  rate  of  3,000  volumes  per  year. 
The  patronage  of  the  library  shows  a  circulation  equaling  125,000  books 
per  year,  which  is  steadily  increasing.  This  has  already  become  a 
favorite  and  most  potent  educational  factor,  and  has  a  large  field  of 
usefulness  before  it,  since  its  benefits  extend  to  every  class  of 
citizens. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  New  Haven  County  Bar  Associa- 
tion has  a  library  of  more  than  a  thou.sand  volumes,  mo.st  of  which 
have  been  gathered  since  1<S77,  but  some  of  the  volumes  were  collected 
for  this  purpose  as  early  as  1848.  In  1880  the  law  library  of  Alfred 
Blackman  was  added  by  bequest.  This  library  is  kept  in  the  county 
court  house. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Societj', 
November  14th,  1862,  that  body  has  gathered  a  valuable  library  of 
about  two  thousand  volumes  and  more  than  six  thousand  pamphlets, 
most  of  them  treating  on  historical  subjects.  Its  collection  of  curios 
and  antique  objects  embraces  a  number  of  rare  and  valuable  articles. 

In  1871  the  Hillhouse  High  School  building,  now  in  use,  was 
erected,  after  which  the  collection  of  a  library  was  begun.  About 
$500  is  expended  annually  for  books  of  a  reference  and  miscellaneous 
nature,  and  the  library  now  has  about  8,000  volumes. 

The  first  church  of  New  Haven  and  the  town  are  almost  coeval, 
and  for  many  years  they  were  so  intimately  blended  that  the  history 
of  one  was  the  history  of  the  other.  The  planters  of  Quinnipiac, 
as  has  already  been  .stated,  came  here  with  a  purpose  to  found  a 
religious  community.  They  were,  with  few  exceptions,  Puritans  or 
Dissenters  from  the  Church  of  England.  Their  leader  was  Reverend 
John  Davenport,  an  ordained  clergyman,  who  had  been  the  vicar  of 
St.  Stephen's  church,  Coleman  street,  London,  but  who  had  become  a 
non-conformist,  and  being  persecuted,  had  .sought  the  larger  liberty 
of  the  New  World.  He  was  followed  by  many  of  his  former  parish- 
ioners and  others  in  .sympathy  with  him,  .so  that,  to  some  extent,  he 
simply  continued  as  the  minister,  with  those  changed  conditions. 
Hence,  their  religious  worship  was  scarcely  interrupted  from  the 
time  they  left  their  old  homes.  Arriving  at  their  new  ones,  in  the 
middle  of  April,  1638,  the  first  Sabbath  was  observed  by  holding  a 
religious  meeting  under  the  branches  of  a  large  oak  tree,  which 
stood  near  the  corner  of  George  and  College  streets.  Mr.  Davenport 
preached  on  the  temptations  of  the  wilderness,  from  Matthew  IV:1. 
He  left  the  recorded  testimony  that  he  "  had  a  good  day."  Soon 
thereafter  they  observed  a  day  of  fa.sting  and  prayer,  which  prepared 
them  to  enter  a  covenant,  the  gist  of  which  was  that  "  they  would 
all  of  them  be  ordered  by  the  rules  which  the  Scripture  held  forth 
to  them." 

Under  this  covenant  they  were  enabled  to  live  for  a  period  without 
having  a  regular  church  organization,  and    thus   learn  each  other's 


HLSTOKV    I  IF    NKW    IIAVEX   COUNTY.  175 

views  and  become  acquainted  witli  each  other's  characters  before 
formally  uniting  in  a  church  state.  It  also  enabled  them  to  properly 
attend  to  their  temporal  affairs  as  a  community  having  a  common  pur- 
pose but  no  prescribed  forms  to  direct  them.  This  probationary 
period  was  ended  June  4th,  1039,  when  all  the  free  i^lanters  (those 
properly  qualified  to  become  church  members)  were  assembled  in  the 
large  barn  of  Mr.  Newman,  where  they  solemnly  proceeded  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  their  civil  and  religious  polity.  Mr.  Davenport  intro- 
duced the  affairs  of  this  occasion  by  preaching  a  sermon  from  the 
text :  "  Wisdom  hath  builded  her  house,  she  hath  hewn  out  her  seven 
pillars."'  A  plan  of  procedure  was  now  adopted  by  the  111  persons 
participating  in  this  meeting.  The  sixth  section  of  the  agreement 
pertained  especially  to  the  church  and  was  as  follows: 

"  Whether  are  you  all  willing  and  do  agree  in  this,  that  twelve  men 
be  chosen  that  their  fitness  for  the  foundation  work  may  be  tried, 
however  there  may  be  more  named,  yet  it  may  be  in  their  power  who 
are  chosen  to  reduce  them  to  twelve,  and  it  be  in  the  power  of  tho<e 
twelve  to  chuse  out  of  themselves  7  that  shall  be  most  approved  of, 
the  major  part  to  begin  the  church." 

In  accordance  with  this  provision  the  following  twelve  men  were 
then  chosen  for  the  foundation  work  of  the  church:  Theophilus  Eaton, 
John  Davenport,  Robert  Newman,  Matthew  Gilbert,  Richard  Melbon, 
Nathaniel  Turner,  Ezekiel  Cheever,  Thomas  Fugill,  John  Punder.son. 
William  Andrews  and  Jeremiah  Dixon. 

In  the  course  of  a  little  more  than  two  months  and  a  half,  after  the 
matter  had  received  proper  consideration  the  major  part,  or  the  seven 
of  the  "  foundation  men,"  most  approved  of,  were  selected  for  the  pil- 
lars of  the  church,  viz.:  Theophilus  Eaton,  John  Davenport,  Robert 
Newman,  Matthew  Gilbert,  Thomas  Fugill,  John  Punderson  and  Jere- 
miah Dixon.  "  By  these  seven  pensons  covenanting  together  and  then 
receiving  others  into  their  fellowship,  the  First  Church  of  Christ  in 
New  Haven  was  gathered  and  constituted  on  the  21st  of  August, 
1639."* 

The  church  thus  formed  was  in  its  order  Congregational,  and  in  due 
course  of  time  became  known  as  the  First  Congregational  Church  in 
New  Haven.  Not  long  after  the  church  was  organized  Mr.  Davenport 
was  properly  inducted  into  the  pastoral  office,  the  elders  of  the  Hart- 
ford church  being  present  to  assist  in  the  ceremonies.  The  other 
officials  were  soon  after  elected.  "  It  was  held  in  those  days  that  there 
should  be  in  every  church,  if  possible,  a  pastor,  a  teacher,  a  ruling 
elder  and  one  or  more  deacons. "f  Robert  Newman  and  Matthew  Gil- 
bert were  early  elected  deacons,  and  about  1644  the  former  was 
ordained  a  ruling  elder.  About  the  .same  time  Reverend  William 
Hooke  was  ordained  teacher.  The  latter  was  practically  an  assistant 
;  minister.     In  1656  he  returned  to  England,  where  he  became  chaplain 

*Bacon's  Discourses.        tAtwater's  New  Haven  Colony,  p.  33S. 


176  HISTORY    OK   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

to  Oliver  Cromwell.  Reverend  Nichola.s  Street  was  ordained  to  fill 
the  office  of  teacher,  caused  by  his  retirement,  and  was  the  colleague 
of  Mr.  Davenport  as  long  as  the  latter  remained,  when,  until  his  death 
in  1674,  he  was  the  only  elder  of  the  church,  Robert  Newman  having 
also  returned  to  England.  In  1668  Mr.  Davenport  removed  to  Boston, 
where  he  died  March  11th,  1670,  72  years  of  age.  He  was  buried  in 
the  Stone  Chapel  burial  ground  at  Boston,  in  the  same  tomb  with  his 
friend,  John  Cotton. 

The  first  meeting  house  was  built  agreeably  to  an  order  passed  by 
the  general  court,  November  25th,  1639,  and  cost  about  ^'SOO.  It  was 
completed  the  following  spring.  The  house  stood  near  the  center  of 
the  market  square  or  meeting  house  green,  and  was  of  wood.  50  feet 
square.  In  appearance  it  was  like  a  truncated  pyramid,  surmounted 
by  a  "  tower  and  turret."  There  were  al.so  "  banisters  and  rails  on 
the  meeting  house  top." 

"  The  congregation  was  called  together  by  the  beat  of  a  drum.  A 
military  guard  was  stationed  in  the  house,  wdiich  was  surmounted  by 
a  tower,  in  which  was  a  sentinel  to  give  an  alarm  in  case  of  any  incur- 
sion of  hostile  Indians.  Around  the  church  were  three  pieces  of 
artillery  ready  for  use.  It  stood  only  about  thirty  years.  In  the 
meeting  house  the  men  and  women  were  seated  separately,  and, 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  time,  with  regard  to  rank.  The  first 
drum  was  beaten  about  eight  o'clock,  in  the  tower  of  the  meeting 
house,  and  through  the  streets  of  the  town.  At  the  second  drum  beat- 
ing, families  came  forth  from  their  dwellings  and  walked  in  orderly 
procession  to  the  house  of  God,  children  following  their  parents  to  the 
door,  though  not  allowed  to  sit  with  them.  The  ministers  in  the  pul- 
pit woregownsand  bands,  as  they  had  done  in  England.  The  children 
were  placed  by  themselves.  The  place  for  the  armed  men,  or  soldiers, 
was  near  the  door."* 

In  1662  the  upper  turret  was  taken  down.  This  house  was  used 
for  all  the  meetings  of  the  planters.  Being  poorly  built  it  gave  place  to 
a  new  one,  which  was  ready  for  use  in  October,  1670.  The  following 
month  the  old  one  was  ordered  to  be  sold  "  to  the  town's  best  advant- 
age." This  second  meeting  house  also  had  a  pyramidal  roof,  with  a  bell- 
fr}',  in  which,  in  the  spring  of  1682,  a  bell  costing  £\1  was  hung.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  townsmen  (selectmen)  who  controlled  the 
house  reported  "  that  they  had  agreed  with  George  Pardee  for  his  son 
Joseph  to  ring  the  bell  for  the  town's  occasion  on  the  Sabbath  and 
other  meetings,  as  it  was  wont  to  be  by  the  drum;  and  also  to  ring  the 
bell  at  nine  of  the  clock  every  night."  This  practice,  with  some  slight 
modification,  has  continued  ever  since.  The  second  meeting  house 
was  enlarged,  and  the  internal  arrangement  changed  in  1699-1700. 
In  that  condition  it  was  used  until  the  winter  of  1756,  when  the  third, 
or  brick,  meeting  house  was  erected.     The  two  former  houses  had  been 

*Henry  Howe. 


HISTORV    OK    NKW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  177 

built  by  the  town,  but  this  one  was  erected  by  the  church  itself.  It 
was  a  plain  structure,  HO  by  72^  feet.  The  tower  was  at  the  north 
end,  through  which  was  an  entrance,  another  was  at  the  south  end, 
and  a  third  from  the  east  side,  upon  Temple  street.  The  pulpit  was 
on  the  west  side.  It  was  demolished  in  1813  to  make  place  for  the 
present  Center  church  building,  which  stands  a  little  west  of  the  old 
site. 

The  present  edifice  is  the  only  one  erected  by  the  First  Ecclesias- 
tical Society  of  New  Haven.  It  cost  about  §34,000  and  was  dedicated 
December  27th,  1814.  The  house  has  been  kept  in  good  repair  and  is 
in  an  attractive  and  inviting  condition,  and  has  large  accommodations. 

After  the  death  of  Reverend  Nicholas  Street,  in  1674,  the  min- 
isterial, and  teacher's  offices  were  supplied,  for  about  ten  years,  by 
Reverends  John  Harriman  and  Joseph  Taylor.  In  August,  1684,  ^Ir. 
James  Pierpont  became  a  candidate  for  the  pastoral  office,  and  July 
2d,  1685,  his  ordination  took  place,  and  he  was  the  pastor  until  Novem- 
ber, 1714.  He  was  an  able  man  and  zealously  worked  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  Yale  College.  He  was  also  a  leading  member  of  the  synod 
which  formulated  the  famous  "  Saybrook  Platform." 

July  4th,  171G,  Mr.  Jo.seph  Noyes,  who  had  for  three  years  been  a 
tutor  in  Yale,  at  Saybrook,  was  ordained  as  the  successor  of  Reverend 
Pierpont,  and  for  a  score  of  years  his  ministry  was  peaceful  and  suc- 
cessful, when  it  was  characterized  by  a  troublesome  period,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  controversy  between  the  adherents  of  the  Saybi'ook 
Platform  and  those  who  dissented  from  it.  As  a  result  the  church  was 
divided  and  new  organizations  were  formed  in  opposition  to  it,  after 
it  had  been  the  sole  religious  body  more  than  one  hundred  years. 
Mr.  Noyes  died  in  the  pastoral  office  in  June,  1761.  Before  his  death, 
in  March,  1758,  Reverend  Chat^ncej'  Whittlesey  had  been  ordained  as 
his  colleague  pastor,  and  succeeded  him  as  pastor,  serving  the  church 
until  his  death,  in  1787.  "  The  church  and  congregation  were  per- 
fectly united  in  him,  and  during  the  whole  period  of  his  ministry 
there  appear  to  have  been  no  division  among  them,  and  no  alienation 
of  this  affection  for  him."-' 

Reverend  James  Dana,  who  had  been  pastor  of  the  Wallingford 
church,  became  the  next  pastor  of  the  First  church,  in  April,  1789,  and 
was  dismissed  in  1805.  Doctor  Dana  was  one  of  the  ablest  ministers  of 
his  time,  but  had  become  unfitted  by  age  for  the  active  duties  of  the 
pastorate.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1806,  by  Professor  Moses  Stuart,  who 
remained  four  years,  when  he  resigned  to  connect  himself  with  the 
Andover  Seminary.  His  short  ministry  gave  a  new  impulse  to  the 
religious  life  of  the  church. 

Reverend  Nathaniel  W.  Taylor  became  the  pastor  April  8th,  1812, 
and  after  a  little  more  than  ten  years  he  also  left  to  fill  a  professorship 
in  a  theological  .seminary. 

*Dr.  Bacon. 
12 


178  HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN"   COUNTY. 

Reverend  Leonard  Bacon  was  installed  as  the  pastor  March  9th' 
1825,  and  was  in  active  service  until  September,  1806,  but  remained 
pastor  iincritiis  until  his  death,  December  24th,  1881,  aged  more  than 
79  years.  How  well  his  able  services  were  appreciated  and  how  highly 
he  was  esteemed  is  shown  by  the  tablet  placed  by  the  society  in  the 
south  wall  of  the  church,  on  the  center  of  New  Haven  green: 

"  By  the  Grace  of  God, 

Leonard  B.^con 

a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  all  men  for  His  sake,  here  preached  the  Gospel 
for  fifty-seven  j^ears.  Fearing  God.  and  having  no  fear  beside,  loving  righteous- 
ness and  hating  iniquity,  friend  of  liberty  and  law,  helper  of  Christian  missions, 
teacher  of  teachers,  promoter  of  every  good,  he  blessed  the  city  and  nation  by 
ceaseless  labors  and  a  holy  life,  and  departed  peacefully  into  rest  December  '24th, 
1881,  leaving  the  world  better  for  his  having  Hved  in  it." 

Reverend  George  Leon  Walker  was  the  pastor  from  186S  until  1872; 
Reverend  Alphonso  Noble,  D.D.,  from  November,  1875,  until  April, 
1879;  and  the  present  pastor,  Reverend  Newman  Smyth,  D.D.,  was 
installed  September  20th,  1882. 

The  parish  of  the  First  Society  has  3U0  families,  who  furnish  511) 
members.  The  aggregate  membership  has  been  very  large  and  has 
been  reduced  by  the  formation  of  many  other  churches,  this  body 
being  truly  the  mother  of  all  the  churches  in  the  county. 

The  North  Church,  or  Church  in  the  L^nited  Society,  is  the  oldest  of 
the  churches  in   the  city  formed   out  of   the  First  church.     It  was 
organized   May  7th,  1742,  of  IS  male  and  25  female  members.     In  a 
few  weeks  the  number  was  about  80.     With  few  exceptions  these  had 
been  "  New  Light  "  members  of  the   First  church,  or  such  as  had 
been  brought  to  a  consciousness  of  the  need  of  a  holier  life,  by  the 
preaching  in   the  "  Great  awakening  "  by  Whitefield,  Tennent  and 
James  Davenport  from  1735  until  1743.     The  latter  was  a  great-grand- 
.son  of  the  first  minister  of  the  town,  and  was  emotional  and  zealous 
to  an  unusual  degree.     His  intense  earnestness  secured  him  a  hearing, 
and  having  a  certain   kind  of  eloquence  he  powerfully  swayed  the 
masses,  many  of  whom  began  to  lead  reformed  lives.     The  "  awaken- 
ing "  aroused  great  opposition  and  divided  many  churches  into  factions, 
called,  popularly,  "Old  Lights,"  or  believers  in  the  principles  of  the 
"  Savbrook    Platform,"  and  "  New   Lights,"  or  those  who  dissented 
from  that  creed  and  gave  countenance  to  the  methods  of  the  revival- 
ists in  order  to  arouse  a  greater  interest  in  church  work.     In  New 
Haven  the  feeling  was  so  strong  that  those   who  withdrew  from  the 
First  church  were  called  "Seceders,"  and  were  treated  with  but  little 
consideration.       The    "  Old    Lights "    controlled    the    Ecclesiastical 
Society,  and  while  under  the  Act  of  Toleration,  the  "New  Lights" 
might  set  up  their  own  worship,  they  were  not  relieved  from  paying 
rates  for  the  support  of  Mr.  Noyes.      The  "  Old  Lights  "  being  in 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  179 

power,  also  passed  oppressive  laws  to  embarrass  and  suppress,  if  possi- 
ble, the  "  New  Lights." 

In  the.se  matters  there  was  so  much  feeling  manifested  that  when 
Nathan  Beers,  a  prominent  man  and  a  "  New  Light,"  removed  by 
water  from  Stratford,  in  order  that  he  might  enjoy  the  services  of  Mr. 
Bird,  "  he  could  not  find  any  willing  to  bring  his  effects  from  the 
vessel,  and  was  obliged  to  go  out  of  town  and  hire  a  farmer  for  that 
purpose."*  And  after  the  "  New  Lights  "  had  made  their  arrange- 
ments to  build  a  meeting  house  they  were  hindered  in  many  petty 
ways.  Their  building  timber  was  cut  into  pieces,  and  it  was  found 
necessary  to  provide  a  guard  to  protect  their  property.  An  effort  was 
also  made  by  the  society  to  suppress  the  work  of  building  by  making 
it  appear  as  a  nuisance.  However,  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Elm  and  Court 
streets  was  .secured,  upon  which  the  building  of  a  meeting  house  was 
begun  in  1744,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  it  was  completed.  It 
was  painted  a  lead  color,  and  from  this  circumstance  it  was  called  the 
"  Blue  Meeting  House."  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  it  was  enlarged 
and  a  large  steeple  added  to  it. 

In  1748  a  stated  preacher  was  secured  in  the  Reverend  John 
Curtiss,  but  he  was  not  in.stalled  as  pastor.  The  finst  to  serve  in 
that  capacity  was  Reverend  Samuel  Bird,  who  was  installed  October, 
ll'il.  He  was  a  man  of  much  ability,  a  popular  preacher,  "  whose 
form  and  manner  were  commanding,  his  voice  powerful,  his  elocution 
handsome  and  impressive,  his  sentiments  evangelical."  The  church 
rapidly  increased  in  numbers  and  influence  under  his  preaching,  in 
spite  of  all  oppressive  measures,  so  that,  in  1757,  there  were  more 
members  of  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  (still  the  only  one  in  the 
town)  who  favored  Mr.  Bird  than  those  who  favored  Mr.  Noyes,  and 
they  proceeded  to  vote  the  mmister's  .salary  to  Mr.  Bird.  At  this  time 
the  "Old  Lights"  had  111  votes,  and  "  New  Lights  "  212.  The  old 
society  was  now  very  willing  to  consent  to  a  division  of  the  parish 
interests  and  to  consent  to  the  formation  of  a  new  society.  Accord- 
ingly, in  October,  1759,  the  "  New  Lights  "  were  incorporated  by  the 
name  of  the  "  White  Haven  Society."  For  some  time  the  feeling 
between  the  two  societies  was  not  of  the  most  friendly  nature,  but  at 
the  end  of  fifty  years  the  societies  were  altogether  harmonious. 

Mr.  Bird's  health  failing,  he  was  dismissed  in  1767,  and  Reverend 
Jonathan  Edwards  was  called  as  pastor.  He  agreed  to  accept  upon 
condition  that  the  Half  Way  Covenant,  which  the  new  church  had 
adopted,  and  to  which  he  was  strongly  opposed,  should  be  repealed. 
A  major  part  agreed  to  do  this,  but  68  persons  declined  and  protested 
against  Mr.  Edwards'  settlement.  He  was  ordained  January  5th,  1769, 
and  at  once,  b}'  his  evangelical  preaching,  convinced  those  who  had 
opposed  him  that  their  opinions  were  very  diverse.  Before  the  end 
of  the  year  the)'  withdrew  and  set  up  their  own  worship  in  the  state 

*Henry  Howe. 


180  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

house.  They  secured  permission  to  build  a  meeting  house  north  of 
the  First  church  and  put  up  one,  which  was  ready  for  use  in  Decem- 
ber, 1770.  In  this  building,  June  20th,  1771,  was  organized,  in 
due  form,  a  society  with  the  name  of  the  "  Church  of  Christ  in  Fair 
Haven,"  which,  as  a  matter  of  course,  adopted  the  half  way  covenant. 

From  the  time  of  secession  from  the  White  Haven  church,  Septem- 
ber, 1769,  until  a  regular  pastor  was  secured,  in  1778,  Mr.  Bird  fre- 
quently preached  to  them,  and  his  connection  gave  the  new  church  a 
standing  which  it  might  not  otherwise  have  had.  In  February,  1773, 
AUyn  Mather  was  ordained  as  the  first  pastor,  and  was  dismissed  in 
1784  on  account  of  sickness.  In  November,  1786,  Samuel  Austin  was 
ordained  as  the  second  pastor,  and  the  feeling  between  the  two  new 
societies  had  so  far  subsided  that  Doctor  Edwards  preached  the  ordi- 
nation sermon.  He  resigned  in  June,  1790,  and  was  the  last  settled 
minister. 

In  the  White  Haven  parish  Doctor  Edwards  continued  until  IMay, 

1795,  when  he  was  dismissed,  and  that  church  was  now  also  without  a 
pastor.     This  made  the  way  for  a  union  jDossible,  and  November  27th, 

1796,  that  object  was  accomplished,  the  merged  bodies  taking  the 
name  of  the  "Church  of  Christ  in  the  United  Societies  of  White 
Haven  and  Fair  Haven."  In  1815  the  legislature  passed  an  act  abbre- 
viating the  name  to  "  United  Society,"  and  since  that  time  the  church 
is  known  by  the  name  at  the  head  of  this  article. 

The  United  Society  now  having  two  houses  of  worship  held  meet- 
ings in  each  of  them  in  alternate  months,  continuing  this  custom  about 
16  years,  until  the  Fair  Haven  house  was  taken  down  to  make  room 
for  the  present  North  church.  This  was  erected  in  1813-14  by  twenty 
members  of  the  United  Society  who  engaged  to  build  it,  receiving  as 
their  pay  the  old  property  of  the  society.  This  house  is  larger  and  cost 
about  §33,000.     It  has  been  kept  in  good  repair. 

Since  the  above  union  the  pastors  have  been:  Reverends  John 
Gemmill,  D.D.,  1798-1801;  Samuel  Merwin,  1805-31;  Leicester  A. 
Sawyer,  1835-7;  Samuel  W.  S.  Dutton,  1S38-66;"  Edward  L.  Clark, 
1867-72;  Edward  Hawes,  1873-84;  Theodore  T.  Munger,  1885. 

Early  in  1884  the  church  was  strengthened  by  the  absorbtion  of 
the  Third  Congregational  church,  there  being  now  nearly  700  mem- 
bers. 

The  growth  of  Yale  College  and  the  difficulty  in  finding  services 
adapted  to  the  desires  of  many  students  induced  the  formation  of 
Yale  College  Church,  June  30th,  1757.  President  Clap  encouraged  the 
movement,  and  the  church  was  inclined  to  the  "  New  Light  "  doctrine. 
The  pastors  have  been  as  follows:  Reverends  Naphtali  Daggett, 
Samuel  Wales,  Timothy  Dwight,  Eleazer  Thompson  Fitch,  George 
Park  Fisher.  At  present  there  is  no  pastor.  Forty-five  families 
belong  to  the  church,  and  there  are  several  hundred  members. 
*Died  January  26th,  1866,  much  lamented. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  181 

The  Third  Congreo^atioiial  Church  was  organized  .September  Oth, 
1826,  and  first  worshipped  in  a  lecture  room  of  the  ]?irst  Societ3^  on 
Orange  street.  In  1829  a  meeting  house  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city, 
on  Chapel  and  Union  streets,  was  occupied  and  used  until  1839.  Saund- 
er's  Hall,  on  Chapel  and  Orange  streets,  was  the  next  place  of  worship 
for  two  years.  In  1841  and  until  1846  a  meetinghouse  on  Court  street, 
now  a  Jewish  synagogue,  was  used.  The  third  meeting  house  was  on 
Church  street,  opposite  the  east  end  of  the  green,  which  has  been 
remodelled  for  the  use  of  the  New  Haven  Free  Library.  The  congre- 
gation vacated  it  in  1884,  when  it  was  merged  with  the  United  or 
North  church,  on  the  green.  This  change  was  brought  about  by  the 
movement  of  population  toward  the  outskirts  of  the  city  and  the  too 
close  proximity  of  three  Congregational  churches  in  the  center  of  the 
city. 

The  Dixwell  Avenue  Church  was  organized  in  September,  1829,  and 
was  long  known  as  the  Temple  Street  church.  The  members  are 
colored  people,  numbering  140.  The  present  meeting  house  has  only 
been  occupied  half  a  dozen  years,  since  the  house  on  Temple  street 
was  sold.  Prior  to  this  church  man}'  of  the  members  were  in  full 
communion  with  the  members  of  the  First  and  Second  churches. 

The  College  Street  Church  was  formed  August  31st,  1831,  but  did 
not  have  its  own  meeting  house  on  this  street  until  1848.  From  1836 
until  the  reinoval  the  church  occupied  a  meeting  house  on  Church 
street.     It  has  368  members. 

The  Church  of  the  Redeemer  was  organized  November  4th,  1838, 
as  the  Chapel  Street  church,  the  old  building  of  the  Third  church,  on 
Union  street,  being  occupied.  A  new  meeting  house  was  afterward 
erected  on  Orange  and  Wall  streets,  when  the  present  name  was 
taken  by  the  church.  The  Reverend  John  E.  Todd  has  been  the  pastor 
since  1869.  The  church  has  more  than  500  members.  Mission  sei"- 
vices  on  Oak  street  are  maintained  by  this  church. 

The  Davenport  Church  began  as  a  mission  of  the  First  church,  the 
first  chapel  being  on  Franklin  street.  The  church  was  organized 
April  22d,  1862.  The  chapel  occupied  was  destroyed  May  1st,  1864. 
In  the  course  of  ten  years  the  new  chapel  on  Greene  street  was  given 
up  and  the  present  edifice  occupied.  The  pastor  since  1874  has  been 
Reverend  I.  C.  Meserve,  and  the  church  has  nearly  600  members. 

The  Howard  Avenue  Church  was  organized  December  27th,  1865, 
and  had  as  its  first  pastor  the  Reverend  Orlando  H.  White.  In  his 
ministry  the  church  edifice  was  erected.  The  membership,  at  first  not 
large,  has  increased  to  more  than  300.  A  number  of  the  constituent 
members  were  formerly  connected  with  the  South  Congregational 
church  on  Columbus  avenue.  The  house  occupied  was  completed  in 
1852,  mainly  by  Gerard  Hallock  of  New  York,  and  for  a  time  the 
church  prospered.  During  the  war  the  congregation  was  disrupted 
and  as  a  consequence  the  Howard  Avenue  church  was  formed.     The 


182  HIST(-)RY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

building,  after  being  occupied  some  time,   was  sold  to  the  Roman 
Catholics  in  187.'),  and  is  now  their  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 

The  Humphrey  Street  Church  had  its  beginning  in  a  mission  of 
the  First  church,  which  built  a  chapel  in  a  section  of  the  city  not 
before  supplied  with  church  privileges.  The  church  was  organized 
June  23d,  1869,  and  has  greatly  prospered.  There  are  nearly  350  mem- 
bers. The  present  fine  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1882  and  dedi- 
cated January  18th,  1888. 

The  Taylor  Church  was  also  fostered  as  a  mission  of  the  First 
church.  It  was  organized  February  6th,  1871.  The  inembership  is 
small  but  increasing. 

The  Dwight  Place  Church  was  organized  with  this  name  Decem- 
ber  5th,  1872.  It  is  the  successor  of  the  Howe  Street  Church,  and  the 
latter  properly  followed  as  the  successor  of  the  Park  Street  Church, 
gathered  about  1840.  The  church  edifice  at  Dwight  place  was  com- 
pleted in  1870,  and  is  the  third  one  occiipied  by  the  above  bodies. 
The  church  is  large  and  prosperous,  the  members  numbering  more 
than  600.-  - 

The  Ferry  Street  Church,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  was 
organized  April  28th,  1887.  Two  j^ears  later  58  members  were 
reported. 

The  Emanuel  Church  was  organized  of  Swedish  members  Decem- 
ber 13th,  1888.     The  following  year  there  were  44  members. 

The  organization  of  a  congregation  of  Danes,  as  a  free  church,  was 
still  more  recent. 

In  addition  to  these  some  of  the  above  churches  are  active  in  the 
work  of  extension  and  support  missions  in  various  parts  of  the  town. 

There  are  also  two  flourishing  Congregational  churches  at  Fair 
Haven*  and  one  at  Westville. 

During  the  war  for  the  Union,  when  the  South  Congregational 
church  divided  in  consequence  of  political  affiliations  of  the  members, 
an  effort  was  made  to  form  a  Presbyterian  church  out  of  some 
of  the  discordant  elements  and  others.  The  attempt  did  not  succeed. 
In  1885,  however,  another  opportunity  was  offered  to  form  such  a 
society  after  the  dissolution  of  the  Third  Congregational  church,  and 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  was  organized.  The  lecture  room  of 
the  Third  church  was  first  used  as  a  place  of  worship,  but  recentl}'  a 
church  building  was  erected  on  Elm  street,  west  of  State,  which  is 
now  occupied.  The  church  has  a  small  membership,  but  is  a  growing 
body. 

In  the  order  of  time  the  Episcopalians  rank  second  as  a  religious 
body  in  the  town  of  New  Haven.  As  early  as  the  latter  part  of  the 
Seventeenth  century  there  were  some  churchmen  here,  and  later  much 
attention  was  directed  to  that  belief,  when,  in  1722,  the  rector  of  Yale 
College  and  others  declared  in  its  favor.  Nevertheless,  thirty  more 
*See  account  of  Fair  Haven. 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  183 

years  elapsed  before  a  church  society  was  successfully  established. 
Earlier  efforts  in  this  direction  proved  futile  on  account  of  the  deter- 
mined opposition  to  any  other  organization  than  those  of  the  Puritan 
church.  Hence,  the  purpose  of  Reverend  Jonathan  Arnold,  in  1736-8, 
to  form  a  society  and  build  a  church  upon  a  tract  of  land  devised  for 
that  object  by  a  churchman  in  London,  proved  unsuccessful.  Nothing 
effective  was  done  until  17r)2,  when  Enos  Ailing  and  Isaac  Doolittle 
purchased  a  lot  for  a  church,  which  was  properly  the  beginning  of 
Trinity  Parish,  which  is  the  oldest  Episcopal  organization  in  the  town. 
In  17.53  Reverend  Ebenezer  Punderson,  a  missionary  of  the  "  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  took  up  his  resi- 
dence here  as  the  first  settled  minister.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rever- 
end Solomon  Palmer,  and  the  latter  in  turn  by  Reverend  Bela  Hub- 
bard, whose  ministry  here  began  in  1767.  Both  were  missionaries  of 
the  London  Society,  but  after  1785  the  parish  solely  supported  Mr. 
Hubbard.  Like  his  predecessors,  he  was  a  native  of  this  county,  and 
had  also  graduated  from  Yale.  His  record  of  parish  work  reveals  the 
fact  that  in  1772,  •'  the  souls,  white  and  black,  belonging  to  the  church 
in  New  Haven  are  503,  and  in  my  church  in  West  Haven  there  are 
220."  This  was  an  increase  of  about  one-third  over  the  number 
belonging  when  he  became  the  minister. 

In  1770  the  officers  of  Trinity  parish  were,  as  recorded  in  Mr.  Hub- 
bard's "Notitia":  "  Mr.  Isaac  Doolittle  and  Capt.  Stephen  Mansfield, 
Church  Wardens;  Mr.  Enos  Ailing,  Clerk:  Capt.  Christopher  Kilby, 
Capt.  Abiathar  Camp  and  Mr.  John  Miles,  Vestrymen;  James  Powers, 
Sexton." 

The  small  church  built  in  17.-)3  was  enlarged  in  1788,  and  a  bell 
hung  in  the  belfry  in  1793.  The  following  year  the  building  was 
painted.  Side  galleries  were  projected  in  1797,  and  a  stove  was  sup- 
plied in  18(16. 

On  the  6th  of  December,  1812,  Doctor  Hubbard  died,  after  having 
been  for  nearly  45  years  the  minister  of  the  parish,  as  missionary  and 
rector.  He  was  an  able  man  and  much  beloved  by  the  entire  com- 
munity. 

In  1812  the  parish  received  the  consent  of  the  town  to  erect  a  new 
church  on  the  green,  and  a  site  on  the  south  central  part  was  set  aside 
for  its  use.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  May  17th,  1814,  and  when  the 
church  was  consecrated,  February  22d,  1816,  it  was  claimed  for  it  to 
have  been  the  finest  Gothic  church  building  in  New  England.  In 
1884  it  was  much  enlarged  and  improved,  and  now  has  1,400  .sittings. 
The  first  minister  in  this  new  Trinity  church  was  Reverend  Harry 
Crosswell,  who  was  the  rector  of  the  parish  from  January  1st,  1815, 
until  his  death,  March  13th,  1858.  The  following  year  the  Reverend 
Edwin  Harwood  was  elected  rector  and  still  so  serves.  The  parish 
has  been  very  active  in  the  extension  of  church  work,  and  the  rectors 
have  had  the  service  of  many  colleague  ministers.     In  1890  there  were 


184  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEX    COL'XTV. 

in  the  parish  470  families,  639  registered  communicants,  and  a  total 
expenditure  of  §18,000  for  church  and  charitable  purposes. 

vSt.  Paul's  Church  had  its  origin  as  a  chapel  for  Trinity  parish.  The 
chapel  was  occupied  in  18B(  i.  and  the  services  were  maintained  by  Trinity 
until  the  spring  of  1S4."J,  when  St.  Paul's  parish  was  created,  with  Rever- 
end Samuel  Cooke  as  the  rector.  The  church  was  improved  in  184."),  and 
enlarged  and  renovated  in  1873.  This  parish  is  also  very  prosperous, 
having  500  families,  1,600  individual  members  and  more  than  7,ooo 
communicants.  Since  October,  1879,  the  rector  has  been  Reverend 
Edward  S.  Lines.  In  1889  a  parish  house  was  built,  at  an  outlay  of 
§27.00(1.  and  more  than  $28,000  was  raised  to  carry  on  the  church 
work. 

St.  John's  Church  had  its  origin  in  1851  as  a  mission  of  St.  Paul's 
parish.  It  prospered  so  much  that  it  became  a  separate  parish  in  1857. 
It  has  115  families  and  205  registered  communicants. 

The  Church  of  the  Ascension  also  originated  as  a  mission  chapel  of 
St.  Paul's,  and  in  the  same  year  as  the  above.  It  became  a,  separate 
parish  on  Ascension  day,  1868,  hence  the  name.  For  its  use  a  new 
edifice  of  .stone  was  consecrated  July  12th,  1883.  The  families  in  the 
parish  number  229  and  the  communicants  288. 

St.  Thomas'  Church  was  organized  in  1848.  A  temporary  brick 
chapel  was  occupied  in  August,  1849,  and  the  present  stone  edifice  was 
built  in  1854,  and  was  consecrated  on  Easter,  1855.  Reverend  E.  E. 
tBeardsley,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  has  been  the  only  rector  of  the  parish,  which 
has  162  families  and  256  communicants.  The  work  of  the  church  is 
carried  on  at  a  yearly  outlay  of  about  $10,000. 

Christ  Church  was  organized  in  1856,  in  a  chapel  at  the  corner  of 
Elm  and  Park  streets.  x\  new  edifice  was  occupied  in  1860,  which  has 
600  sittings.     There  are  280  communicant  members. 

Grace  Church  was  organized  in  1871  in  the  Fair  Haven  section  of 
the  city.  The  church  building  has  460  sittings.  In  the  parish  are 
145  families  and  222  registered  communicants. 

St.  Luke's  Church  and  parish  were  organized  under  the  direction 
of  Trinity  parish,  in  1844,  for  persons  of  color.  For  a  considerable 
time  Trinity  chapel  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship.  The  parish  reports 
S6  families,  106  registered  communicants  and  a  house  of  worship  hav- 
ing 197  sittings. 

All  Saints'  Chapel  has  the  support  of  120  families,  and  there  are  68 
persons  enrolled  as  communicant  members. 

To  Trinity  Chapel  belong  61  families  and  SO  registered  communi- 
cants. In  addition  there  are  in  the  town  St.  James'  parishes,  at  both 
Westville  and  Fair  Haven  East,  noted  in  the  accounts  of  these 
villages. 

Methodism  was  established  in  New  Haven  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
last  century,  in  spite  of  much  indifference  and  strong  opposition.  In 
1789   Reverend  Jes.se   Lee  visited  this    part  of    New   England,    and 


HISTDRV   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COL'NTV.  185 

preaching  in  the  various  towns  several  classes  were  formed.  These 
were  constituted  the  Middletown  Circuit,  of  which  Reverend  John  Lee 
was  the  preacher  in  charge  in  1790.  The  class  in  New  Haven  county 
numbered  nine  members.  In  1792  Samuel  Pool  and  his  wife  Martha 
removed  to  the  citv  from  Farmington,  and  were  the  first  resident 
Methodists,  and  their  house  became  the  preaching  place.  Later 
preaching  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  Thatcher,  on  York  street, 
who  came  to  New  Haven  m  1793.  His  wife.  Anna  Munson,  became 
the  first  convert  to  ]Methodism  in  1794.  The  following  year  the 
above  four  and  Anna  Mix  were  constituted  the  first  Methodist  class 
in  Xew  Haven  by  Reverend  Daniel  Ostrander,  the  circuit  preacher. 
In  179.-1  the  class  bought  the  old  Sandemanian  meeting  house,  on 
Gregson  street,  which  was  their  first  public  preaching  place.  Here 
they  were  much  annoyed  by  the  rowdy  element  of  the  city  and  the;r 
meetings  were  often  broken  up.  They  even  attempted  to  destroy  the 
meeting  house,  and  on  one  occasion  hewed  the  pulpit  to  pieces.  Yet 
the  church  increased  in  numbers  and  a  new  house  of  worship  was 
required  to  accommodate  those  who  wished  to  attend.  In  1807  a  frame 
building  was  put  up,  which  was  used  fifteen  years.  In  July,  1820,  the 
society  received  liberty  to  build  a  meeting  house  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  green.  The  corner  stone  for  such  a  house  was  laid  May 
l.ith,  1821,  and  by  September  it  was  nearly  completed  when,  on  the 
3d  day  of  that  month,  a  great  gale  demolished  it.  By  proper  effort 
the  hou.se  was  rebuilt  at  once,  so  that  it  was  ready  for  dedication  May 
23d,  1822.  It  was  erected  largely  by  the  means  collected  by  Reverend 
William  Thatcher,  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  church,  who 
had,  in  the  meantime,  become  a  minister.  The  house  was  very  large, 
but  plain,  and  in  its  locality  unsightly,  hence  in  1848  a  successful 
effort  was  made  to  secure  its  removal  from  the  green.  A  fine  and  cen 
trally  located  lot,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Elm  street,  was  secured,  upon 
which  was  erected  in  1849,  the  present  First  Methodist  church.  The 
property  is  valued  at  $50,000,  and  the  members  belonging  number 
more  than  500.  Methodism  has  secured  a  strong  foothold  in  the 
town,  there  being  now  a  dozen  churches,  more  than  S300,000  worth  of 
property  and  over  3,000  members. 

The  East  Pearl  or  Fair  Haven  Church  was  organized  about  1830. 
It  is  very  prosperous. 

The  St.  John  Street  Church  was  organized  in  1840.  Its  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1845.  It  is  valued  at  §30,000.  The  membership 
is  large  and  increasing. 

The  George  Street  Church  worships  in  a  house  erected  in  1853 and 
since  enlarged.  There  are  more  than  200  members.  It  has  lately 
become  known  as  Grace  church. 

The  Dixwell  Avenue  or  Summerfield  Church  had  its  origin  as  a 
mission  started  in  a  carriage  shop  in  1871.  Its  church  edifice  was 
erected  in  1875. 


186  HISTORY    OF   NKW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  Howard  Avenue  Church  was  organized  in  1872,  and  the  Haven 
Memorial  Church  later. 

The  Trinity  Church  wa.s  formed  in  1882,  when  several  societies 
united  to  constitute  this  body.  On  a  fine  lot  on  the  corner  of  Dwight 
place  and  George  street  a  large  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $50,000, 
which  was  dedicated  February  ISth,  1883.  It  has  been  remarkably 
prosperous,  having  nearly  900  members. 

There  are  also  a  German  Methodist  Episcopal  clnirch  on  George 
street,  and  three  societies  of  persons  of  color,  entertaining  Methodistic 
belief.  These  are  the  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  church,  on  Sperry  street:  the 
Zion  A.  M.  E.  church,  on  Foote  street :  and  the  Union  American 
church,  on  Webster  street.  In  none  of  these  is  the  membership  large, 
but  is  slowly  increasing. 

The  Baptists  have  in  the  city  the  following  organizations:  The 
First  Baptist  Church  was  formed  in  October,  1816,  with  twelve  mem- 
bers. In  1889  about  700  members  were  reported.  Their  first  house 
of  worship  was  dedi;ated  July  27th,  1824.  In  the  course  of  ten  years 
it  was  enlarged  and  subsequently  improved. 

In  1842  a  number  of  members  left  to  form  the  Second  Baptist 
church,  whose  organization  was  kept  up  a  score  of  years.  In  1865  its 
members  and  interests  were  united  with  the  First  church,  and  soon 
after  a  larger  edifice  was  provided.  It  was  dedicated  in  November, 
1871.  In  March,  1882,  it  was  damaged  by  fire  to  the  amount  of  $2,o,- 
000,  but  was  thoroughly  repaired.  It  is  now  valued  at  $60,000.  It  is 
generally  called  the  Wooster  Place  church. 

Immanuel  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  1856,  and  is  composed 
of  persons  of  color.  The  congregation  secured  its  building  on  Day 
street  in  1882.     There  are  160  members. 

The  German  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  1868,  of  24  persons, 
who  withdrew  from  the  First  church  for  that  purpose.  Its  house  of 
worship  on  George  street  is  valued  at  $16,000.  There  are  about  150 
members. 

The  Calvary  Baptist  Church,  organized  in  1871,  has  become  a  very 
prosperous  body.  The  church  edifice  has  1,500  sittings,  and  is  valued 
at  $110,000.  In  the  neighborhood  of  700  members  belong  to  this 
active  body. 

The  Grand  Avenue  Baptist  Church,  organized  in  1872,  has  over  200 
members.  Hope  Baptist  church  was  recently  organized  in  a  chapel 
where  Sunday  schools  had  previously  been  maintained. 

A  Swedish  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1882,  and  a  Danish 
one  in  1886.     Both  are  small. 

German  Lutheran  congregations  were  organized  in  1865  and  in 
1885.  The  Swedish  Bethesda  Lutheran  church  was  more  recently 
organized. 

Congregations  of  members  professing  the  faith  of  the  Second 
Aventists  have  been  organized,  one,  on  Beers  street,  being  at  present 
in  existence. 


HISTORY   OF   XF.W    HAVEN   COUNTY.  187 

The  Universalists  have  had  several  societies,  the  Church  of  the 
Messiah,  on  Orange  street,  continuing  its  existence.  It  dates  from 
1850.     The  Second  Universalist  church  was  organized  more  recently. 

In  the  city  are  four  congregations  of  Hebrews,  and  this  sect  has 
been  steadily  increasing.  They  became  a  fixed  part  of  the  population 
about  1840.  Two  years  later  their  place  of  burial  at  Westville  was 
opened.  The  first  Hebrews  here  were  Germans,  and  in  1849  a  rabbi 
was  secured.  In  1856  the  fir.st  regular  synagogue  was  opened.  In 
1881  a  congregation  of  Russian  Jews  was  gathered,  and  one  of  other 
nationalities  later. 

The  introduction  of  Catholicism  was  comparatively  recent.  But 
few  members  of  that  faith  lived  in  the  state  before  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century,  and  the  church  in  the  county  has  had  its  principal 
growth  in  the  past  fifty  years.  The  first  general  account  of  this 
denomination  appeared  in  the  Connecticut  Journal,  January  28th,  1796, 
and  is  as  follows: 

"  The  Roman  Catholics  of  Connecticut  are  informed  that  a  priest 
is  now  in  New  Haven,  where  he  will  reside  for  .some  time.  Those  who 
wish  to  make  use  of  his  ministry  will  find  him  by  inquiring  at  Mr. 
Azel  Kimberley's,  Chapel  street." 

The  Catholics  of  that  period  were  most  of  them  French  refugees, 
and  for  their  especial  benefit  this  ministry  was  provided.  But  not 
until  the  advent  of  the  Irishmen  as  laborers  upon  the  public  works 
was  it  deemed  advisable  to  set  up  the  forms  of  the  church  and  to 
administer  its  rites  regularly.  Reverend  James  Fitton  is  accredited 
with  being  the  first  permanent  priest,  and  a  parish  in  the  diocese  of 
Boston  was  organized.  In  May,  1834,  the  first  Catholic  edifice  was 
consecrated  as  Christ  church.  The  congregation  in  attendance  on 
that  occasion  crowded  the  church  ,so  that  the  organ  gallery  fell  down, 
killing  two  persons.  In  1848  the  church  was  burned,  when  a  new 
edifice  was  purchased  and  consecrated  as  St.  Mary's  church,  which  was 
used  until  the  commodious  and  elegant  St.  Marv's  church,  on  Hill- 
house  avenue,  was  occupied.  It  was  erected  in  1875,  at  a  cost  of  $150,- 
000,  and  is  the  finest  and  most  valuable  church  property  in  the  city. 
It  is  a  fit  evidence  of  the  vigor  and  zeal  of  the  congregation  which 
occupies  it.  The  parish  has  aided  in  planting  a  number  of  churches 
of  its  faith  in  the  cit}-  and  the  suburban  towns. 

St.  Patrick's  parish  was  organized  in  1850,  and  the  church  build- 
ing occupied,  on  Grand  street,  was  consecrated  in  1853. 

Where  stood  the  first  Catholic  church  (Christ's)  St.  John's  church 
was  built  and  con.secrated  in  1858.  Its  church  and  school  property  is 
extensive  and  valuable,  and   the  membership  is  very  large. 

St.  Francis'  Church,  in  Fair  Haven,  was  occupied  in  1868. 

The  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  was  occupied  as  a  Catholic  place 
of  worship  in  1875. 

Prior  to  this  time,  in    1868,  a  German  Catholic  church  was  organ- 


188  HISTdin-    OK    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

ized  as  St.  Boniface.     Wor.shin  was  held  in  a  hall  until  1S7H,  when  the 
church  edifice  was  consecrated. 

St.  Michael's  Church  was  Ihe  last  organized.  Its  membership  is 
composed  mainly  of  Italians. 

The  aggregate  membership  of  the  Catholic  church  in  this  city  is 
very  large,  and  at  the  rate  it  has  been  increasing  in  the  past  score  of 
years,  will  soon  equal  that  of  all  the  Protestant  churches  combined. 

The  cemeteries  of  New  Haven  are,  as  a  rule,  well  kept  and 
attractive.  We  learn  from  an  inscribed  marble  slab  affixed  to  the  west 
end  of  the  Center  church,  on  New  Haven  green,  that:  "  From  the  set- 
tlement of  New  Haven,  1638,  to  1796,  the  adjoining  ground  was 
occupied  as  a  common  place  of  burial.  Then  a  new  burying  ground 
was  opened  and  divided  into  family  lots  and  city  squares.  In  1818 
this  church  was  placed  over  the  monuments  of  several  whose  names 
are  engraved  on  tablets  in  the  vestibule.  In  1821  the  remaining 
monuments  were,  by  the  consent  of  survivors,  and  under  the  direction 
of  the  city,  removed  to  the  new  ground."  On  that  occasion  appropriate 
ceremonies  were  observed,  the  Reverend  ISIr.  Hill,  the  Baptist  pastor, 
delivering  an  address. 

The  old  burial  place  was  set  aside,  in  conformity  with  the  English 
custom,  to  inter  the  dead  on  ground  contiguous  to  the  church.  It  was 
never  attractive,  and  for  many  years  it  was  surrounded  by  a  board 
fence,  painted  a  dingy  red  color.  After  the  new  place  of  burial  was 
opened  its  use  was  gradually  discontinued,  the  last  interment  there 
being  made  in  October,  1812,  being  the  remains  of  Mrs.  Martha 
Whittlesey,  who  was  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband,  the  Reverend 
Chauncey  Whittlesey.  Both  lie  in  the  crypt  of  the  church,  which  was 
properly  improved  by  the  society.  In  the  same  place  lie  the  remains 
of  Jared  Inger.soll,  who  died  August  25th,  1781,  at  the  age  of  60  years. 
He  was  a  judge  of  the  court  of  vice-admiralty,  in  the  ?kliddle  district 
of  America.  Reverends  James  Pierpont  and  Joseph  Noyes  rest  at  the 
same  place.  The  Center  church  covers  the  tombstones  of  about  140 
persons,  whose  names  have  been  inscribed  on  the  tablets  placed  in  the 
vestibule.  In  the  rear  of  the  church  the  tombstone  of  the  regicide 
Judge  Dixwell  has  been  preserved,  and  a  monument  has  been  placed 
over  his  grave  in  more  recent  years.  Aside  from  these,  more  than 
eight  hundred  tombstones  were  removed  to  the  Grove  Street  cemetery, 
where  they  have  been  arranged  in  alphabetical  order,  against  the 
north  and  the  west  enclosures.  The  oldest  one  is  that  of  Samuel  Hod- 
shon,  died  August  26th,  1673,  aged  nine  years.  He  was  a  son  of  John 
Hodshon,  whose  estate  after  his  death,  in  1690,  was  one  of  the  largest 
that  had  been  probated  in  the  colony. 

It  is  claimed  for  the  Grove  Street  cemetery  that  it  was  the  first  on 
the  globe  which  was  regularly  laid  out  into  familj''  lots,  walks  and 
driveways.  The  honor  of  originating  it  and  of  carrjdng  out  the  plan 
after  the  enterprise  was  begun  belongs  to  James  Hillhouse,  one  of  the 


HISTORY    (IF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  189 

most  public  spirited  of  New  Haven's  citizens  in  the  last  century. 
Moved  by  a  proper  desire,  as  he  expressed  it,  "  to  secure  to  his  own 
and  the  families  of  his  fellow  citizens  a  sacred  and  inviolate  btirial 
place,"  he  and  82  others  were  incorporated,  in  October,  1797,  as  the 
"  Proprietors  of  the  Xevv  Burying  Ground  in  New  Haven."  Each  of 
these  persons  agreed  to  purchase  a  family  lot,  and  thus  a  popular 
interest  was  awakened  in  the  cemetery;  but  for  many  years  Mr.  Hill- 
house  had  the  sole  management  of  affairs,  and  his  efforts  placed  it 
upon  a  permanent  basis.  To  the  original  tract  of  ten  acres  nearly 
eight  more  were  added  in  1814,  and  the  whole  area  has  been  sub.stan- 
tially  inclosed.  At  the  main  entrance  a  fine  gateway  has  been  erected, 
iipon  which  are  cut  the  words: 

"The  Dead  Shall  i;e  Raised." 

Martha  Townsend,  who  'died  November  9th,  1797,  was  the  first 
person  here  buried.  The  cemetery  is  distinguished  for  the  number  of 
graves  of  notable  persons  it  contains.  Here  repose  statesmen,  scholars, 
inventors  and  men  honored  as  soldiers  and  sailors.  The  great  invent- 
ors, Eli  Whitney,  S.  F.  B.  Mor.se  and  Charles  Goodyear  are  all  buried 
here.     The  monument  of  the  latter  is  inscribed  plainly: 

"Charles  Goodvear, 

Inventor, 

Born  in  New  Haven,  Dec.  2H,  1800; 

Died  in  New  York,  July  1,  I860." 

Here  are  the  graves  of  General  David  Humphreys,  of  the  revolu- 
tion, and  General  Alfred  H.  Terry  and  other  brave  and  honored  sol- 
diers of  the  war  for  the  Union.  Here  peacefully  sleep  Admirals  Foote 
and  Gregory;  those  eminent  ministers,  Lyman  Beecher  and  Leonard 
Bacon;  the  learned  Professor  vSilliman  and  the  beloved  lexicographer. 
Doctor  Noah  Webster.  It  is  doubtful  whether  any  other  similar 
enclosure  in  this  country  contains  so  many  graves  of  the  great  and  the 
good  as  does  the  humble  Grove  Street  Cemetery. 

In  the  cour.se  of  fifty  years  but  few  vacant  family  lots  remained  in 
the  above  cemetery,  when,  to  meet  the  increasing  demand,  Evergreen 
Cemetery  was  opened  in  the  western  part  of  the  city  by  an  association 
incorporated  for  that  purpose,  which  took  the  present  name  October 
19th,  1848.  A  little  more  than  a  month  later  the  first  interment  took 
place:  Lewis  Fisk,  aged  41  years,  who  died  November  29th,  1848.  being 
buried  on  Lot  No.  oO,  on  Myrtle  avenue.  The  cemetery  was  formally 
dedicated  June  29th,  1849,  and  has  since  been  largely  patronized.  To 
the  original  area  of  thirteen  acres  additions  were  made  in  1856  and 
since,  until  the  cemetery  embraces  fifty  acres.  It  is  well  located, 
finely  laid  out.  and  contains  many  handsome  monuments.  Among 
these  is  a  soldiers'  monument,  erected  in  1870  by  the  state  to  the 
memory  of  the  204  L''nited  States  soldiers  who  died  in  Knight  Hos- 
pital, 1862-5,  and   were   buried  in  these  grounds.     A  fine  firemen's 


190  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

monument  was  erected  in  1877,  b\'  the  New  Haven  Firemen's  Benev- 
olent Association:  and  about  the  same  time  the  Odd  Fellows  put  up  a 
handsome  granite  monument  near  the  main  entrance.  Among  the 
private  monuments  that  of  the  Anderson  family  attracts  attention  by 
the  beauty  of  the  design  and  the  elegance  of  its  construction.  An 
archway  of  red  sand.stone  was  built  at  the  main  entrance  in  1873. 

North  of  Evergreen  Cemetery  is  the  newly  located  Maple  Dale 
Cemetery.  It  has  a  good  location  and  being  well  improved  for  occu- 
pancy will,  no  doubt,  soon  become  a  popular  place  for  burial. 

A  mile  or  more  still  further  north  is  the  cemetery  at  Westville, 
whose  area  has  lately  been  increased  to  accommodate  those  wishing 
to  make  interment  at  that  place.  Near  by  is  a  small  Jewish  place  of 
burial.  At  Fair  Haven  are  several  grave  yards  which  are  used  by 
the  people  of  that  part  of  the  town,  and  are  also  becoming  nuraerouslj' 
tenanted. 

vSt.  Bernard's  Cemetery,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  city,  was 
the  first  large  place  of  burial  for  the  Roman  Catholics  of  the  town; 
but  the  first  interments  were  made  where  is  now  St.  John's  church 
(R.  C).  A  very  large  and  finely  located  cemetery,  on  the  west  side  of 
We.st  river,  for  the  use  of  Catholics,  was  consecrated  in  the  fall  of 
1890,  as  St.  Lawrence's  Cemetery. 

Fair  Haven  is  the  name  applied  to  that  part  of  the  town  and  city 
of  New  Haven  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  (Juinnipiac  river,  about  two 
miles  east  of  New  Haven  green.  The  part  on  the  east  .side  was  in  the 
town  of  East  Haven  until  its  annexation  to  New  Haven  in  1881.  It 
is  usually  called  Fair  Haven  East;  the  western  part  is  called  Fair 
Haven,  in  the  city,  or  Fair  Haven  West.  The  two  sections  are  united 
b)-  three  fine  bridges,  the  upper  one,  or  (jrand  avenue  bridge,  427 
feet  long,  50  feet  wide  and  standing  on  seven  piers.  It  cost  $29,000. 
It  IS  used  for  the  tracks  of  the  street  railway,  extending  from  this 
place  through  the  city  to  Westville.  The  lower  bridge  is  called  Tom- 
linson's,  from  the  name  of  one  of  the  builders.  The  middle  bridge  is 
at  Red  Rock,  at  the  site  of  the  ferry  used  before  the  era  of  bridges. 
It  was  built  in  recent  years.  The  two  .sections  of  Fair  Haven  have 
more  than  five  thousand  inhabitants.  There  are  half  a  dozen  churches 
and  several  very  fine  school  buildings. 

At  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  the  country  this  locality  was 
called  Dragon  or  Dragon  Point,  from  the  following  circumstance:  On 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  about  forty  rods  below  the  bridge,  was  a 
sandy  strip  of  shore,  upon  which  seals  were  wont  to  disport  them- 
selves. As  the  settlers  had  never  before  seen  seals,  they  were  led  to 
think,  judging  from  the  Bible  description,  that  they  were  dragons, 
hence  the  name  of  the  point. 

Although  pleasantly  and  advantageously  located,  the  growth  of 
Fair  Haven  was  slow  for  more  than  two  centuries,  when  the  place 
partook  of  the  growth  of  New  Haven  city.  Since  then  it  has  increased 
in  population  and  wealth. 


iiisioKv  (IF  \i;\v  ii.wicN  cc)vsr\.  191 

The  following  interesting  reminiscences  of  this  locality  were  given 
b}-  Captain  Hezekiah  Tuttle  to  Captain  C.  H.  Townsend,  from  whose 
writings  the}-  are  extracted  for  these  pages.  Captain  Tuttle  was  born 
at  Fair  Haven  in  1811,  and  his  remembrance  of  the  place  was  distinct 
back  to  1820: 

"  At  that  time  Fair  Haven  bridge,  the  old  structure  on  East 
Grand  street,  succeeded  by  the  present  iron  bridge,  had  a  draw  in 
it,  or  a  part  of  it  was  so  arranged  that  it  could  be  taken  up  for 
vessels  to  pass,  as  they  did  in  the  war  of  1812  to  be  got  otit  of  danger 
of  the  enemy's  cruisers  on  the  Sound,  which  would  run  into  our  small 
harbors  and  destroy  shipping  and  other  property  within  easy  reach. 
The  Barnesville  bridge  was  not  then  built,  and  frequently  has  he 
forded  the  river  there  on  the  ice  or  waded  it  on  his  way  to  the  North 
church  on  the  Green  in  New  Haven,  where  most  of  the  Fair  Haven 
(VVest)  people  attended  meeting.  The  Fair  Haven  (East)  people  gen- 
erally attended  meeting  at  East  Haven  at  the  '  stone  meeting  house.' 
He  says  the  old  Ferry  road  from  Neck  bridge  to  Pardee  Ferry  existed 
in  his  day  only  in  part,  from  Grand  street  near  the  New  Haven 
horse  car  depot,  northwest  to  Neck  bridge,  through  State  street  or 
Neck  Lane,  and  that  was  the  only  road  to  town  from  Fair  Haven 
bridge.  There  were  about  this  time  only  very  few  houses  on  the  west 
side,  and  these  were  situated  along  the  river  under  the  hill.  Also  all 
that  part  of  Fair  Haven  (West)  south  of  the  New  Haven  and  Hart- 
ford railroad  was  an  open  common  and  belonged  to  the  Hillhouseand 
Everitt  families.  There  was  a  row  of  Lombardy  poplars  on  the  Hill- 
house  property,  south  end  of  the  neck  which  ran  westward  from  Jerard 
Sanford'sline  to  Mill  river.  The  burying  ground  had  just  been  fenced 
in  and  contained  about  two  acres.  The  first  burial  there  was  Stephen 
Bunnell,  a  child,  and  the  second  was  Captain  Tuttle's  little  brother 
Charles,  aged  4  years.  The  names  of  the  Fair  Haven  (West)  residents 
and  their  houses,  as  our  informant  remembers  them,  were  as  follows: 
Jerard  vSanford,  father  of  Captain  Titus  Sanford,  next  a  red  house  and 
now  standing  north  of  the  west  end  of  Ouinnipiac  bridge;  the  Allen 
house,  where  Edward  Hall's  house  now  stands;  Amos  Luddington's, 
now  Levi  Luddington's,  near  Rhody  Allen's.  At  the  south  corner  of 
Exchange  street,  where  the  butcher's  shop  is,  was  the  Grannis 
house ;  also  at  the  north  corner  and  along  this  street  to  the 
Methodist  church  corner,  north  side,  half  way  up  the  hill,  was 
Robert  Talmage's;  on  same  side,  top  of  hill,  Stephen  Bunnell's,  and 
on  the  corner  Lydia  Barnes',  and  opposite,  on  west  corner,  in  a  red 
hou.se,  lived  Solomon  Johnson.  In  the  next  house  north  of  the  Gran- 
nis house,  on  South  Front  street,  lived  Seth  Barnes;  then  came  the 
hou.se  of  Levi  Tuttle,  father  of  Captain  Tuttle;  next  the  old  Ball 
house,  where  the  Barnett  house  now  is. 

"There  was  on  the  King  Hotel  corner  an  old  house  bought  of  the 
Grannis  family  by  Herman  Hotchkiss,  father  of  Horace  R.  HotchkLss, 


192  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

who  moved  it  when  the  hotel  was  built  upon  the  Common  west  of  the 
Methodist  church;  and  Nathaniel  Dayton  lived  in  it.  On  the  north 
side  of  Grand  street  was  the  tavern  known  later  as  Finch's  tavern  and 
built  by  Mr.  John  Rowe.  Opposite  toward  the  bridge  was  a  store 
kept  by  Elijah  and  John  Rowe.  Next  north  of  the  tavern,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  road,  was  Isaac  Mallory's,  and  next  was  Levi  Grannis',  the 
farthest  house  north.  Toward  New  Haven  and  west  of  Finch's  tavern 
were  only  two  houses,  Elophus  Gillett's  and  Captain  Everitt's,  where 
Mrs.  O.  E.  Maltby's  fine  residence  is.  The  .stone  house  belonging  to 
the  Maltby  family,  is  not  an  old  house,  having  been  built  since  Barne.s- 
ville  bridge,  about  182.'). 

"  We  come  now  to  the  Fair  Haven  East  section.  The  location  of 
the  houses  on  the  road  which  leads  from  East  Haven  north  toward 
North  Haven  was,  first,  the  Pardee  house  of  the  Revolution,  plundered 
of  its  silver  by  the  British  under  Tryon,  July  4-.'5, 1779,  and  now  owned 
by  William  B.  Goodyear,  Esq.  Then  came  old  Jacob  Mallory's  hou.se 
on  the  site  of  Townsend  Bros.'  ship  yard  property.  Amos  Brown's 
was  a  few  rods  up  the  hill  on  the  .street  that  runs  up  the  hill  from 
Capt.  Caleb  Ludington's.  Next  was  Isaac  Moulthrop's  above  Kim- 
berly's  blacksmith  shop.  Then  came  the  Mallory  house  where  Hem- 
ingway's corner  store  is.  All  these  were  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
and  south  of  the  bridge  except  the  Brown  house  on  the  hill.  Toward 
the  bridge,  south  side,  was  a  shoemaker's  shop.  On  the  north  corner, 
and  where  the  store  of  Mr.  Lucius  Rowe  is,  was  the  Hotchkiss  tavern, 
and  this  property,  from  the  street  towards  the  bridge  to  low  water 
mark  into  the  river,  was  owned,  as  decided  by  the  court,  and  belonged 
to  Horace  R.  and  Samuel  Hotchkiss,  while  the  same  distance  to  low 
water  mark  in  the  river,  south  side,  belonged  to  Wyllys  and  Willett 
Hemingway,  Harry  and  Levi  Rowe.  These  parties  occupied  the  flats 
to  low  water  mark  with  their  buildings,  now  standing. 

"  In  the  next  house  north  of  the  Hotchkiss  tavern  and  west  side  of 
the  street,  Annoni  Mallory  lived.  Then  came  Will  Bradley's,  north 
of  Brown's  brook.  On  the  south  corner  of  the  road  that  leads  north- 
east to  Matthew  Rowe's,  the  Russell  farm,  lived  Capt.  Isaac  Brown, 
and  on  the  north  corner  Ezra  Rowe.  Opposite  on  the -west  side  was 
Levi  Rowe  and  John  Rowe,  where  Mr.  Barney  Rowe  now  lives;  then 
came  James  Mallory,  father  of  Captain  Jerard  Mallory,  and  on  north- 
ward half  a  mile  on  the  Davenport  farm  was  the  (red)  Goodsell  house 
and  the  two  Davenport'  houses,  one  of  which,  the  residence  of  the  late 
David  Bradley,  is  now  standing,  and  over  under  Hemmgway  mountain 
lived  Enos  Hemingway,  father  of  the  late  Judge  Willett  and  Colonel 
Wyllys  (twins)  Hemingway. 

"  Capt  Tuttle  says  the  first  cargo  of  oysters  brought  from  Virginia 
to  Fair  Haven  was  in  the  schooner  '  John,'  Capt.  Elophus  Gillett,  his 
uncle.  They  were  taken  from  the  Nancy  Munn  bed  in  James  river, 
and  were  laid  down  above  and  below  the  bridge  on  the  flats,  east  side. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  193 

The  Ouinnipiac  and  Newark  rivers  were  sixty  years  ago  the  only 
place  north  of  the  Cape  of  Virginia  where  oysters  grew  naturally. 
The  first  cargo  of  oysters  planted  in  Morris  Cove  was  brought  to  New- 
Haven  in  the  schooner  '  Mary  and  Martha,'  Captain  Abijah  Moulthrop 
Munson,of  Fair  Haven  (East),  in  the  year  1834.  The  schooner  was 
of  83  tons  burthen  and  built  on  the  ea.st  shore  of  Maryland,  and  was 
owned  by  William  K.  Townsend,  Daniel  Smith  and  others.  This 
cargo  of  1,600  bushels  of  fishing  oy.sters  arrived  in  April,  1834,  and 
was  laid  down  opposite  the  Morris  wharf  for  fall  use." 

After  the  late  civil  war  oyster  planting  received  a  new  impetus, 
about  400,000  bushels  being  brought  here  in  one  year.  Large  quan- 
tities of  oysters  were  planted,  and  after  their  growth  Fair  Haven 
became  a  great  oyster  distributing  center.  Many  men  were  employed 
in  this  industry,  which  included  the  manufacture  of  kegs  for  shipping, 
etc.  Less  firms  are  engaged  in  this  business  than  formerly,  but  the 
interest  is  still  the  most  important  in  the  village.  Vessel  building 
was  at  one  time  a  great  industry,  a  marine  railway  also  being  main- 
tained in  that  business.  On  the  east  side  are  wire  mills  and  large 
chemical  works,  but  the  most  of  the  inhabitants  find  occupation  in 
New  Haven  cit}%  of  which  this  is  the  principal  suburb. 

Fair  Haven  East  was  incorporated  as  a  borough  by  the  May,  1872, 
legislature,  with  bounds  one  and  a  half  miles  long,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  and  about  one  mile  wide.  Previous  to  this  the  Fair 
Haven  Ea.st  Fire  Association  had  been  created  by  legislative  enact- 
ment, and  by  the  latter  a  fire  department  was  established  and  equipped. 
This  department  is  also  controlled  by  borough  authority  and  a  fair 
measure  of  protection  against  fires  has  been  secured.  Water  is  sup- 
plied by  the  New  Haven  Water  Company,  and  twelve  public  hydrants 
are  in  service.  In  its  police  and  sanitary  arrangements  the  borough 
has  also  been  greatly  improved.  The  affairs  of  the  corporation  are 
carried  on  at  a  yearly  expense  of  about  $3,500. 

The  following  have  been  the  wardens  of  the  borough:  1872-3.  E. 
Edwin  Hall:  1874-9,  Daniel  W.  Shares;  1880,  W.  Hemingway:  1881-.^, 
Horace  A.  Strong;  1886,Wyllis  Hemingway;  1887.William  A.Wright. 
The  clerk  since  1876  has  been  Charles  E.  Bray. 

Fair  Haven's  distinct  religious  history  dates  from  the  great  revival 
in  1808,  when  38  of  its  inhabitants  were  received  into  neighboring- 
churches.  The  revivals  of  1816  and  1821  added  to  the  number,  and 
Deacon  Amos  Townsend  established  a  Sabbath  school.  The  organi- 
zation of  the  First  Congregational  church  soon  followed,  June  23d. 
1830,  on  which  day  its  meeting  house  was  dedicated.  Fiftj'-three  per- 
sons were  enrolled  as  constituent  members,  thirty  having  formerly 
belonged  to  the  East  Haven  church,  the  remainder  to  the  North 
church  in  New  Haven.  The  growth  of  the  church  was  so  vigorous 
that  a  new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  April  24th,  18."i4.  It  is  a 
13 


194  HISlOkV    OF    NEW    IIAVE.N    COUNTV. 

fine  building  and  has  sittings  for  1,40U  persons.  In  1852  the  chnrch 
contributed  119  members  to  the  formation  of  the  Fair  Haven  East 
church,  but  still  has  a  large  membership,  about  500  belonging  in 
1890. 

Reverend  John  ^litchell  was  the  first  pastor,  1830-6;  B.  L.  Swan, 
1836-45;  Burdett  Hart,  1846-60,  and  again  1880.  The  present  minister 
is  Reverend  I.  Lee  Mitchell,  colleague  to  Reverend  Hart. 

The  Second  Congregational  Church  at  Fair  Haven  East  was  organ- 
ized March  25th,  1852,  of  119  members  who  had  withdrawn  from  the 
First  church  of  Fair  Haven.  On  the  same  day  the  meeting  house, 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $16,000,  was  dedicated  as  the  property  of  the 
Ecclesiastical  Society,  organized  March  23d,  1852,  with  nine  members, 
but  which  number  was  subsequently  increased  to  150  members. 

Before  a  pastor  was  secured  a  division  took  place  in  the  society,  41 
members  being  dismissed  May  3d,  1853,  to  form  the  Third  or  Center 
Congregational  church  of  Fair  Haven.  This  body  completed  a  meet- 
ing house,  which  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  which  was 
dedicated  September  6th,  1854.  The  Reverend  William  B.  Lee  became 
the  pastor  of  this  Third  church,  which  maintained  a  separate  exist- 
ence about  ten  years,  when  it  expired.  Many  of  the  remaining  mem- 
bers now  returned  to  the  Second  church,  which  has  since  greatly 
pro.spered.  From  1861  to  1869  136  members  were  added.  In  1871-2, 
as  the  result  of  gracious  revivals,  197  persons  united  with  the 
church. 

About  this  time  a  new  chapel  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  In 
recent  years  the  meeting  house  was  renovated  and  modernized  at 
an  outlay  of  $2,500;  and  a  fine  parsonage  was  secured  for  $6,500. 

In  July,  1890.  the  Fair  Haven  East  church  had  787  names  on  its 
books,  and  a  present  membership  of  439.  The  Young  People's  Society 
of  Christian  Endeavor  has  250  members,  and  the  Sabbath  school  has 
an  average  attendance  of  more  than  200  members.  John  B.  Thomp- 
son is  the  superintendent. 

The  pastors  have  been :  Nathaniel  J.  Burton,  D.D.,  called 
July  20th,  1853;  resigned  August  30th,  1857;  died  October 
"l3th,  1887.  Gurdon  W.  Noyes,  called  June  30th,  1861:  resigned 
November  8th,  1869;  died  April  28th,  1887.  John  S.  C.  Abbott,  D.D., 
called  April  6th,  1870;  resigned  May,  1874;  died  June  17th,  1877. 
Richard  B.  Thurston,  called  May  1st,  1875;  resigned  May  1st,  1876. 
Horace  C.  Hovey,  D.D.,  called  May,  1876;  resigned  October,  1883. 
Erastus  Blakeslee,  called  January  21st,  1884;  resigned  October  11th, 
1887.  D.  Melancthon  James,  called  July  22d,  1888,  and  continues  as 
the  pastor. 

The  deacons  have  been  the  following:  James  R.  Hunt,  elected 
April  17th,  1852;  died  July  11th,  1857.  Harvey  Rowe,  elected  April 
17th,  1852:    resigned   March   20th,  1853;    died    December  25th,  1861. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNIV.  195 

Charles  A.  Bray,  elected  April  17th,  1853:  resigned  June  2uth,  1879. 
Edwin  D.  Fowler,  elected  April  17th,  1853;  died  January  8th,  1885. 
*Lucius  Rowe,  elected  April  18th,  1873.  *Albert  Rowe,  elected  April 
IGth,  1877.  Henrv  W.  Loomis,  elected  June  13th,  1879;  declined  a 
re-election  December  28th,  1888.  •■Charles  X.  Hubbard,  elected  March 
25th,  1881.  *Jedediah  O.  Clogston,  elected  March  27th,  1885.  Lewis 
Frisbie,  elected  December  28th,  1888;  died  April  19th,  1890. 

Charles  A.  Bray  is  the  church  clerk;  and  Lucius  Rowe  the  treasurer. 
The  society  is  very  prosperous  and  the  church  property  has  become 
valuable. 

St.  James'  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal,  Fair  Haven  East,  was 
organized  March  30th,  1843,  at  the  house  of  James  Barnes,  and  he  and 
George  P.  Thomas  were  elected  the  finst  wardens.  In  June  of  the 
same  year  the  parish  was  admitted  into  the  diocese  of  Hartford. 
Captain  Isaac  Barnes  donated  a  lot  for  a  church,  whose  corner  stone 
was  laid  July  8th,  1844.  The  following  year  the  edifice  was  completed, 
and  the  church  was  dedicated  with  the  above  name  June  17th,  1845. 
Previous  to  its  occupancy  the  members  of  the  parish,  most  of  whom 
had  belonged  to  Trinity  church  of  New  Haven,  had  called  as  their 
rector  Reverend  William  E.  Vibbert,  who  has  since  continued  as  the 
minister.  At  that  time  he  was  a  deacon  in  the  church,  but,  Novem- 
ber 12th,  1845,  priest's  orders  were  here  given  him  by  Bishop  Brown- 
ell.  Later  the  degree  of  D.D.  was  conferred  on  him.  With  one 
single  exception  (the  church  at  Greenwich)  the  rectorship  of  Doctor 
Vibbert  has  been  longer  continued  than  that  of  any  other  minister 
in  the  state.  After  about  47  years  he  still  ably  serves,  at  the  age 
of  76  years. 

In  1854  a  recessed  chancel  was  added  to  the  church,  which  was 
re-opened  November  11th,  1854,  by  Bishop  John  Williams.  In  1862 
the  interior  of  the  church  was  remodelled,  about  $6,000  being  spent 
on  these  two  occasions. 

In  May,  1864,  James  Barnes,  the  senior  warden  up  to  that  time, 
died,  bequeathing  his  residence  to  the  parish  for  a  rectory.  More 
recently  the  church  was  thoroughly  remodelled  and  a  bra.ss  pulpit 
and  brass  lecterns  were  supplied.  Chapel  accommodations  were  also 
supplied,  and  there  are  now  400  sittings. 

In  the  parish  are  140  church  families  and  425  individuals.  The 
registered  communicants  number  198.  The  -Sunday  school  has  157 
members. 

The  Fair  Haven  Y.  M.  C.  A.  is  a  branch  of  the  New  Haven  Asso- 
ciation, and  its  principal  officers  are  Reverend  D.  ^I.  James,  presi- 
dent; Walter  A.  Downs,  secretary.  The  branch  has  2i)0  contributing 
members  and  is  prosperous.  ^Meetings  are  held  statedly,  and  fine 
association  rooms  are  maintained.  They  embrace  parlor,  recreation, 
♦Deacons,  1891. 


196  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

assembly  and  reading  rooms,  all  of  which  are  appropriately  fitted  up 
and  in  use  since  Thanksgiving  day,  1890. 

The  East  Pearl  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  originated  in  a  class 
of  a  dozen  persons,  of  which  Ammi  Mallory  was  the  leader,  in  1832. 
The  first  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  January  'SOth,  1833,  and 
the  building  being  small,  a  larger  edifice  was  built  in  183.').  The 
third  church  building  was  dedicated  May  13th,  1873.  It  is  a  valuable 
property,  being  reported  worth  $40,000.  There  are  about  500  mem- 
bers belonging  to  this  church. 

St.  Francis'  Church  (Roman  Catholic)  on  Ferry  street,  was  begun 
in  1867  by  Reverend  P.  A.  Gaynor.  Services  were  first  held  in  the 
basement  October  1st,  1868.  The  building  was  later  completed,  a  fine 
priest's  house  built  and  near  by  expensive  school  houses  were  added 
to  the  already  large  and  valuable  property  of  the  parish.  This  denom- 
ination is  by  far  the  strongest  in  the  village. 

Westville  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the  plain,  at  the  base  of  West 
Rock,  and  on  both  sides  of  West  river,  about  two  miles  from  New 
Haven  green.  It  contains  Congregational,  Episcopal,  Methodist  and 
Catholic  churches,  a  very  fine  school  building,  erected  in  1868,  several 
large  factories,  stores  and  has  about  1,500  inhabitants.-  Since  the 
completion  of  the  street  railway  from  New  Haven,  in  1861,  the  popu- 
lation has  increased  and  some  fine  residences  have  been  erected.  In 
recent  years  the  village  has  grown  in  favor  as  a  suburban  place  to  the 
city.  On  the  western  borders  of  the  plain,  and  overlooking  the 
village,  is  Donald  G.  Mitchell's  (Ik  Marvel's)  lovely  country  seat, 
"  Edgewood."  On  the  north  West  Rock  rises  more  than  400  feet  high, 
and  its  abrupt  face  presents  a  striking  appearance.  "  These  rocks  are 
trap  and  are  composed  of  hornblende  and  feldspar;  iron  enters  con- 
siderably into  their  composition:  hence,  during  their  decomposition, 
iron  rust  gradually  covers  the  exterior  of  the  stone,  thus  giving  it  a 
reddish  brown  appearance.  It  forms  an  excellent  building  stone  and 
is  extensively  employed  for  that  purpose  in  New  Haven."*  Northeast 
from  the  village,  on  the  summit  of  this  hill,  are  several  large  rocks, 
so  arranged  as  to  form  a  sort  of  a  cave.  Here  the  regicide  judges, 
Goffe  and  Whalley,  were  sheltered  while  they  sojourned  at  New 
Haven.  "On  the  tallest  of  the  boulders,  at  '  Judge's  Cave,'  from  time 
immemorial,  has  been  seen  this  line,  though  now  mostly  if  not  quite 
obliterated. 

"  Disobedience  to  Tyrants  is  Obedience  to  GoD!"t 

While  here  the  judges  were  supplied  with  food  by  Richard  Sperry, 
of  Woodbridge. 

This  locality  was  long  known  as  Thompson's  Bridge,  and  also  as 
Hotchkisstown,  from  the  numerous  members  of  that  family  who  resided 

*J.  W.  Barber.       tHenry  Howe. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  197 

here.  Several  of  the  Hotchkisses  lo.st  their  live.s  in  the  revolution,  at 
the  time  the  British  marched  through  here,  on  their  attack  upon 
New  Haven.  The  Thompson.s  and  Dickerman.s  were  also  early 
resident.s. 

The  post  office  bears  the  name  of  Westville  and  is  quite  import- 
ant, supplying  also  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  Woodbridge  with  mail 
matter.  For  a  time  the  appointment  of  the  postmaster  was  presi- 
dential, but  the  office  now  ranks  as  in  the  fourth  class.  Since  .Sep- 
tember, 1885,  the  postmaster  has  been  Willis  I.  Isbell. 

At  Westville  were  some  of  the  fir,st  manufacturing  interests  of  the 
town.  In  1645,  at  a  town  court,  "  It  was  propounded  that  Edw'Chiss- 
field  might  have  libertie  to  make  bricks  on  the  plaines,  under  the  West 
Rocke,  to  wch  there  is  a  good  highway,  which  was  allowed  of."  Stone 
was  also  early  quarried  here  and  small  mills  put  up.  In  the  course  of 
years  a  powder  mill  was  operated  on  this  stream,  and  about  the  time 
of  the  revolution  there  were  two  such  mills  on  West  river,  one  above, 
the  other  below  the  village.  The  business  was  carried  on  by  Isaac 
Doolittle,  Jeremiah  Atwater  and  Elijah  Thompson.  It  is  probable 
that  the  manufacture  of  paper  was  here  begun  some  time  about  the 
revolution,  and  it  has  for  more  than  a  centurv  been  a  leading 
industry.  In  ISSii  there  were  three  paper  mills  and  an  iron 
foundry. 

In  1789  Abel  Buel,  William  Mcintosh  and  others  put  up  a  large 
building  at  Westville,  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
cloths,  being  among  the  first  in  America  to  be  thus  engaged.  After 
producing  cotton  cloths  some  years  the  machinery  was  changed  to 
make  woolen  goods;  and  still  later  the  building  was  used  as  a  paper 
mill,  and  in  1837  it  was  burned.  Another  building  on  the  same  site 
for  the  same  use  was  burned  more  recently. 

Formerly  the  water  power  of  the  streams  at  Westville  was  used  to 
much  greater  advantage  than  at  present.  Where  are  now  the  Pond 
Lily  Paper  Mills,  Hotchkiss  &  Johnson  made  axles  and  springs. 
Their  shop  was  burned  in  1856.  James  Harper  next  improved  the 
site  for  a  paper  mill,  with  the  foregoing  name,  and  John  Thompson 
now  occupies  the  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  manilla  wrapping  paper. 
The  capacity  is  small. 

On  the  night  of  December  20th,  1842,  Bunce's  paper  mill,  at  West- 
ville, was  burned,  leading  the  Millerites  to  think  that  the  world  was 
coming  to  an  end.  At  the  upper  power  in  the  village  are  now  the 
extensive  paper  mills  of  Joseph  Parker  &  Son,  established  in  1840, 
and  operated  for  16  years  on  book  paper  made  from  cotton  waste.  In 
1856  Joseph  Parker,  the  founder  of  the  firm,  began  the  manufacture 
of  blotting  paper,  being  the  pioneer  in  America  in  that  line.  The 
manufacture  of  the  two  standard  grades,  then  begun — "  Treasury"  and 
"  Commercial," — has  been  successful!}'  continued.  About  half  a  bun 
dred  men  are  employed. 


198  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Below  this  power  James  Rawson  had  a  knife  shop,  but  removed 
his  works  to  the  lower  part  of  the  avenue.  Next  lower  was  the  Peck 
&  Smith  paper  mill.  The  latter  died  and  Peck  removed,  the  mill  pass- 
ing to  Albert  Mallory.  It  was  last  known  as  Thompson's,  burning 
some  time  ago,  and  the  power  is  now  idle. 

Where  are  the  main  buildings  of  the  match  factory,  in  about  IS.^O 
Wales  French  made  augers  and  bits,  William  A.  Clark  and  Howard 
Blake  being  later  owners.  Anson  Beecher  &  Son  made  strawberry  bas- 
kets and  matches  here  next,  the  latter  business  expanding  until  this  has 
become  one  of  the  principal  plants  of  the  Diamond  Match  Company, 
whose  headquarters  are  at  Chicago.  Of  the  works  at  Westville,  which 
are  extensive  and  well  equipped,  employing  about  one  hundred  men, 
L.  W.  Beecher  is  the  manager. 

Below  these  works  a  large  brick  shop  was  erected  by  William  A. 
Clark  for  a  bit  factory,  which  was  later  occupied  by  his  son,  Frank, 
who  sold  to  R.  H.  Brown  &  Co.  The  latter  firm  removed  the  works 
to  New  Haven. 

Higher  up  Pond  brook  were  the  hardware  works  of  the  Blake 
Brothers — Eli  W.,  Philos  and  John  A. — which  was  once  an  important 
industry,  employing  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  hundred  men.  This 
site  is  now  idle.  The  business  of  the  Fitch  Brothers,  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  village,  was  removed  to  New  Haven,  as  was  also  that  of 
Henry  Harrison,  manufacturer  of  grist  mill  machinery. 

Another  abandoned  interest  is  the  sash  and  blind  factory  of  Sheldon 
Hotchkiss,  which  was  on  the  south  side  of  Main  street.  Below  are 
idle  works,  built  for  the  manufacture  of  bolts  and  nuts,  which  were 
last  occupied  by  the  New  Haven  Nut  Company,  and  which  once 
employed  a  number  of  hands. 

Other  industries  had  their  origin  in  Westville,  which  at  one  time 
bade  fair  to  become  an  important  manufacturing  point,  but  for  want 
of  shipping  facilities  many  industries  were  closed  or  removed  to 
other  towns.  In  1891  there  was  little  else  besides  the  match  works 
and  the  Parker  paper  mill. 

Olive  Branch  Lodge,  No.  84,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  instituted  at  West- 
ville,  July  1st,  1856,  and  the  charter  was  granted  May  13th,  1857.  to 
the  following  petitioners:  Joshua  Kendall,  William  W.  Lee,  Cyrus 
Crandall,  Henry  Norton,  L.  P.  Woodworth,  Lewis  P.  vSpencer, William 
V.  Spencer,  Levi  Baldwin,  W.  vS.  Thompson,  A.  C.  Sperry  and  Sheldon 
Bassett.  The  lodge  meets  in  a  good  room  in  Sperry's  Hall  and  is 
prosperous. 

In  the  same  hall  are  held  the  meetings  of  Edgewood  Lodge,  No. 
11,  K.  of  P.,  which  was  instituted  June  25th,  1869,  with  about  thirty 
charter  members.  Soon  after  it  increased  largely,  having  at  onetime 
one  hundred  members.     At  present  the  number  belonging  is  nearly 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  199 

fifty.  One  of  the  members  of  thi.s  Lodge,  Willi.s  B.  Isbell,  was  grand 
chancellor  of  the  state,  1885-7. 

The  Westville  Methodist  Epi.scopal  Church  is  the  oldest  organiza- 
tion in  that  village.  As  the  result  of  the  preaching  of  Reverend  Oliver 
S3-kes,  in  1810,  a  class  was  formed  in  1815,  which  was  composed  of 
a  few  female  members,  among  whom  was  Miss  Harriet  Hitchcock,  the 
first  Methodist  in  the  village.  In  1818  she  married  Benjamin  Bradley, 
who,  about  that  time  came  to  Hotchkisstown  to  live,  and  their  home 
was  for  twenty  years  the  headquarters  of  itinerant  Methodist 
ministers. 

After  worshipping  in  school  houses  the  Methodists  in  1835  pur- 
chased an  abandoned  school  house,  and  thus  having  their  own  place 
of  worship  entered  upon  a  new  era,  under  the  ministry  of  Reverend 
Abraham  S.  Francis.  He  was  an  able  man  and  a  successful  revivalist. 
At  this  time  Hamden  and  Westville  were  united  as  a  circuit,  and  later 
Bethany  was  added,  the  church  at  Westville  being  at  pre.sent  united 
with  the  latter  charge  in  forming  a  circuit. 

In  1851  L.  W.  Peck,  Augustus  Parker  and  Guy  C.  Hotchkiss  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  build  a  new  church,  which  was  completed 
during  the  ministry  of  Reverend  J.  B.  Merwin,  who  preached  the 
first  sermon  in  the  basement  of  the  new  building,  June  20th,  1852. 
On  the  4th  of  August  following  the  church  was  dedicated.  In  1869  the 
property  was  repaired,  and  in  1876  a  pipe  organ  was  supplied.  In  1887 
the  church  property  was  thoroughly  improved,  at  an  outlay  of  $2,895, 
§1,000  of  which  was  contributed  by  Aliss  Caroline  Warner.  The 
church  was  reopened  in  October,  1887,  in  the  ministry  of  Reverend  C. 
W.  Fordham. 

In  1877  Abigail  Tyler  bequeathed  $10,000  to  the  church,  and  L.W. 
Peck  was  appointed  agent  of  the  same.  He  deceased  in  1878,  and 
upon  the  death  of  his  widow  in  1882,  the  society  was  willed  their  resi- 
dence as  a  parsonage.  This  property  and  the  church  building  have 
been  improved  in  the  past  few  years  imder  the  direction  of  the  pastor, 
Reverend  Arthur  McNicholl,  assigned  to  this  circuit  in  April,  1889. 
The  church  is  now  prosperous  and  is  again  increasing  in  numbers  and 
influence. 

The  Westville  Congregational  Church  was  organized  December 
25th,  1832.  The  constituent  members  were  32,  nearly  all  of  whom 
had  been  dismissed  from  New  Haven  churches  for  this  purpose. 
x\mong  the  prominent  members  were  Isaac  Dickerman,  for  forty  years 
a  deacon;  Henry  A.  Alurray,  who  was  later  elected  a  deacon,  serving 
from  1850  until  1865;  Silas  Hotchkiss,  who  donated  the  lot  on  which 
the  meeting  house  was  built;  Elias  Bradley,  Clement  Goodel,  Solomon 
Parker,  Silas  Ford,  Frederick  Hotchkiss  and  Allies  Bradley.  Enos 
Sperry  and  Sherman  Warner,  though  not  members  of  the  church, 
were  helpful  in  building  the  first  house  of  worship.    This  was  dedicated 


200  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

January  21st,  1836,  and  was  a  part  of  the  present  edifice,  which  was 
enlarged  in  1859,  and  subsequently,  during  llie  ministry  of  Reverend 
J.  L.  Willard,  which  began  October  18th,  1855,  and  still  continues. 
Until  1855  the  Home  Missionary  Society  supported  the  church,  but 
since  that  time  it  has  been  self-sustaining. 

The  Reverend  John  E.  Bray  was  the  first  minister  of  the  church, 
serving  from  September,  1832,  for  two  years,  when,  for  nearly  eight 
years,  owing  to  the  poverty  of  the  society,  the  pulpit  was  supplied. 
In  April,  1842,  Judson  A.  Root  was  installed  as  the  pastor,  and  served 
until  September,  1846.  Again,  for  more  than  three  years,  the  pulpit 
was  supplied,  when,  December  6th,  1849,  Reverend  S.  H.  Elliott  was 
installed,  and  remained  in  the  pastorate  until  May,  1855. 

Under  the  pastorate  of  Reverend  J.  L.  Willard  the  church  has 
prospered  materially  and  spiritually,  having  285  members.  His  min- 
istry here  is  among  the  longest  continued  in  the  county. 

St.  James'  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal),  of  Westville,  was  organ- 
ized in  1835.  A  meeting  to  organize  an  Episcopal  church  was  held 
January  20th  of  that  year,  25  persons  having  united  in  a  call  for  that 
purpose.  Newell  Johnson  and  Andrew  M.  Babcock  were  elected  war- 
dens, and  Philo  Betts  clerk.  There  being  no  house  of  worship  in 
Westville  services  were  now  held  in  a  ropm  in  Colonel  Pendleton's 
tavern  and  in  the  upper  room  of  the  school  house.  But  after  much 
effort  a  church  was  begun,  whose  corner  stone  was  laid  June  21st,  1837. 
The  church,  however,  was  not  completed  for  consecration  until  Sep- 
tember 17th,  1839.  Its  cost  was  $4,000.  In  1865  this  edifice  was 
remodelled  under  the  supervision  of  Donald  G.  Mitchell,  at  an  outlay 
of  about  §2,500.  A  rectory,  built  in  1853,  was  remodelled  in  1868,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,530.  The  property  is  nicely  located  and  appears  attractive. 
It  was  for  many  years  burdened  with  a  debt,  which  was  fully  extin- 
guished in  July,  1881.  Mrs.  Ann  M.  Mix  gave  $1,200  toward  this 
object.  In  1882  a  new  organ  was  supplied,  at  an  outlay  of  $600,  and  a 
fine  chancel  window  was  placed  in  the  church  in  1885. 

The  formation  of  this  parish  was  encouraged  by  Trinity  parish  of 
New  Haven,  where  many  of  the  families  formerly  belonged.  In  1837, 
under  the  ministry  of  Reverend  Stephen  Jewett,  there  were  55  com- 
municant members;  in  1890  the  number  was  134. 

The  church  has  had  the  .services  of  22  clergymen,  the  minister  in 
charge  .since  1888  being  Reverend  Charles  O.  Scoville.  E.  M.  Hotch- 
kiss  and  William  Bishop  are  the  present  wardens. 

St.  Joseph's  Church  (Roman  Catholic),  at  Westville,  sustains  a  mis- 
sion relation  to  St.  John's  church,  of  New  Haven.  It  was  built  in  1872, 
and  has  250  sittings.  Recent  repairs  have  made  it  attractive.  About 
SO  families  worship  in  it  statedly.  The  Reverend  B.  W.  Bray  has 
pastoral  supervision.  Daniel  Doyle  and  Thomas  CuUen  are  trus- 
tees. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  201 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Noah  Webster,  LL.  D.,  the  great  American  lexicographer,  died 
at  his  home  in  New  Haven  May  28th,  1843.  He  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Hartford  October  16th,  17.')8,  and  was  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  fifth 
generation  of  John  Webster,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford.  His 
mother  was  a  descendant  of  William  Bradford,  the  second  governor  of 
Pl3'moiith  colony.  His  father  was  a  farmer  in  poor  circumstances,  but 
favored  his  .son  in  his  efforts  to  obtain  a  higher  education.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  the  classics  in  1772,  having  as  his  instructor  the 
clerg3'man  of  his  parish,  and  two  years  later  entered  Yale  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1778,  having  served  meantime,  in  his 
father's  company,  as  a  soldier  in  the  revolution.  Among  his  class- 
mates were  a  number  of  young  men  who  also  attained  great  distinction, 
as  Joel  Barlow,  Oliver  Wolcott,  Zephaniah  .Swift,  etc.  Being  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  after  leaving  college,  he  supported  himself  by 
teaching  school,  preparing  himself  at  the  same  time  for  the  practice  of 
law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1781,  but  found  little  encourage- 
ment to  locate  in  that  profession,  and  again  resumed  his  work  as  a 
teacher,  and  at  the  same  time  undertook  an  employment  which  gave 
a  complexion  to  his  whole  future  life.  This  was  the  compilation  of 
books  for  the  instruction  of  youth  in  schools.  After  submitting  his 
plans  to  various  educators  and  receiving  their  approval  of  the  same,  he 
revised  what  he  had  written,  and  in  1783  published  at  Hartford  his 
"  Elementary  Spelling  Book,"  which  was  the  first  work  of  that  kind  in 
this  country.  This  was  gradually  introduced,  and  before  many  years 
its  use  became  very  general,  so  that  in  the  past  hundred  years  more 
than  50,000,000  copies  have  been  circiilated.  Its  alrcost  universal  use 
has  been  the  means,  more  than  any  other  cause,  of  producing  a  re- 
markable uniformity  of  pronunciation  in  our  countr}'. 

In  the  spring  of  1798  Noah  Webster  removed  to  New  Haven,  after 
having  lived  meantime  in  Philadelphia,  New  York  and  other  places 
as  teacher,  author,  editor  and  lecturer,  achieving,  for  lho.se  times,  con- 
siderable success  in  those  occupations.  He  now  devoted  himself  al- 
most wholly  to  literary  work,  and  in  1806  published  his  "Compendi- 
ous Dictionary  of  the  English  Language."  The  favorable  reception 
given  it  encouraged  him  to  begin,  in  1807,  the  compilation  of  his 
"American  Dictionary  of  the  Engli.sh  Language,"  which  was  made  the 
basis  for  future  revisions,  and  which  has  inseparably  connected  his 
name  with  this  greatest  of  American  reference  books.  For  twenty 
years  he  labored  incessantly  upon  this  volume,  which  was  first  pub- 
lished in  1828.  Finding  his  resources,  which  were  almost  wholly  de- 
rived from  the  royalty  of  the  sale  of  his  spelling  book,  inadequate  to 
support  his  family  at  New  Haven,  he  removed  in  1812  to  Amherst, 
Mass.,  where  he  lived  about  ten  years.  In  that  period,  with  character- 
istic enterprise,  he  helped  to  found  Amherst  College,  which  became 
one  of  the  best  of  the  minor  institutions  of  learnine  in  all  New  Ent-- 


202  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

land.  In  1822  he  became  a  permanent  resident  of  New  Haven,  living- 
thenceforth  until  his  death  at  the  corner  of  Temple  and  Grove  streets. 
This  house  is  still  pointed  out  to  strangers  as  one  of  the  historic  places 
of  the  city,  and  having  for  so  many  years  been  the  home  of  this  great 
literary  man,  richly  deserves  the  distinction  given  it.  During  the 
spring  of  1843  he  revised  the  appendix  to  his  dictionary,  adding  sev- 
eral hundred  new  words.  He  completed  the  printing  of  it  in  May,  a 
few  weeks  before  his  death,  and  this,  fittingly,  was  the  closing  act  of 
his  life. 

Noah  Porter,  D.D.,  LL.  D.,  the  eleventh  president  of  Yale  Col- 
lege, and  after  his  resignation  Clark  Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy 
and  Metaphysics,  died  at  New  Haven,  March  4th,  1892.  For  many 
years  he  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  ven- 
erated of  the  Congregational  ministers  of  Connecticut.  He  was  born 
in  Farmington  December  14th,  1811,  and  graduated  from  Yale  in  1831. 
He  was  for  several  years  master  of  the  Hopkins  Grammar  School,  in 
Boston,  and  was  a  tutor  in  the  college.  From  1837  to  1843  he  served 
pastorates  in  New  Milford,  Concord  and  Springfield,  Mass.  In  the  lat- 
ter year  he  was  appointed  Clark  Professor  of  Metaphysics  and  Moral 
Philosophy  at  Yale,  and  while  occupying  this  chair  issued  his  first  im- 
portant work,  "  The  Human  Intellect,  with  an  Introduction  Upon 
Psychology  and  the  vSoul."  A  more  elaborate  task  was  the  editing  of 
the  revision  of  "  Webster's  American  Dictionary  of  the  English  Lan- 
guage," published  in  1847.  His  last  important  work  in  this  latter  line 
was  the  preparation  and  issue  of  a  new  "  International  Dictionary." 

In  1871  Doctor  Porter  succeeded  Theodore  D.  Woolsey  as  president 
of  Yale  College,  which  position  he  held  until  his  resignation  in  1886. 
During  Doctor  Porter's  administration  the  progress  of  the  college  was 
marked.  Some  of  its  finest  buildings  were  erected  during  this  time, 
including  the  Art  School,  the  Peabody  Museum,  the  new  Theological 
Halls,  the  Sloane  Physical  Laboratory,  the  Battell  Chapel  and  one  of 
the  largest  dormitories. 

As  an  instructor,  and  in  his  personal  relations  with  the  students, 
Doctor  Porter  was  very  popular.  He  was  the  last  man  to  hold  the 
presidency  and  a  professor's  chair  at  the  same  time.  His  degree  of 
D.  D.  came  from  the  University  of  New  York  in  1858,  and  that  of 
LL.  D.  from  the  Edinburgh  University  in  1886.  The  latter  degree 
also  came  to  him  from  Reserve  College  in  1870  and  from  Trinity  Col- 
lege in  1871. 

He  was  succeeded  in  the  presidency  by  Professor  Timothy  Dwight, 
a  grandson  of  Doctor  Timothy  Dwight,  who  was  president  of  the  col- 
lege from  1793  to  1817.  The  latter  was  the  eighth  president  of  the 
college,  and  his  administi'ation  marked  a  new  era  in  its  affairs,  chang- 
ing it  from  a  collegiate  institute  to  a  college  proper  and  clearing  the 
way  for  a  transition  into  a  university.  The  elder  Timothy  Dwight 
possessed  an  extraordinary  range  of  information,  which  permitted  him 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  '203 

to  clearly  comprehend  the  possibilities  of  the  modern  institution  of 
learning.  He  was  also  an  excellent  judge  of  men  and  their  fitness  for 
the  performance  of  specific  work,  which  enabled  him  to  make  a  judi- 
cious selection  of  a  faculty  as  his  co-laborers,  who  assisted  him  in  giv- 
ing the  college  an  importance  and  character  it  had  never  before  en- 
joyed. Three  of  the  young  men  thus  selected,  who  were  for  more 
than  half  a  century  associated  with  one  another  in  the  service  of  Yale, 
were  Jeremiah  Day,  Benjamin  Silliman  and  James  L.  Kingsley.  A 
part  of  Doctor  Dwight's  plans  for  the  elevation  of  Yale  was  the  estab- 
lishment of  schools,  with  separate  faculties,  in  which  should  be  im- 
parted instruction  in  medicine,  theology  and  law,  and  .several  of  these 
purposes  had  a  favorable  beginning  in  his  presidency.  His  labors  in  the 
interest  of  the  college  were  so  arduous  (Reverend  Doctor  Sprague  said: 
"  He  continued  through  his  whole  presidential  life  to  discharge  the 
appropriate  duties  of  four  distinct  offices,  each  of  which  might  have 
furnished  ample  employment  for  an  individual")  that  his  health  failed 
in  1816,  and  the  disease  which  then  took  hold  of  him  terminated  fa- 
tally January  11th,  1817,  when  he  was  not  yet  65  years  old  and  while 
he  was  still  in  the  maturity  of  his  powers.  Through  his  character  and 
influence  the  tendency  of  the  college  toward  materialism  and  infidel- 
ity was  changed,  and  it  was  brought  into  a  position  which  it  has  since 
held  as  one  of  the  strongest  bulwarks  of  Christianity  in  the  land. 
Through  his  powerful  arguments  infidelity  was  vanquished  and  the 
truth  of  the  Bible  was  fully  substantiated;  and  that  influence  has  per- 
vaded the  life  of  the  institution  ever  since,  reflecting  a  luster  of  glory 
upon  his  honored  name. 

About  a  month  after  the  death  of  Doctor  Dwight,  Reverend  Jere- 
miah Day  was  elected  as  his  successor,  and  he  was  the  president  from 
1817  until  1846,  when  at  the  age  of  73  years  he  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion. He  had  conferred  degrees  upon  30  successive  classes,  and  his  con- 
nection with  the  college  was  in  the  fullest  sense  useful  and  beneficial; 
and  it  has  been  said  that  at  no  time  was  the  college  more  flourishing 
than  under  the  administration  of  President  Day-  He  survived  the 
close  of  this  splendid  career  many  years,  departing  this  life  August 
22d,  1867,  at  the  advanced  age  of  more  than  94  years.  He  graduated 
from  Yale  in  1795,  and  returned  to  it  in  1803  as  a  teacher,  serving  it 
therefore  43  years.  In  this  period  the  projected  plans  of  Doctor 
Dwight  were  fully  carried  out,  the  divinity  school  being  added  to  those 
of  medicine  and  law  already  fully  established.  The  library  was  pro- 
vided with  its  first  attractive  and  comfortable  home,  and  a  degree  of 
literary  activity  was  awakened  which  resulted  in  the  publication  of 
college  periodicals,  one  of  which,  the  Literary  Magazine,  has  been  con- 
tinued since  1836, 

The  successor  of  Doctor  Day  and  the  predecessor  of  Doctor  Porter 
was  Doctor  Theodore  Dwight  Woolsey,  the  president  from  1846  until 
1871.     His  administration  was  progressive   and  energetic,  and  in  this 


204  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

period  of  time  the  college  was  placed  upon  a  better  basis  than  before. 
The  departments  already  established  were  enlarged,  and  in  1847  the 
new  department  of  philosophy  and  the  arts  was  created,  and  build- 
ings erected  and  equipped  for  its  use,  through  the  liberality  of  Joseph 
E.  Sheffield  and  Augustus  R.  Street.  He  also  succeeded  in  awakening 
the  interest  of  the  alumni  in  university  inatters,  and  their  support  and 
cooperation  have  been  very  helpful  ever  since.  In  1871  proper  recog- 
nition of  this  service  was  given  by  a  change  in  the  charter  of  the  in- 
stitution which  provides  for  the  election  of  six  graduates  as  members 
of  Yale  corporation,  one  to  be  elected  yearly,  and  each  to  serve  six 
years.  This  provision  has  been  the  means  of  securing  the  active  in- 
terest of  some  of  the  most  eminent  men  of  the  country,  and  their  warm 
allegiance  has  given  the  university  claims  upon  the  public  patronage 
which  might  otherwise  have  been  denied.  Hence  the  university  has 
in  late  years  prospered  greatly,  and  it  has  attained  a  position  of  su- 
premacy disputed  only  by  Harvard.  How  much  of  this  condition  has 
been  the  result  of  the  labors  and  influence  of  the  foregoing  and  the 
present  president  time  alone  can  fully  tell.  But  certain  it  is,  judging 
from  the  immediate  effects  attending  each  administration,  that  Yale 
has  indeed  been  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  its  presidents  in  the  past 
100  years,  and  that  their  zeal  and  devotion  were  at  least  the  great  in- 
spiring causes  which  brought  about  these  desirable  changes.  All 
honor  to  them,  and  may  their  names  and  worth  ever  remain  embalmed 
in  the  memory  of  every  friend  of  learning  and  advocate  of  higher 
education. 

Luzon  Burritt  Morrls  was  born  at  Newtown,  Conn.,  April  16th, 
1827.  In  his  early  life  he  suffered  the  privations  incident  to  the  life 
of  a  family  in  humble  circumstances,  and  with  much  difficulty  ob- 
tained his  education.  But  toiling  and  persevering  against  many  ob- 
stacles, he  was  enabled  to  prepare  for  college  in  the  Connecticut  Lit- 
erary Institution,  at  Suffield,  and  entering  Yale  he  graduated  in  1854. 
He  now  turned  his  attention  to  the  profession  of  law  and  in  1856  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  After  practicing  a  short  time  in  the  town  of  Sey- 
mour, he  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he  has  since  held  a  most 
prominent  place  in  the  legal  profession.  He  has  been  entrusted  with 
many  important  interests,  all  of  which  he  discharged  with  great  fidel- 
ity. As  the  agent  of  Daniel  Hand,  the  Guilford  millionaire,  recently 
deceased,  he  disbursed  large  sums  of  money,  much  of  it  in  the  direc- 
.tion  of  charity  and  pure  benevolence.  His  probity  and  faithfulness 
in  many  other  trusts,  whether  in  the  care  of  public  or  private  affairs, 
have  caused  him  to  become  greatly  esteemed  and  he  has  frequently  been 
called  to  serve  in  public  capacities.  He  was  judge  of  the  New  Haven 
probate  court  from  1857  to  1863,  represented  Seymour  in  the  general 
assembly  two  terms,  and  New  Haven  half  a  dozen  terms  in  the  same 
body  and  one  term  in  the  state  senate.  In  both  these  houses  he  was 
very  influential  and  held  some  of  the  most  important  committee  posi- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  205 

tions.  The  action  recommended  bears  the  stamp  of  his  careful  train- 
ing and  indicates  the  judicial  cast  of  his  mind;  and  the  laws  enacted 
have  well  served  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  designed. 

The  eminence  and  force  of  character  of  Judge  L.  B.  Morris  fitly 
suggested  him  as  the  leader  of  the  democracy  in  the  gubernatorial 
campaign  of  1890.  In  that  hotly  contested  struggle  his  ability  and 
honesty  were  conceded  by  men  of  all  shades  of  belief  and  many  voted 
for  him  regardless  of  former  political  affiliations  out  of  their  admira- 
tion for  his  sterling  character,  notwithstanding  his  competitors  were 
also  popular  and  most  deserving  citizens.  He  received  67,658  votes 
against  67,597  for  all  others,  including  100  disptited  ballots.  He  was 
apparently  the  choice  of  the  people  of  the  state,  but  by  the  terms  of 
the  constitution,  which  should  long  since  have  been  changed,  he  failed 
to  secure  a  title  to  the  office,  but  is  honored  none  the  less  by  all  true 
citizens  of  this  commonwealth,  as  a  truly  representative  man. 

General  Samuel  E.  Merwin,  the  chief  competitor  of  Judge  Morris 
for  the  office  of  governor,  receiving  63,975  votes,  is  also  an  honored 
citizen  of  New  Haven.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Brookfield,  Aug- 
ust 23d,  1830,  and  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Miles  Merwin,  one  of  the 
early  prominent  settlers  of  Milford,  whose  name  is  still  perpetuated 
in  Merwin 's  Point,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  sound  coast  of  the 
county.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  after 
his  removal  to  New  Haven,  when  he  was  16  years  old,  under  private 
instructions.  In  1850  he  became  associated  with  his  father,  also  named 
Samuel  E.  Merwin,  in  the  wholesale  business  of  a  pork  packer,  which 
avocation  he  has  followed  with  success  about  two  score  of  years.  In 
addition  to  this  pursuit  he  has  been  most  active  in  other  affairs  and 
has  been  charged  with  a  variety  of  private  and  public  trusts,  in  the 
discharge  of  which  his  faithfulness  and  integrity  have  never  been  ques- 
tioned. He  has  been  interested  in  the  management  of  several  mone- 
tary institutions  and  has  been  on  the  board  of  a  number  of  public  and 
charitable  institutions,  where  his  business  skill  has  been  of  much  ser- 
vice. Always  active  as  a  republican,  his  voice  has  frequently  been 
heard  in  the  councils  of  his  party,  and  he  served  as  senator  from  the 
Fourth  senatorial  district.  He  has  also  been  the  republican  nominee 
for  mayor  of  New  Haven  and  congressman  of  this  district.  His  mili- 
tary service  has  been  active  and  highly  creditable.  For  some  years 
he  was  the  captain  of  the  New  Haven  Grays,  and  after  filling  other 
military  offices  in  the  state,  served  three  years  under  Governor  Jewell 
as  the  adjutant  general  of  Connecticut  and  rendered  most  efficient  and 
valuable  service  in  the  late  civil  war,  at  home,  in  New  York  during 
the  draft  riots  and  promptly  volunteered  to  go  to  Gettysburg  to  repel 
the  rebel  invasion  of  Pennsylvania.  General  Alerwin  is  liberal  and 
public-spirited  and  on  account  of  his  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his 
adopted  city  is  deservedly  popular  and  is  highly  esteemed. 


206  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

WiLLlAiM  E.  DowNES,  of  New  Haven,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Milford,  Conn.,  August  22d,  1824,  and  was  the  third  son  of  Horatio  and 
Nancy  Downes.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John  Downes,  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  the  revolution,  and  a  very  interesting  relic  in  the  shape 
of  a  diary,  kept  by  him  from  1764  to  1810,  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
the  family.  It  contains,  with  a  very  few  exceptions,  an  entry  for  every 
day  during  that  long  period.  Through  his  grandmother,  Hannah 
Stone,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  in  direct  line  of  descent  from  the 
Reverend  Samuel  Stone  and  the  Reverend  Thomas  Hooker,  of  Hart- 
ford. Among  her  ancestors  his  mother  numbered  Governor  Robert 
Treat,  the  Reverend  Samuel  Andrews,  of  Alilford,  for  some  years 
rector  of  Yale  college,  and  Edmund  Tapp,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and 
one  of  the  first  five  judges  of  Milford.  His  father  had  much  of  the 
Puritan  in  his  character  and  aspect,  with  a  brave,  warm  heart  beneath 
it  all;  while  his  mother,  of  a  quiet,  gentle  nature,  was  withal  so  loving 
and  self-sacrificing  as  to  give  added  worth  even  to  the  name  of  mother. 

As  a  boy  Mr.  Downes  attended  the  district  school  in  Milford,  and 
afterward  completed  his  studies  preparatory  to  entering  college,  with 
the  Reverend  A.  M.  Train,  of  Milford.  He  entered  Yale  College  in 
1841.  His  first  greeting  came  from  Professor  Thatcher,  and  so  cor- 
dial and  timely  was  it  that  it  has  never  been  forgotten.  The  vigorous 
insistance  afterward  on  proper  Latin  accents  seemed  at  times''at  vari- 
ance with  the  earlier  impressions,  but  was  so  kindly  meant  it  has  long 
since  been  forgiven.  After  three  years  of  hard  study,  and  one  of 
pleasant  memory,  Air.  Downes,  with  73  others,  was  graduated,  James 
G.  Gould,  a  fine  .scholar  and  most  gifted  man,  being  the  valedictorian. 
Having  chosen  the  legal  profession  as  his  life  work,  Mr.  Downes  re- 
cited for  one  year  to  the  Hon.  Alfred  Blackman,  of  New  Haven,  now 
deceased,  a  kind  friend  to  the  student  then,  and  beloved  ever  after. 
He  then  entered  the  Yale  Law  School,  and  after  the  usual  course  of 
study  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  state  of  Connecticut  in  1848.  In 
December  of  that  year  he  opened  an  office  in  Birmingham,  Conn.,  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

In  1851  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  M.  Howe,  only  child  of  Doctor 
John  I.  Howe,  then  of  Birmingham.  Doctor  Howe  began  a  successful 
career  as  resident  physician  in  Bellevue  Hospital,  New  York,  but  be- 
coming interested  in  the  manufacture  of  pins,  came  to  Birmingham  to 
look  after  his  interests  in  the  corporation  now  known  as  the  Howe 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  Birmingham,  Conn.  He  was  a  man  of 
rare  ability  and  attainments,  and  is  widely  known  as  the  inventor  of 
of  the  first  practical  automatic  pin  machine. 

Mr.  Downes  continued  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  1863, 
when  he  relinquished  it,  and  succeeded  Doctor  Howe  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  business  of  the  Howe  Manufacturing  Company.  As  a 
lawyer  he  gained  and  kept  the  confidence,  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lived,  as  well  as  that  of  his  brethren  at  the 


'^^T^^/T^^^' 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  207 

bar.  His  busines.s  surely  and  steadily  increased  as  his  worth  and 
ability  became  known,  and  when  he  relinquished  his  practice  it  was  a 
source  of  sincere  regret  to  a  numerous  clientage.  He  remained  in  the 
active  management  of  the  Howe  Manufacturing  Company  until  1875, 
when  the  burden  of  the  work  was  turned  over  to  other  hands. 

Since  that  time  Mr.  Downes  has  not  been  actively  engaged  in  busi- 
ness, but  in  the  management  of  his  own  affairs,  and  in  the  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  of  the  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility 
which  he  has  filled  and  now  fills,  he  assuredly  has  not  been  an  idle 
man.  He  has  been  for  the  past  seven  years,  and  now  is,  president  of 
the  Derby  Savings  Bank.  He  is  a  director  and  member  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Ousatonic  Water  Company,  and  a  director  and 
valued  counsellor  and  adviser  in  many  other  corporations  in  Derby  and 
elsewhere.  With  the  Ousatonic  Water  Company  he  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  from  the  beginning,  having  been  emploj'ed  as  one 
of  the  counsel  to  obtain  a  charter  for  the  company'  from  the  legisla- 
ture of  Connecticut. 

He  has  been  elected  three  times  as  a  representative  of  the  town  of 
Derby  in  the  legislature  of  his  state;  the  first  time  in  1855,  the  second 
in  1882,  and  the  third  in  1883.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  "  Board  of  Pardons,"  and  was  chiefly  instrumental  in 
procuring  the  passage  of  the  "  Act  Concerning  Insane  Persons,"  in  the 
year  1889,  and  he  modestly  says  that  such  satisfaction  as  he  has  de- 
rived from  his  legislative  experience  arises  from  his  connection  with 
these  two  acts.  For  several  years  Mr.  Downes,  at  some  self-sacrifice, 
filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town  of  Derby.  This 
would  hardly  be  worthy  of  mention  here  but  for  the  fact  that  to  the 
performance  of  the  duties  pertaining  to  this  humble  magistracy  he 
brought  such  rare  good  sense,  ability  and  impartiality,  as  to  make  his 
incumbency  memorable. 

In  the  year  1887  Mr.  Downes,  with  his  family,  removed  from  Bir- 
mingham to  New  Haven,  where  he  now  resides.  The  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Downes  are:  Mrs.  Helen  G.  Atwater,  of  Birmingham, 
Conn.;  William  Howe  Downes,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Mrs.  Catherine 
J.  Whiting  and  John  I.  H.  Downes,  of  New  Haven. 

Mr.  Downes  is  possessed  of  certain  qualitiesrarely  found,  asin  him, 
in  harmonious  combination.  While  a  lover  of  books,  and  of  reading, 
and  with  the  instincts  and  tastes  of  a  scholar,  he  is  at  the  same  time  a 
practical  man  of  affairs,  with  an  aptitude  for  business  born  of  a  thor- 
ough legal  and  business  training,  and  of  a  large  and  varied  experience. 
In  the  many  corporations  with  which  he  is  connected,  his  opinion  car- 
ries much  weight,  and  his  counsel  is  rarely  disregarded.  While  mod- 
est and  retiring  in  disposition,  and  willing  to  yield  to  the  judgment  of 
others  in  matters  of  minor  importance,  he  is  steadfast  in  matters  of 
principle  and  loyal  to  his  convictions  at  all  times,  without  regard  to 
consequences.     His  conclusions  are  generally  reached  only  after  ma- 


208  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ture  reflection  and  although  they  are  held  with  firmness,  the  firmness 
never  degenerates  into  obstinacy.  He  has  an  instinct  for  justice,  and 
a  sense  of  honor  "that  feels  a  stain  like  a  wound."  His  keen  percep- 
tion of  the  humorous  side  of  human  nature  and  conduct,  coupled  with 
a  genial,  kindly  disposition,  make  him  a  delightful  companion,  and 
relieve  the  "prosiness"  of  many  a  business  meeting. 

In  politics  Mr.  Downes  has  generally  acted  with  the  republican 
party,  but  he  never  hesitates  to  sink  his  allegiance  to  party  in  the 
higher  allegiance  to  whatever  is  for  the  best  interests  of  his  country, 
or  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 

Mr.  Downes  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  denomination,  but 
with  him  religion  is  an  unfolding  life  rather  than  a  creed. 

Simple  in  his  tastes  and  unostentatious  in  his  manner  of  life,  he 
finds  his  chief  enjoyment  in  a  pleasant  circle  of  friends  and  compan- 
ions and  amidst  his  own  family,  to  whom  he  has  always  been  devot- 
edly attached. 

Dexter  R.  Wright,  who  was  in  his  day  one  of  the  best  known 
and  most  honored  men  of  the  county,  was  born  at  Windsor,  Vermont, 
June  27th,  1821,  and  died  at  New  Haven  July  23d,  1886.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Wesleyan  University,  at  Middletown,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  lS4n,  having  as  classmates  men  who  became  eminent  in  all 
the  learned  professions.  In  the  year  Mr.  Wright  graduated  he  became 
the  principal  of  the  Meriden  Academy,  serving  in  that  capacity  not 
quite  two  years.  In  1846  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  ofBce  of  E. 
K.  Foster,  of  New  Haven,  and  in  1848  he  graduated  from  the  law  de- 
partment of  Yale,  locating  that  year  at  Meriden  to  follow  his  profes- 
sion, in  which,  in  later  years,  he  became  so  eminent.  In  1849  he  at- 
tained his  first  political  distinction,  being  elected  to  the  state  senate 
from  the  Sixth  senatorial  district:  but  becoming  imbuded  with  the 
spirit  of  the  "Argonauts"  he  relinquished  these  honors  and  went  to 
California,  where  he  spent  two  years,  much  of  the  time  practicing  in 
the  territorial  courts  and  helping  to  shape  the  destiny  of  the  future 
state.  In  1851  he  returned  to  Meriden,  where  for  eleven  years  he  was 
one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  the  bar  of  that  town,  in  whose  material 
development  he  was  also  warmly  interested. 

The  civil  war  received  not  only  his  support  as  one  of  the  most  elo- 
quent speakers  in  the  state,  but  in  1862  he  himself  enlisted  and  was 
commissioned  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  14th  Regiment,  and  later  was 
made  the  colonel  of  the  lijth  Regiment.  In  August,  1862,  he  went 
with  his  men  to  the.  front  and  was  with  his  command  at  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  December  13th,  1862.  Failing  health  compelled  him 
to  leave  the  service  in  1863,  but  at  home  and  elsewhere  he  labored  un- 
ceasingly until  the  nationality  of  the  union  of  states  was  acknowledged 
supreme. 

After  the  war  Colonel  Wright  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he 
established  a  law  practice  which  made  him  one  of  the  most  influential 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  209 

members  of  the  bar.  He  was  also  called  to  serve  in  official  capacities 
and  was  the  speaker  of  the  Connecticut  house  of  representatives  in 
1879.  This  office  he  filled  with  distinguished  ability  and  with  so  much 
courtesy  that  he  evoked  the  admiration  of  all  parties.  Although  so 
unremitting  in  his  attention  to  his  profession,  Colonel  Wright  was 
such  an  intelligent  student  and  so  assiduous  in  his  application  to  the 
mastery  of  any  subject,  that  he  acquired  a  wide  range  of  knowledge 
in  literature  and  science,  until  he  was  one  of  the  best  informed  men 
in  the  county.  He  had  become  so  familiar  with  medical  studies  that 
the  honorary  degree  of  M.  D.  was  given  him  by  a  medical  college,  as 
a  recognition  of  that  knowledge,  and  degrees  were  bestowed  on  him  by 
other  institutions  of  learning,  among  them  being  those  of  master  of 
arts  from  Wesleyan  University  and  A.  M.,  Cansa  Honoris,  from  Trinity 
College,  of  Hartford. 

Hexrv  Baldwin  Harrison,  governor  of  the  state  of  Connecticut 
from  1885  to  1887,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  Haven  September  11th, 
1821,  and  received  his  elementar}^  education  in  the  famous  Lancaste- 
rian  school  of  John  E.  Lovell,  whose  assistant  he  was  for  several  years. 
Entering  Yale,  he  graduated  at  the  head  of  the  class  of  1846,  and  then 
began  the  study  of  law  and  its  practice  with  Luciirs  G.  Peck,  Esq. 
Mr.  Harrison  allied  himself  with  the  fortunes  of  the  whig  party,  which 
elected  him  state  senator  in  1854,  and  from  that  time  he  has  been 
more  or  less  active  in  political  matters,  as  he  subsequently  became  an 
ardent  republican,  and  was  called  a  number  of  times  to  lead  the  forces 
of  that  party.  He  served  his  town  with  distinction  and  usefulness  in 
the  state  legislature,  and  after  being  once  defeated  for  governor  was 
elected  and  was  the  governor  two  years,  very  creditably  filling  that 
office.  His  ability  as  an  attorney  gave  him  a  reputation  not  excelled 
by  any  other  in  the  state,  and  his  fairness,  sincerity  and  unimpeacha- 
ble honesty,  whether  in  politics  or  in  business,  secured  for  him  great 
esteem.  In  public  and  private  affairs  he  has  been  progressive,  always 
aiding  where  it  would  promote  the  greatest  good.  Since  1872  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  corporation  of  Yale  College,  in  whose  welfare  he 
has  always  taken  a  warm  interest.  In  addition  to  Governor  Harrison, 
three  more  of  New  Haven's  attorneys  have  filled  that  office:  Roger  S. 
Balvvin,  1844-6;  Henry  Button,  1854-5;  and  Charles  R.  Ingersoll, 
1873-7. 

Roger  Sherman  Baldwin  was  born  in  New  Haven,  January  4th, 
1793,  and  was  the  second  son  of  Judge  Simeon  Baldwin.  He  grad- 
uated from  Yale  College  in  1811,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1814,  and 
practiced  law  until  his  death,  February  19th,  1863,  except  when  en- 
gaged in  public  capacities.  His  reputation  as  a  lawyer  was  not  con- 
fined to  the  limits  of  his  state,  and  he  was  for  many  3^ears  one  of  the 
best  known  men  in  Connecticut.  He  was  early  a  pronounced  anti- 
slavery  man,  and  when  occasion  offered,  ably  defended  the  cause  of 
the  oppressed  Africans.     After  serving  two  years  as  governor  he  was 


210  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

elected  United  States  senator,  in  1847,  serving  a  term  in  that  body.     In 

1860  he  was  a  Lincoln  presidential  elector,  and  one  of  his  last  public 
actions  was  his  service  on  the  "  Peace  Congress,"  in  1861.  He  was  a 
man  of  very  earnest  convictions,  and  everywhere  devoted  his  great 
powers  to  to  the  cause  of  truth  and  humanity,  being  thus  a  most  valu- 
able citizen. 

Henry  Button,  LL.  D.,  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Conn.,  February 
12th,  1796,  and  died  at  New  Haven,  April  26th,  1869.  In  1818  he  grad- 
uated from  Yale,  where  he  became  a  tutor  in  1821  After  teaching  in 
the  college  two  years  he  commenced  to  practice  law  at  Newtown, 
where  he  remained  until  1837,  then  removed  to  Bridgeport.  In  1847 
he  was  appointed  professor  of  law  at  Yale,  and  then  took  up  his  resi- 
dence at  New  Haven.  He  served  in  both  houses  of  the  general  as- 
sembly of  the  state,  and  filled  the  office  of  governor  one  term.     In 

1861  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  errors,  and  served 
until  1866,  when  he  was  unfitted  by  the  constitutional  limit  of  age  for 
longer  service.  He  had  a  keen,  discriminating  intellect,  and  was  an 
able  and  sound  expounder  of  the  law.  In  all  his  life  he  was  pure  and 
upright,  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Charles  Roberts  Ingersoll  was  born  in  New  Haven,  September 
16th,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Ralph  I.  Ingersoll.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Hopkins  Grammar  School  and  at  Yale,  graduating  in  1840.  In  1845 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  New  Haven  county,  and  has  been  a  law- 
yer ever  since.  He  represented  New  Haven  in  the  state  legislature 
four  terms.  In  1873  he  was  elected  bv  the  democrats  as  the  governor, 
and  was  reelected,  serving  until  January,  1877.  He  declined  a  re- 
nomination,  although  strongly  urged  to  again  allow  the  suffrage  of 
the  state  to  be  cast  for  him.  He  is  able  and  popular  in  public  and 
private  life. 

James  Mulford  To\vnsend,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  is  the  .son  of 
William  Kneeland  and  Eliza  Ann  (Mulford)  Townsend,  and  was  born 
in  New  Haven,  January  20th,  1825,  and  is  .seventh  in  descent  from 
Thomas  Townsend,  or  Townshend,  who  settled  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  in 
1683.  He  descended  from  good  revolutionary  stock,  his  grandfather, 
Isaac  Townsend,  having  enlisted  at  the  age  of  16  years,  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war  for  independence. 

On  the  east  side  of  New  Haven  harbor  runs  north  and  south  for  a 
considerable  distance  a  ridge  of  elevated  land,  sloping  down  westward 
to  the  water's  edge.  It  is  called  "  Bay  Ridge."  There  are  beautiful 
and  picturesque  landscapes  along  its  western  sides,  and  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  these  is  situated  about  three  miles  southeast  of  the 
New  Haven  Green,  on  Townsend  avenue.  Here  is  "  Raynham,"  the 
estate  of  the  late  William  Kneeland  Townsend,  and  the  family  home 
of  his  sons.  Here  reside  James  M.  and  George  H.  Townsend,  the 
second  and  third  sons  of  the  family,  who  are  living  on  the  land  their 
ancestors  bought  of  the  Indians,  in  addition  to  the  original  grant  to 
their  ancestors  made  over  200  years  ago. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY,  211 

"  Raynham  "  is  an  imported  name.  It  is  in  England  the  ancient 
family  seat  of  the  Townsends,  and  comprises  22,000  acres.  The  old 
moated  Hall,  located  in  the  park,  near  the  church  by  the  river  side, 
and  builded  of  Roman  brick,  A.  D.,  1200,  is  a  picturesque  ruin.  The 
family  mansion  is  in  the  center  of  the  22,000  acres,  and  on  either  side 
of  the  same  is  a  lawn  of  400  acres.  It  was  builded  by  Sir  Roger  Towns- 
hend,  the  Puritan  baronet,  early  in  the  seventeenth  century  (1630). 
Sir  Roger  died  January  1st,  1637,  aged  41  years. 

"  Raynham  "  in  England  had  at  that  date  been  the  residence  of  the 
Townsend  surname  nearly  400  years,  for  as  early  as  February  16th, 
1466,  a  Townsend  will  directs  that  the  body  of  the  testator  be  buried 
in  "the  church  of  St.  Mary's,  Raynham."  But  the  present  mansion, 
which  has  sheltered  so  many  generations  since,  was  builded  by  Sir 
Roger  Townshend,  the  Puritan  baronet,  in  1630.  When  in  England 
in  1891.  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  together  with  his  grandson, Winston 
Trowbridge  Townsend,  visited  the  old  family  mansion  at  "  Raynham  " 
upon  invitation  of  the  present  owner  (the  mo.st  Noble  The  Marquis 
Townsend,  whom  Mr.  Townsend  met  in  Paris,  and  received  from  the 
Marquis  a  most  cordial  reception).  The  parties  in  charge  of  Raynham 
Hall  entertained  Mr.  Townsend  and  his  grandson  most  hospitably,  and 
upon  leaving  gave  them  a  large  hamper  filled  with  most  delicious  hot 
house  grapes  (and  other  fruits),  some  of  them  lasting  until  their  arrival 
home  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  on  the  day  of  .sailing  a  ba.sket  of 
most  beautiful  flowers  Mr.  Townsend  received  from  the  Raynham  Hall 
garden. 

In  family  loyalty  the  ancient  name  has  been  given  to  the  beautiful 
estate,  "  Raynham,"  on  the  east  side  of  the  New  Haven  harbor.  This 
•'  Raynham  "  was  purchased  by  William  Kneeland  Townsend,  father 
of  James  M.,  from  his  father  and  uncle  some  years  before  retiring 
from  mercantile  pursuits  in  1830.  It  was  part  of  the  original  grant  of 
the  New  Haven  colony  to  William  Tuttle,  the  maternal  ancestor  of 
his  wife.  At  the  same  time  it  included  land  purchased  from  the  In- 
dians. There  William  K.  Townsend  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
occupying  his  time  in  scientific  agriculture,  and  bringing  up  his  family 
in  enterprising  American  fashion. 

When  the  school  days  of  James  M.  were  over,  he  became  clerk  in 
an  importing  house  in  New  York.  Then  for  three  years  he  carried 
on  the  clothing  trade  in  New  Haven,  the  firm  being  Knevals,  Hull, 
Townsend  &  Maltby.  But  retiring  from  mercantile  life,  he  became 
secretary  and  treasurer,  and  afterward  president  of  the  City  Savings 
Bank  of  New  Haven.  He  has  served  in  several  prominent  financial 
positions  besides.  He  has  been  a  director  of  the  Ouinnipiac  (now 
Yale  National)  Bank,  and  also  for  16  years  a  director  of  the  New 
Haven  Bank,  in  which  his  father,  grandfather  and  great-grandfather 
served  as  directors.  He  has  also  been  director,  vice-president  and 
president  of  the  Shore  Line  Railroad    Company,   a    director   of   the 


212  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

New  Haven  &  Derby  Railroad  Company,  a  director  of  the  New  Haven 
Clock  Company,  and  also  a  director  and  treasurer  of  the  Gettysburg 
Railroad  Company,  Pennsylvania,  besides  being  a  life  director  of  a 
number  of  public  societies  of  New  Haven,  executor  and  trustee  of 
large  estates  in  Connecticut  and  western  states,  also  director  in  rail- 
road and  other  corporations  in  other  states. 

These  meager  outlines  of  business  relations  are  only  suggestive  of 
many  others,  and  of  Mr.  Townsend's  prominence  in  the  financial 
world.  The  positions  of  trust  he  has  refused  far  outnumber  those  he 
has  accepted.  In  all  these  relations  he  exhibited  untarnished  honesty 
and  integrity,  adorned  by  careful  attention  to  business  trusts.  There 
is  one  enterprise  of  his  bu.siness  life  which  cannot  be  passed  over 
without  a  more  particular  notice.  It  concerns  the  development  of  the 
petroleum  industry  in  this  country.  (See  Atwater's  "  History  of  the 
City  of  New  Haven,"  McCarthy's  "  History  of  Petroleum,"  and  Pro- 
fessor I.  L.  Newburry,  LL.  D.,  of  Columbia  College,  New  York,  article 
in  Harper  s  Magazine  for  October,  1890).  The  presence  of  "  rock  oil  " 
in  the  earth  has  been  known  for  a  very  long  period,  but  how  to  obtain 
it  in  large  quantities  so  as  to  make  it  a  commercial  product  was  a 
puzzle  to  both  capital  and  labor  waiting  for  employment.  The  Penn. 
Rock  Oil  Company  had  been  organized  in  1856,  and  had  purchased 
some  1,200  acres  of  land,  together  with  a  leasehold  right  to  all  the 
rights  and  values  lying  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  on  the  prop- 
erty adjoining  the  purchase,  if  evidence  of  oil  should  appear  there, 
or  upon  which  it  was  supposed  oil  could  be  found,  which  lease  ex- 
tended to  a  large  area  of  Oil  creek.  Mr.  James  M.  Townsend,  of  New 
Haven,  was  one  of  the  chief  stockholders.  It  was  the  company's 
policy  to  sublet  rights  to  lessees  for  working  on  the  oil  district,  and  to 
receive  a  royalty  on  the  product.  But  in  October,  1857,  a  lessee  in 
New  York  discovered  what  he  regarded  as  a  serious  defect  in  the 
title  by  which  the  Penn.  Rock  Oil  Company  held  its  Oil  Creek  property, 
and  grasped  at  the  discovery  as  an  excuse  for  throwing  up  his  lease. 
The  prospects  of  the  company  became  greatly  clouded,  but  one  man, 
Mr.  Townsend,  did  not  lose  faith  in  the  venture. 

Mr.  E.  L.  Drake  was  at  that  time  a  conductor  on  the  New  York  & 
New  Haven  railroad,  and  like  Mr.  Townsend,  boarded  at  the  Tontine 
Hotel  in  New  Haven.  Weary  and  sick,  Mr.  Drake  inquired  of  Mr. 
Townsend  what  topics  of  special  interest  were  filling  his  thoughts, 
and  conversation  drifted  to  the  condition  in  which  the  Penn.  Rock 
Oil  Company  found  itself.  As  Mr.  Drake  needed  recreation,  since 
he  was  just  recovering  from  a  severe  fever,  ]\Ir.  Townsend  pro- 
posed that  he  should  go  to  the  company's  property  in  Pennsylvania, 
■examine  it,  perfect  the  title,  and  report  what  he  might  find.  Mr. 
Townsend  furnished  Mr.  Drake  with  the  essential  equipment  in 
money,  and  he  visited  the  oil  regions.  He  reported  that  the  oil,  pos- 
sessing medicinal  properties  confirmed  by  the  Seneca  Indians  as  a  cure 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  213 

for  rheumatism,  could  be  collected  in  paying  quantities,  and  sold  by 
the  bottle  or  the  gallon.  Upon  the  strength  of  this  report,  Mr.  Town- 
send  at  once  organized  "  The  Seneca  Oil  Company,"  putting  Mr.  Drake 
forward  in  the  organization  in  place  of  himself,  and  furni.shing  nearly 
all  the  capital. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  of  the  company  the  bulk  of  the 
stock,  taken  in  Mr.  Drake's  name,  was  transferred  to  Mr.  Townsend, 
who  had  furnished  the  money,  and  Mr.  Drake  was  appointed  manager 
on  the  field,  voted  a  salary  of  $100  a  month  and  entrusted   with  $1,000 
to  proceed  to  Oil  Creek  and  begin  operations.     But  progress  was  slow 
and  discouraging.     It  was  proposed  at  last  to  bore   a  well  after  the 
manner  of  the  salt  wells  of  New  York.     The  salt  works  at  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  were  visited  and  a  well  borer  secured,  but  the  process  of  boring 
rock  was  slow  in  those  days,  and  as  the  months  passed  by  several  of 
the  .stockholders  lo.st  faith  in  the  plan  of  boring  and  fell  out  of  the 
company.     At  last  only  two  were  left  and  Mr.  Town,send,  who  was  the 
principal    capitalist    and    had  been  the  most  enthusia.stic,    was   one 
of  them.     He  sent  forward  as  a  last  installment  of  money  $500,  with 
instructions  to  Mr.  Drake  that  if  he  had  not  "struck  oil"  by  the  time 
the  money  reached  him,  to  settle  all  bills,  pack  up  and   come  home. 
But  on  the  day  before   the    money  arrived — the  memorable  ^Oth  of 
August,  1859— the  auger,  now  down  68  feet,  fell  through  into  the  oil 
reservoir,  and  the  oil  flowed  up  to  within   a  few  feet  of  the  surface. 
This  was  the  opening  of  the  great  industry  in  "Rock  Oil,"  which  has 
since  grown  to  such  enormous  proportions  in  the  market  quotations  of 
the  world.     Mr.  Townsend  gave  his  brother.  Captain  Chas.  H.  Town- 
send  (who  commanded  the  steamships   "Fulton"  and  "Ontarion"  to 
Havre),  a  small  bottle  of  the  oil,  which  was  probably  the  first  petroleum 
ever  taken  to  Europe.     Captain  Townsend  had  an  analysis  made  by  a 
celebrated  French  chemist,  who  reported  "the  lubricating,  illuminat- 
ing and  other  qualities  are  such  if  there  is  much  of  it  in  your  country 
it  will  revolutionize  the  world." 

The  Venango  Spectator,  published  in  the  very  heart  of  the  oil  coun- 
try, says  of  Mr.  Townsend:  "Drake  was  in  fact  his  foreman.  It  is  no 
more  than  right  that  Mr.  Townsend  should  have  at  least  a  full  share 
of  the  honors  of  a  pioneer  in  developing  the  great  product  which  has 
revolutionized  the  world.  If  General  Grant  captured  Vicksburg,  Mr. 
Townsend  bored  the  first  successful  oil  well  in  Venango  county." 

But  other  phases  of  character  in  Mr.  Townsend  appear  as  conspicu- 
ous as  the  very  honorable  part  he  has  borne  in  business,  and  a  sketch 
of  him  would  be  very  incomplete  without  a  view  of  them.  From  boy- 
hood days  he  has  been  greatly  interested  in  military  organization  and 
military  movements.  The  peculiar  manners  of  the  military  chieftain  are 
natural  to  him  and  the  liking  for  military  life  drew  him  into  membership 
of  the  New  Haven  Grays,  of  which  company  he  is  now  the  living  senior 
captain.      The  "Grays"  is  a  military  organization  dating  from  181G 


214  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

or  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  is  proud  of  its  history.  Young 
Mr.  Townsend  entered  with  all  ardor  into  the  life  of  the  company 
and  when  only  21  years  of  age,  became  captain.  Though  from  fail- 
ing health  he  was  obliged  soon  to  retire  from  his  position,  his  en- 
thusiasm remained  at  its  height.  Later  he  was  again  called  to  the 
captaincy  and  was  always  one  of  the  most  popular  commanders. 

But  the  country  was  advancing  to  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Mr. 
Townsend  deprecated  the  drift  of  events  and  favored  at  the  begin- 
ning some  compromise  that  would  save  the  slaughter  of  America's 
sous,  but  when  the  first  gun  of  the  rebels  emptied  its  terrible  charge 
upon  Fort  Sumter,  all  hesitancy  and  compromise  as  a  policy  to  be 
followed  passed  out  of  his  thoughts,  and  Mr.  Townsend's  ardor  to 
vindicate  the  authority  of  the  old  flag  kindled  to  a  white  heat. 
The  "Grays"  went  to  the  front,  and  Mr.  Townsend  out  of  his  private 
purse  did  much  for  the  equipment  and  comfort  of  the  company  in  re- 
spects not  provided  by  the  government. 

He  afterward  visited  the  company  on  the  battle  field,  gave  each 
member  a  silver  souvenir,  on  which  the  members  had  engraved  oc- 
currence, name  and  date.  vSome  of  those  given  are  preserved  to  this 
day  and  carried  about  in  the  "Gray's"  pockets.  When  the  first  three 
months  of  service  were  over  a  new  organization  was  decided  upon, 
formed  out  of  the  "Grays,"  and  Mr.  Townsend  was  appealed  to  to  al- 
low his  name  to  be  given  to  the  company.  It  was  named  the  "Town- 
send  Rifles."  The  Union  flag  he  presented  to  the  company  was  the 
first  of  its  kind  raised  in  Georgia  after  the  rebellion  began  (see  Ne^v 
Haven  Palladium,  May  Sth,  1862),  and  it  floated  in  the  van  in  more  than 
one  victory.  Mr.  Townsend  watched  the  fortunes  of  the  "Rifles"  with 
intense  interest,  was  the  patron  of  the  "boys"  on  the  field  and  of  their 
families  at  home,  adding  constantly  to  the  comfort  of  both  and  bear- 
ing a  heavy  load  from  his  private  funds.  He  showed  his  fondness  for 
the  "Rifles"  by  sending  out  monthly  during  the  entire  three  years 
boxes  filled  with  clothing,  or  other  comforts,  and  the  families  of  the 
soldiers  had  only  to  fill  smaller  boxes  with  their  gifts  and  tokens  of 
love  and  send  them  to  him.  They  were  enclosed  in  his  larger  boxes 
and  went  without  any  expense  to  the  soldier  or  his  family.  Major 
General  Eaton,  of  the  commissary  department  of  the  army,  had  all 
confidence  in  Mr.  Townsend  that  nothing  contraband  would  be  en- 
closed. Accordingly  he  directed  that  no  box  sent  by  him  should  be 
opened  for  inspection,  and  no  box  was  opened,  and  not  one  of  all  those 
sent  during  the  entire  three  years  was  lo.st.  Never  did  soldiers  have 
a  kinder,  more  thoughtful  patron. 

He  was  also  enthusiastic  in  recruiting  the  armv  from  other  sources. 
When  volunteering  began  to  lag  and  it  was  desired  to  fill  up  the  quota 
of  his  town.  East  Haven,  he  oflfered  every  East  Havener,  who  would 
enlist,  five  dollars,  and  on  muster-day  paid  the  amount  to  the  volun- 
teers. 


IIISTOKV    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  215 

Mr.  Townsend  was  the  warm  personal  friend  of  Governor  W.  A. 
Buckingham,  and  Governor  Buckingham  was  accustomed  to  seek  con- 
fidential counsel  of  him  in  the  conduct  of  the  affairs  of  state,  when  the 
war  was  at  its  height  and  much  money  to  be  paid  for  supplies,  the 
soldiers  and  other  things.  Governor  Buckingham  appointed  him  pay- 
master general  of  the  state  of  Connecticut,  but  owing  to  press  of  other 
business.  Mr.  Townsend  declined  the  honorable  position. 

When  the  "Townsend  Rifles"  came  home  he  invited  them  to  a  ban- 
quet in  the  New  Haven  House.  "The  Connecticut  War  Record," 
speaking  of  the  soldiers  separating  that  night,  .says:  "Each  paused 
and  grasped  the  hand  of  their  liberal  patron  with  that  deep  and  fer- 
vent gratitude  which  is  best  expressed  by  quivering  lips  and  moistened 
eyes."  The  generous  impulses  of  Mr.  Townsend  here  displayed  only 
make  it  seem  natural  that  the  poor  and  suffering  have  an  excellent 
friend  in  him.  Hence  in  both  public  and  private  ways  he  has  during 
all  his  adult  life  helped  the  needy.  The  New  Haven  Hospital  enrolls 
him  as  a  life  director. 

Mr.  Townsend  has  denied  to  himself  the  political  preferments 
which  his  neighborhood  and  his  friends  have  desired  to  confer  upon 
him,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  .say  that  he  has  himself  only  to  blame 
for  not  wearing  the  highest  state  honors.  Besides  the  smaller  trusts 
thrust  upon  him  in  town  and  city,  he  was  secretary  of  the  whig  con- 
vention, in  Baltimore,  which  nominated  Mr.  Fillmore  for  the  presi- 
denc}'.  He  has  frequently  been  delegate  to  state,  congressional  and 
national  conventions.  In  his  absence  from  the  state  he  was  nominated 
to  the  state  senate,  and  although  the  majority  in  his  district  had  been 
large  against  the  party  Mr.  Townsend  represented,  he  was  tri- 
umphantly elected,  running  nearly  one  hundred  ahead  of  his  ticket  in 
his  own  town  of  East  Haven,  and  many  were  the  felicitations.  (See 
Neif  Haven  Palladium,  April  7th,  1864.)  Mr.  Townsend  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  military  corrimittee,  and  introduced  the  bill  to  the  sen- 
ate formulating  the  present  military  law  of  the  state  of  Connecticut, 
and  with  some  subsequent  amendments  it  is  now  the  military  law  of 
the  commonwealth. 

He  declined  a  renomination  to  the  senate,  and  also,  later,  when 
Marshall  Jewell  was  elected  governor,  refused  to  be  placed  in  nomi- 
nation for  lieutenant-governor.  And  again,  when  urged  to  stand  as  a 
candidate  for  the  governorship,  refused  to  become  the  rival  of  a  dear 
friend  or  to  prejudice  the  chances  of  placing  the  name  of  Hon.  (subse- 
quently Governor)  Henry  B.  Harrison  at  the  head  of  the  party  ticket 
(see  New  Haven  Courier,  December  lOth,  1872). 

Mr.  Townsend,  like  conspicuous  members  of  the  Townsend  family, 
has  been  the  warm  friend  of  education.  He  has  served  on  the  board 
of  education  of  the  city  of  New  Haven.  In  recognition  of  his  efforts 
to  improve  the  educational  equipment  of  the  school  district  in  which 
he  lives,  his  neighbors  in  the  same  district  presented  him  with  a  peti- 


216  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

tion  signed  by  nearly  every  voter  in  the  district,  requesting  him  to 
allow  the  district  school  to  be  called  in  honor  of  him  "The  Townsend 
Public  School,"  but  with  characteristic  modesty  he  declined  the  com- 
pliment and  honor.  Mr.  Townsend  has  been  active  in  Sunday  school 
work:  while  a  resident  of  the  city  of  New  Haven  he  was  a  teacher  in 
the  First  Congregational  church,  of  Vi'hich  Reverend  Leonard  Bacon, 
D.  D.,  was  pastor  (and  of  which  church  he  is  still  a  member).  After 
his  removal  to  "Raynham"  (then  in  East  Haven )  he  organized  a  Sunday 
school  in  the  immediate  neighborhood,  of  which  for  some  years  he 
was  superintendent,  the  outcome  of  which  .Sunda}'  school  is  now  the 
flourishing  East  Side  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Reverend  Doctor 
Smith,  pastor. 

"  The  Townsend  Prize  Fund,"  amounting  annually  to  one  hundred 
dollars,  was  his  gift  to  the  Yale  Law  School,  and  is  offered  to  the  stu- 
dent who  shall  write  and  deliver  the  best  English  oration  in  the  best 
manner  on  graduation  day. 

His  own  pen  also  often  graces  pages  of  the  New  Haven  pre.ss.  His 
letters  of  foreign  travel  and  on  topics  of  antiquarian  lore,  or  legend  or 
narrative,  are  as  pleasing  as  the  intellectual  eye  which  sees  is  bright. 
His  proclivities  for  good  learning  are  inherited  by  his  sons,  and 
have  come  to  their  ripe  attainment  in  them.  His  eldest  son,  William 
Kneeland,  is  professor  in  the  Yale  Law  School,  called  Edward  J. 
Phelps  Professor  of  "  Contracts,  Admiralty,  Jurisprudence  and  Torts." 
His  other  son,  James  Mulford,  Jr.,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  New  York, 
and  a  winner  of  the  Townsend  prizes  of  the  academical  department 
of  Yale,  and  of  the  De  Forrest  "  Gold  Medal,"  awarded  to  that  scholar 
of  the  senior  class  who  shall  write  and  pronounce  an  English  oration 
in  the  best  manner,  and  considered  the  highest  honor  in  the  Yale  Uni- 
versity, is  also  lecturer  in  the  Law  School  on  the  "  Transfer  of  Mone- 
tary Securities." 

Mr.  Townsend  is  eminently  a  public-spirited  citizen.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Park  Commission  of  the  city  of  New  Haven,  an  office 
he  consented  to  hold  if  unattended  by  remuneration.  It  is  his  ambi- 
tion to  secure  for  the  city  the  most  eligible  and  capacious  lots  for 
parks,  and  at  the  same  time  provide  ample  and  economical  means  of 
conveyance,  so  that  for  a  few  cents  any  person  can  visit  ample  and 
beautiful  public  parks  in  the  city  along  the  water  front. 

On  September  1st,  1847,  Mr.  Townsend  married  Miss  Maria  Theresa 
Clark,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  a*  lady  of  very  amiable  nature  and  of 
many  accomplishments  of  mind  and  heart.  The  family  life  was  a 
close  resemblance  to  ideal  perfectness,  but  she  died  April  13th,  1884. 
The  two  sons  already  referred  to  were  born  to  them— William  Knee- 
land  and  James  Mulford,  Jr. 

Mr.  Townsend  is  now  living  quite  free  from  all  care  at  •'  Rayn- 
ham," or  traveling  as  he  shall  choose,  or  visiting  his  sons.  Besides 
the  welcome  which  love  gives,  his  social  qualities  are  so  agreeable  as 
to  make  him  a  favorite  among  all  acquaintances. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
THE  TOWN  OF  EAST  HAVEN. 


Location  and  Natural  Features. — Tlie  Pioneer  Settlers. — Civil  Organization. — Bridges, 
Ferries,  Roads,  Etc. — Industrial  Pursuits. — East  Haven  Village. — Religious  and 
Educational  Matters. — Cemeteries. — Military  Affairs. — Biographical  Sketches. 


THE  original  town  of  East  Haven,  as  set  off  from  New  Haven,  in 
17S5,  was  about  six  miles  long  and  three  miles  wide,  and  was 
bounded  north  by  North  Haven,  east  by  'Branford,  south  by 
Long  Island  sound,  and  west  by  New  Haven,  the  Quinnipiac  river 
being  the  dividing  line.  Since  the  division,  in  ISSl,  the  town  retains 
its  length,  but  is  only  a  little  more  than  half  as  wide,  the  New  Haven 
line  being  moved  east  of  the  river  to  embrace  the  borough  of  Fair 
Haven  East  and  contiguous  territory.  The  old  town  embraced  about 
9, ()()()  acres  of  land.  Along  the  coast  and  the  lower  parts  of  the  .streams 
the  lands  were  low  and  in  some  places  marshy,  but  have  been  drained 
to  some  extent.  In  other  parts  the  soil  is  light  and  in  some  places 
sandy,  but  much  of  it  is  well  suited  for  truck  farming.  ISIany  parts 
of  the  town  are  covered  with  rocky  ledges,  and  sandstone  and  granite 
for  building  purpo.ses  abound.  In  some  parts  green  stone  also  exists, 
but  has  not  been  utilized  on  account  of  the  poor  quality.  These 
formations  are  in  the  hills,  w^hich  trend  to  the  south,  and  have  in 
some  parts  an  altitude  so  great  that  their  surface  is  unfitted  for  cul- 
tivation. In  the  central  part  of  the  town  one  of  the  most  distinct 
elevations  was  called  "  Fort  Hill,"  the  Indians  having  used  it  as  a 
place  of  defense.  The  north  part  being  used  for  burial  purposes 
was  called  "Grave  Hill."  For  many  years  Indian  skeletons  were 
there  found,  some  of  them  being  of  large  size.  Another  place  of 
burial  was  on  the  old  Ferry  road;  and  evidences  of  Indian  villages 
could  be  seen  many  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  whites,  at  South 
End  and  other  parts  of  the  town.  It  appears  that  the  town  was  a 
favorite  resort  of  the  Indians,  who  came  here  statedly  to  procure  a 
supply  of  sea  food  and  fish  in  the  fresh  water  streams. 

The  principal  body  of  water  in  the  town  is  Saltonstall  lake,  for- 
merly called  Furnace  pond.  It  lies  on  the  eastern  border  and  is  about 
three  miles  long  and  from  100  to  400  yards  wide.  Its  waters  are 
•clear  and  very  deep.  High  hills  hem  in  the  lake,  narrow'ing  it  to  a 
point  at  its  outlet,  which  is  but  a  small  stream.     The  attractive  sur- 


218  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

roundings  have  caused  the  lake  to  become  a  pleasure  resort,  and  a 
steamboat  has  lately  been  placed  on  it  for  the  accommodation  of 
visitors. 

Stony  creek  or  river  is  the  longest  stream.  Its  source  is  Pistapaug 
lake,  in  the  northern  part  of  North  Branford,  through  which  town  it 
flows  as  the  Farm  river.  Nearer  its  mouth  it  has  a  rocky  bed,  hence 
the  name.  Its  supply  of  water  is  constant  and  it  has  some  mill  seats. 
The  other  streams  of  the  town  are  small.  The  shore  line  and  the 
Ouinnipiac  river  afforded  fishing  privileges  which  were  formerly  very 
valuable.  Large  quantities  of  oysters  were  taken  and  their  cultivation 
became  an  important  industry. 

The  first  land  purchased  of  the  Indians  by  the  projectors  of  the 
New  Haven  colony,  November  24th,  1638,  included  a  part  of  East 
Haven,  for  planting  purposes.  The  second  purchase,  December  11th, 
1688 — a  tract  eight  miles  east  of  the  Ouinnipiac,  five  miles  west  of 
that  stream  and  ten  miles  north  of  the  sound — of  course  included 
East  Haven.  The  constitution  of  the  colony  was  signed  June  11th, 
1639,  and  soon  thereafter,  by  113  persons,  many  of  whom  ultimately 
settled  m  East  Haven.  Among  the  first  signers  were  William 
Andrews,  Jasper  Crayne,  Thomas  Greg.son,  William  Tuttle,  John 
Potter,  Matthew  Moulthrop,  ^latthias  Hitchcock,  Edward  Patterson, 
Thomas  Morris  and  John  Thompson. 

Others  were  admitted  to  the  colony,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years, 
who  also  located  in  the  East  Haven  section,  viz.:  In  1644,  Matthew 
Rowe,  Ailing  Ball,  Edward  Tooley,  Thomas  Robinson,  Sr.j  Thomas 
Robinson,  Jr.,  William  Holt,  Thomas  Barnes,  Edward  Hitchcock, 
Peter  Mallory,  Nicholas  Augur;  in  1648,  Thomas  Morris;  in  1654, 
George  Pardee,  John  Potter,  Jr.,  Matthew  Moulthrop;  in  1657,  John 
Davenport,  Jr.,  Jonathan  TuthiU,  John  Thompson:  in  1658,  John 
Chidsey  (also  spelled  Chedsev);  in  1660,  Thomas  Tuttle  and  Nathaniel 
Boykim. 

The  first  divisions  of  lands  made  were  within  the  town  plot  of  New 
Haven  and  the  home  lots  connected  therewith,  but  the  well  located 
lands  of  East  Haven  early  attracted  the  attention  of  the  foregoing, 
who  eagerly  sought  the  privilege  of  settling  on  them. 

In  1639  Thomas  Gregson  petitioned  for^is  second  division  at  Soli- 
tary Cove,*  but  received  no  allotment  until  August  5th,  1644,  when 
133  acres  were  assigned  him.  On  this  he  .soon  after  settled  his  family, 
the  first  in  East  Haven.  Gregson  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
colony,  but  soon  after  met  his  death.  In  1647,  in  company  with  others 
of  the  principal  planters  of  New  Haven,  he  sailed  for  England  with 
Captain  Lambertson,  and  was  lost  on  his  ill-fated  vessel,  it  is  supposed 
in  a  storm  at  sea.  His  widow,  Jane,  survived  him  until  1702,  when 
she  died,  80  years  old.  In  1678  and  in  1716  the  above  tract  of  land 
became  the  property  of  George  Pardee  and  George  Pardee,  Jr. 

*Now  called  Morris  Cove. 


HISTORY   OF   \E\V    HAVEN   COUNTY.  219 

In  1640  Reverend  Samuel  Eaton  had  fifty  acres  granted  in  the  first 
meadow  toward  Totoket,  at  which  place  lands  were  also  given  to  Will- 
iam Tuttle,  who  settled  at  Stony  River  about  1645;  to  Jasper  Crayne 
and  Benjamin  Lingo.  The  former  had  his  house  on  the  east  side  of 
the  green,  but  in  16.52  sold  to  Matthew  Moulthrop  and  removed  to 
Branford.     All  of  Tuttle's  five  sons  also  removed,  except  Joseph. 

In  1649  Reverend  John  Davenport,  pastor  of  the  New  Haven 
church,  had  a  farm  of  tlOO  acres  laid  out  for  him  at  Dragon  Point,  to 
which  Ailing  Ball  moved  as  his  farmer,  in  16.50,  and  for  a  hundred 
years  the  place  was  known  as  the  Davenport  farm. 

In  1662  John  Potter  received  a  grant  of  land  on  which  to  build  a 
blacksmith  shop,  and  near  by  he  bought  the  house  of  John  Tuttle. 
The  same  year  Samuel  Heminway  was  granted  land  where  is  now 
the  village  of  Ea.st  Haven.  That  year  he  was  also  married  to  Sarah 
Cooper.  They  reared  a  large  family  and  descendants  remain  in  the 
town.  Thomas  Barnes  settled  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  on 
land  south  of  Muddy  river. 

In  166T  William  Fowler,  of  Milford,  sold  some  of  his  land  at  the 
cove  and  on  the  creek  which  still  bears  his  name,  to  John  Austin. 
The  latter  was  in  East  Haven  as  early  as  167;^  and  in  1679  obtained 
land  at  the  Forge  dam.     He  lived  on  the  road  west  of  the  "  green." 

The  neck  of  land  beyond  Solitary  cove  was  granted  in  1651  to 
William  Andrews,  Richard  Berkeley,  Matthias  Hitchcock,  Edward 
Patterson  and  Edward  Hitchcock.  The  Andrews  land  passed  to  the 
Dennisons  before  1664;  Patterson's  passed  to  his  sonin-law,  Thomas 
Smith;  and  Berkeley's  to  John  Thompson,  who  came  as  one  of  the 
first  of  the  New  Haven  colony.  The  Hitchcocks  retained  their  land. 
In  1690  Sarah  Hitchcock  married  Jacob  Robinson. 

The  Little  Neck  was  bought  in  1671  by  Thomas  Morris,  a  ship- 
builder of  New  Haven,  who  died  in  1673.  The  cove  in  that  part  of 
the  town  took  its  name  from  him. 

Between  Dragon  point  and  the  ferry  lived,  very  early,  Matthew 
Rowe,  who  came  to  New  Haven  about  1650;  Ailing  Ball,  on  the  farm 
north  of  Davenport's,  and  Eleazer  Morris  on  the  hill  east. 

In  the  locality  called  Foxon's  Farms  ("named  for  the  Indian  Saga- 
more, Foxon\  the  village  of  East  Haven  granted  lands,  in  16S3,  to 
Robert  Dawson,  Thomas  Pinion  and  James  Taitor,  who  were  the  first 
settlers  in  that  part  of  the  town.  In  the  same  locality  were,  later, 
Matthew  Moulthrop,  the  third,  Benjamin  and  Ashur  Moulthrop  and 
Samuel  Thompson,  Jr.  Edward  Russell,  Isaac  and  Samuel  Chidsey 
were  pioneers  in  the  same  neighborhood,  but  in  a  later  period  of 
time. 

On  Stony  river  and  where  is  now  East  Haven  village  there  were, 
besides  those  already  noted,  John  Cooper,  who  moved  here  from  New 
Haven  about  1055,  as  the  agent  of  the  iron  works.  Deacon  John 
Chidsev,  a    tanner  and  a  shoemaker,  who   signed  the    New    Haven 


220  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

colony  constitution  in  1644,  settled  herein  IGSl,  having  a  house  on 
the  north  side  of  the  green,  between  John  Potter  and  John  Austin. 
Isaac  Bradley  came  from  Branford  in  1674,  and  also  lived  near  John 
Potter.  Thomas  Goodsell  came  from  the  same  town  in  April,  1692, 
and  soon  after  built  the  house  which  was  long  occupied  by  Azariah 
Bradley. 

William  Luddington  died  at  the  Iron  Works  in  1662,  but  his  sons, 
John  and  William,  built  houses  in  the  village,  and  lived  there,  as  also 
did  Thomas  Smith,  Jr.  Edward  Tooley  built  south  of  Sergeant  John 
Potter;  Samuel  Thompson's  house  was  west  of  the  meeting  house; 
Thomas  Robinson's  was  opposite;  Captain  John  Russell  was  west  of 
Mullen  hill.  Both  he  and  his  brother,  Ralph,  were  employed  at  the 
Iron  Works.     The  latter  died  in  1679. 

Between  the  village  and  the  river  and  northward  lived  Samuel 
Hotchkiss,  Peter  Mallory,  Joseph  Granniss  and  others  of  those  before 
named. 

The  descendants  of  some  of  these  planters  located  in  other  parts, 
and  in' 1702  the  following  were  taxed  as  living  in  the,  at  that  time, 
village  of  East  Haven:  Joseph  Abbott,  David  Austin,  Joshua  Austin, 
Captain  Ailing  Ball.  Isaac  Bradley,  Ebenezer  Chidsey,  Caleb  Chidsey, 
Daniel  Collins,  James  Dennison,  Robert  Dawson,  Thomas  Goodsell, 
Eliakim  Hitchcock,  .Samuel  Hitchcock,  John  Howe,  Joseph  Holt, 
Samuel  Heminway,  John  Heminway,  Widow  Priscilla  Thompson, 
Samuel  Thompson,  William  Luddington,  Henry  Luddington,  John 
Moulthrop,  Samuel  Moulthrop,  Matthew  Moulthrop,  Eleazer  Morris, 
Joseph  Mallory,  John  Potter,  Sr.,  John  Potter,  Jr.,  George  Pardee, 
William  Roberts,  John  Russell,  Thomas  Smith,  Thomas  Smith,  Jr., 
John  Thompson,  John  Luddington,  Thomas  Pinion.  Joseph  Granniss 
and  William  Bradley.  In  all  there  were  32  families  and  about  200 
persons.  This  was  an  increase  of  twelve  families  over  1683,  when  the 
individuals  numbered  121. 

In  1754  there  were  61  families,  oOO  population  and  the  following 
freemen:  Theophilus  Ailing,  Joshua  Austin,  Daniel  Augur,  Samuel 
Bradley,  Isaac  Blakeslee,  Zebulon  Bradley,  Daniel  Bradley,  Joseph 
Bishop,  Jonathan  Barnes,  Nathaniel  Barnes,  Isaac  Bradley,  Stephen 
Bradley,  Dan  Bradley,  Caleb  Chidsey,  Abraham  Chidsey,  John  Chid- 
sey, Deodate  Davenport,  James  Dennison,  Daniel  Finch,  Daniel  Finch, 
Jr.,  Samuel  Forbes,  Daniel  Granger,  Isaac  Goodsell,  Reverend  Jacob 
Heminway,  Isaac  Holt,  Caleb  Hitchcock,  Abraham  Heminway,  Samuel 
Heminway,  Daniel  Hitchcock,  John  Heminway,  Stephen  Hitchcock, 
Daniel  Holt,  Nathaniel  Luddington,  Eliphalet  Luddington,  John 
Moulthrop,  Dan  Moulthrop,  Amos  Morris,  Stephen  Morris,  Gideon 
Potter,  Isaac  Penfield,  Moses  Page,  Eliakim  Robimson,  Thomas  Rob- 
inson, Thomas  Robinson,  Jr.,  John  Russell,  William  Rogers,  Thomas 
Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  Patterson  Smith,  James  Smith,  John  Shepard, 
•  Benjamin  Smith,  Abel  Smith,  Daniel  Smith,  Joseph  Tuttle,  Captain 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  221 

Joseph  Tuttle,  Samuel  Thompson,  Jr.,  Stephen  Thompson,  Joel  Tuttle, 
John  Woodward  and  Russell  Woodward. 

In  1820  there  were  about  200  families  and  a  population  of  1,237. 
The  town  had  18.0  houses,  3  mills,  1  store  and  a  grand  list  of 
$15,661  ./)8. 

The  inhabitants  sought  parish  or  village  privileges  as  early  as 
1677,  when  the  general  court  was  petitioned  for  that  right,  but  did  not 
grant  it  until  1680.  Before  this  New  Haven  had  consented  to  the 
arrangement  in  the  following  manner: 

"  At  a  Towne  meeting  held  in  New  Haven  24  December,  1678,  and 
for  the  village  on  the  East  Side,  those  inhabitants  gave  in  their 
propositions  to  the  cpmmittee,  which  they  desired  might  be  granted, 
which  was: 

"  1.  That  they  might  have  liberty  to  get  a  minister  among  them, 
for  their  minister,  and  keep  the  Sabbath  in  the  way  they  ought. 

"  2.  That  boundary  might  be  granted  to  them  as  high — i.e.,  north — 
as  Muddy  River. 

"  3.  That  they  have  liberty  of  admitting  inhabitants  among  them 
for  their  help  in  the  work  and  maintenance  of  a  minister. 

"  4.  That  they  may  have  liberty  to  purchase  some  lands  of  the 
Indians,  near  Mr.  Gregson's — /.  t\,  at  the  Cove — if  the  Indians  are 
willing  to  part  with  it. 

"  5.  That  what  land  of  the  Quinnipiac  is  within  Branford  stated 
bounds  the  right  of  the  purchase  may  be  given  them. 

"  6.  Lastly.  That  they  may  be  freed  from  rates  to  the  Towne 
when  they  shall  have  procured  a  minister." 

Thus  being  constituted  a  village,  the  inhabitants  proceeded  to  do 
business  practically  as  a  separate  corporation,  but  still  being  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  New  Haven.  They  elected  officers,  laid  out  and 
granted  lands,  etc.,  as  they  assumed  they  had  a  right  to  do,  but  which 
privilege  was  disputed,  and  the  matter  caused  much  trouble  and 
expense,  as  all  the  village  grants  were  not  honored  by  the  authorities 
of  the  town  of  New  Haven. 

The  village  granted  lands  in  1683  to  John  Chidsey  and  Joseph 
Russell,  both  on  the  north  side  of  the  present  green.  In  the  same 
year  an  allotment  of  lands  was  made,  after  the  New  Haven  method, 
viz.:  20  acres  to  each  family;  4  acres  to  each  child  of  the  family;  and 
20  acres  for  each  i^lOO  in  the  list.  One-half  of  the  lands  were  laid  off 
on  the  Stony  river,  joining  upon  those  of  the  five  men  at  Foxon,  viz.: 
Joseph  Abbott,  Robert  Dawson,  Thomas  Pinion.  William  Roberts  and 
James  Taylor.  The  persons  to  whom  lands  were  allotted  were:  John 
Austin,  Ailing  Ball,  Ailing  Ball,  Jr.,  Thomas  Corner,  John  Chidsey. 
James  Dennison,  Joseph  Dickerson,  Samuel  Heminway,  Eliakim 
Hitchcock,  Nathaniel  Hitchcock,  John  Luddington,  William  Ludding- 
ton,  Matthew   Moulthrop,  George   Pardee,  John   Potter,  John  Rose, 


222  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Thomas    Smith.   John    Thompson,    Edmund    Tooley    and    Edward 
Vickers. 

At  the  meeting  March  29th,  1684,  nineteen  inhabitants  were  present 
when,  on  the  question,  "  Shall  we  go  forward  in  building  a  village?" 
all  voted  to  proceed.  Accordingly,  they  chose  John  Thompson, 
iMatthew  Moulthrop  and  Samuel  Heminway,  selectmen;  Samuel  Hem- 
inway,  clerk;  and  George  Pardee,  constable.  But  for  some  cause  the 
village  privileges  were  relinquished  in  168"),  and  business  was  now 
transacted  directly  by  the  town  of  New  Haven.  This  order  prevailed 
until  December,  1703,  when  the  inhabitants  voted  to  again  take  up 
their  village  grant,  and  "to  that  end  chose  Capt.  Ailing  Ball,  Lt. 
Samuel  Hotchkiss,  Samuel  Heminway,  Serg.  John  Potter,  William 
Luddington,  Esq.,  John  Russell  and  George  Pardee  a  committee  to 
manage  the  concerns  of  the  village,  in  order  to  a  settlement,  accord- 
ing to  the  General  Court's  grant,  and  informed  New  Haven  of  their 
design." 

But  they  soon  again  came  into  conflict  with  New  Haven  on  account 
of  the  division  of  lands,  when  they  obtained  from  the  general  assembly 
a  renewal  of  the  grant  of  1680.  This  led  to  the  further  movement  to 
organize  a  distinct  and  separate  village,  which  was  practically  accom- 
plished by  the  act  of  May,  1707,  which  bestowed  upon  East  Haven 
certain  immunities  enjoyed  by  other  townsof  the  state.  This  carried 
with  it  the  privilege  of  having  a  church  and  schools  separate  from 
those  of  New  Haven,  and  exempted  the  inhabitants  from  paying  taxes 
to  New  Haven. 

Construing  the  act  in  the  sense  of  a  town  charter,  the  inhabitants 
proceeded  to  elect  town  officers,  laid  rates,  took  charge  of  their  own 
poor,  and  again  assumed  the  right  of  dividing  the  common  lands 
without  the  consent  or  approbation  of  New  Haven.  This  claim  of 
power  was  disputed  by  New  Haven,  which  found  a  warm  ally  in  Gur- 
don  Saltonstall,  who  was  elected  governor  of  the  colony  in  1708.  He 
had  married  the  only  child  of  William  Rosewell,  the  owner  of  the  old 
furnace  farm,  and  was  living  at  that  place,  unfortunately  on  unfriendly 
terms  with  his  East  Haven  neighbors,  whose  geese  had  crossed  over 
the  lake  and  molested  him  by  injuring  his  property.  He  killed  some 
of  the  geese  and  in  other  ways  so  much  aroused  the  ire  of  the  people 
of  this  community  that  not  a  vote  was  here  polled  for  him  for  gov- 
ernor. This  slight  irritated  the  governor,  who,  in  1710,  influenced 
the  assembly  to  interpret  the  act  of  1707  to  mean  the  enjoyment  of 
parish  privileges  only.  East  Haven  protested,  and  the  controversy 
as  to  the  proper  construction  of  the  act  continued  for  some  time. 
For  many  years  the  inhabitants  continued  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  New   Haven,  excepting  as  they  managed  their  own  parish  affairs. 

But  in  the  course  of  time  the  influence  of  the  governor  having 
passed  away,  a  new  generation  made  an  effort  to  revive  the  powers 
conferred  by  the  act  of  1707  and   memorialized   the   town  of  New 


IIISTORV   f)F   NKW    HAVEX   COUNTV.  223 

Haven  and  the  general  assembly  to  that  effect  in  17.-)3.  For  the  East 
Haven  people  the  petition  was  signed  by  Rosewell  Woodward.  Isaac 
Blakeslee.  Daniel  Holt  and  Samuel  Heminway,  as  selectmen,  which 
would  indicate  that  they  probably  had  the  organized  machinerj'  of  a 
town  at  that  time.  The  assembly  again  decided  that  East  Haven  was 
a  parish  only,  and  ordered  the  inhabitants  to  pay  the  general  New 
Haven  rates.  After  several  more  futile  efforts  to  secure  town  rights 
the  matter  was  allowed  to  rest  until  1780,  when  the  village  became 
more  urgent  in  its  demands  for  the  confirmation  of  the  privileges 
granted  by  the  act  of  17<)7;  and  in  line  with  that  purpose  they  voted, 
January  1st,  1782,  "  That  Levi  Pardee  go  around  to  the  people  to  know 
whether  they  are  willing  to  be  a  Town  or  not."  The  sentiment  being 
in  favor  of  such  a  movement,  the  object  was  prosecuted  with  renewed 
zeal,  and  after  about  eighty  years  of  unavailing  effort  the  town  was 
at  last  properly  incorporated. 

East  Haven  village  or  parish  became  a  town  by  virtue  of  an  act 
of  the  general  assembly,  May,  178o,  and  the  meeting  for  organization 
was  held  in  July  of  that  year  at  the  East  Haven  meeting  hou.se.  After 
prayer  and  a  .sermon  by  Reverend  Nicholas  Street  upon  the  import- 
ance of  union  and  harmony  in  the  new  town,  Captain  Samuel  Forbes, 
Captain  Isaac  Chidsey,  Azariah  Bradley,  Joseph  Holt  and  Amos 
Morris,  Jr.,  were  elected  selectmen;  Joshua  Austin,  town  clerk:  Abra- 
ham Barnes,  John  JNIorris  and  John  Wooler,  tything  men.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  settle  with  New  Haven,  and  it  was  voted  that 
the  warning  of  the  town  meetings  should  be  the  beating  of  the  drum 
on  Barnes'  hill  and  at  the  old  meeting  house  hill. 

The  freemen  who  voted  at  this  meeting  were  the  following  33  per- 
sons: Reverend  Nicholas  Street,  Amos  Morris,  Esq.,  Josiah  Bradley, 
Esq.,  Captain  Lsaac  Chidsey,  Joshua  Au.stin,  Timothy  Thompson,  Caleb 
.Smith,  Daniel  Brown,  Samuel  Heminway,  Levi  Cooper,  Dan  Holt, 
Samuel  Forbes,  Abraham  Chidsey,  Jared  Robinson,  John  Hunt,  Dan 
Goodsell,  John  Dennison,  Captain  Stephen  Smith,  John  Woodward, 
Captain  Samuel  Barnes,  Joseph  Holt,  Daniel  Tuttle,  Daniel  Augur, 
Samuel  Townsend,  Gurdon  Bradley,  Lsaac  Parker,  Azariah  Bradley, 
William  Easton,  Joseph  Hotchkiss,  John  Robinson,  Edward  Bradley, 
Stephen  Thompson  and  Elisha  Andrews. 

Under  the  village  grant  clerks  were  elected  and  served  as  follows: 
First,  .Samuel  Heminway;  next,  Ebenezer  Chidsey,  1702  until  172C; 
Samuel  Hotchkiss  in  1727:  Gideon  Potter  until  1757;  followed  by  Isaac 
Holt  and  Timothy  Andrews  for  short  periods;  Simeon  Bradley,  from 
1763  to  1778,  except  1768,  when  the  clerk  was  Abraham  Heminway; 
Joshua  Austin,  1779,  and  was  also  the  first  town  clerk;  1786  to  1806, 
Josiah  Bradley;  1806  to  1846,  Bela  Farnham;  1846  to  1864,  Retiel 
Andrews:  1864  to  1878,  Charles  A.  Bray:  1879-80,  Asa  L.  Chamberlain: 
1881  to  1891,  Charles  T.  Hemingway. 

When  the  town  was  first  settled  New  Haven  claimed  the  country 


224  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

east  as  far  as  Branford  hills.  This  boundary  line  later  became  a 
matter  for  dispute,  as  Branford  claimed  the  country  west  to  the  Furnace 
pond,  and  made  demand  to  that  effect  in  1649.  New  Haven  ignored 
this  claim,  and  in  1656  made  grant  of  the  Furnace  farm  to  the  iron 
company  and  12  acres  to  the  collier,  both  in  the  limits  claimed  by 
Branford.  The  matter  was  finally  settled  in  168,5  by  giving  New 
Haven  a  strip  of  land  half  a  mile  wide  and  extending  to  the  northern 
limits  of  New  Haven,  from  the  point  of  beginning,  half  a  mile  east 
of  the  northern  end  of  Saltonstall  lake  or  Furnace  pond.  In  1789 
these  bounds  were  fully  described,  and  the  water  bounds  between 
New  Haven  and  East  Haven  were  also  that  year  fixed,  the  line  as 
finally  agreed  upon  being  the  middle  of  the  river. 

The  East  Haven  Probate  District  was  authorized  at  the  session  of 
the  general  assembly,  May,  1868,  and  Charles  A.  Bray  was  elected  the 
judge.  The  district  was  discontinued  in  January,  1883,  by  the  terms 
of  the  act  annexing  a  part  of  the  town  to  New  Haven.  East  Haven 
is  now,  as  before,  a  part  of  the  New  Haven  Probate  District. 

East  Haven  was  divided  by  an  act  of  the  general  assembly,  passed 
January,  1881,  and  the  part  west  of  the  division  line  was  annexed  to 
New  Haven.  A  special  town  meeting  was  held  May  2d,  1881,  to  ratify 
or  reject  the  terms  of  the  act."  Tho.se  living  in  the  part  to  be  annexed 
voted  in  the  engine  house  of  the  borough  of  Fair  Haven  East — for, 
301;  against,  85;  votes  polled,  386.  Those  in  the  remaining  part  of  the 
town  voted  in  the  town  hall,  in  East  Haven  village — for,  123;  against, 
9.  So  it  was  decided  by  a  majority  of  330  that  the  act  should  become 
operative. 

As  a  condition  of  the  annexation  New  Haven  assumed  the  bonded 
indebtedness  of  East  Haven,  amounting  to  about  $100,000.  Of  this 
sum  $60,000  was  on  account  of  the  Quinnipiac  bridge,  whose 
construction,  in  1877,  was  of  more  benefit  to  New  Haven  than  to  East 
Haven,  the  debt  resting  upon  the  town  like  a  heavy  burden,  and  which 
was  the  principal  cause  of  the  division. 

The  other  funds  and  interests  of  the  town  were  equitably  divided, 
the  committeee  on  the  part  of  East  Haven  being  A.  L.  Chamberlain, 
Hiram  Jacobs  and  L.  F.  Richmond.  The  schools  in  the  annexed  part 
were  placed  in  the  care  of  the  New  Haven  city  school  board,  and  the 
charter  of  Fair  Haven  Borough  East  was  unaffected,  except  that  the 
town  of  New  Haven  assumed  the  care  of  the  streets  and  sidewalks  of 
the  borough.  The  annexation  has  in  the  main  been  beneficial  to  the 
town  of  East  Haven,  except  that  it  has  been  left  with  a  very  small 
area  and  a  greatly  reduced  population.  In  1880,  before  the  division, 
the  inhabitants  numbered  3,057;  in  1890  there  were  in  the  present 
East  Haven  but  953  inhabitants.  The  grand  list  is  but  a  little  more 
than  $300,000. 

In  1644  a  bridge  was  built  over  Stony  creek,  on  the  road  to  Totoket, 
by  William   Andrews,  for  which  he  charged  the  colony  £Z,  8s.,  9d. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  225 

This  was  the  first  bridge  on  that  stream.  In  1782  the  bridge  at  the 
lowest  dam  on  that  stream  was  authorized.  The  bridge  at  Dragon 
point  was  built  in  1791  and  toll  charged.  The  following  year  a  new 
road  was  located  to  it.  In  1796  a  bridge  at  the  so-called  new  ferry- 
was  authorized  to  be  built;  and  the  privilege  to  build  wharves  at  the 
same  place  was  granted  in  1707. 

The  first  ferry  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  interested 
was  established  at  Red  Rock  prior  to  1650,  and  was  first  kept  by 
Francis  Brown.  In  1650  George  Pardee  took  the  ferry  and  was  granted 
the  privilege  of  building  a  house  there,  at  his  own  expense.  In  1670 
a  ferry  farm  was  granted  him.  It  was  kept  up  many  years,  being  for 
a  long  time  the  only  means  of  crossing  the  river.  In  1782  the  general 
assembly  granted  the  parish  of  East  Haven  the  right  to  establish  a 
ferry  at  what  was  afterward  called  Ferry  Point;  but  before  many 
years  it  was  superseded  by  a  bridge.  The  latter  structures  were  put 
up  at  heavy  and  almost  ruinous  expense  to  the  town,  but  the  bridge 
is  much  used  and  is  a  great  public  necessity.  Since  1881  it  has  been 
wholly  the  property  of  New  Haven. 

The  Totoket  path  was  the  earliest  road  through  the  town,  and 
where  it  crossed  the  Stony  creek  a  bridge  was  erected  in  1644.  The 
bearings  of  the  road  were  fully  described  in  1686.  It  has  ever 
remained  the  principal  highway  in  the  town,  and  has  been  well 
improved.  In  1671  the  road  from  Morris  cove  to  Fowler's  creek  was 
reserved.  In  1672  the  road  from  the  cove  to  the  county  road  was 
secured  from  the  Indians,  and  the  right  confirmed  by  another  purchase 
in  1692.  Other  roads  were  located  as  the  country  was  settled  up.  The 
town  has  the  Shore  Line  railroad,  which  was  completed  for  operation 
in  1852. 

The  first  settlers  were  mainly  agriculturists,  and  farming  and 
gardening  have  continued  leading  occupations.  The  soil  is  especially 
adapted  for  the  latter  interest.  But  the  mill  privilege  at  Saltonstall 
lake  early  attracted  attention,  and  it  was  selected  as  the  site  for  the 
first  iron  works  in  the  state.  Liberty  for  this  purpose  was  asked  of 
the  town  of  New  Haven,  November  12th,  1655,  by  Stephen  Goodyear 
and  John  Winthrop,  Jr.  The  former  was  a  shipper  and  active  busi- 
ness man  of  New  Haven;  the  latter  lived  in  Boston,  but  was  interested 
in  mining  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The  project  was  looked  upon 
with  favor  by  the  town,  which  granted  the  desired  liberty  November 
29th,  1655,  on  condition  that  Branford  would  unite  in  making  a  simi- 
lar grant.  This  "vas  done,  and  the  people  of  these  towns  assisted  in 
building  the  dam  and  putting  up  a  furnace  and  a  bloomary,  as  they 
considered  that  it  would  greatly  benefit  them. 

In  May,  1656,  the  town  granted  twelve  acres  of  land  to  the  collier, 
"at  a  point  between  the  Great  Pond  and  Reaver  Meadow,"  about  two 
miles  above  the  works,  on  condition  that  he  would  remain  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  company  three  years.     A  large  furnace  farm,  on  the  east 
14 


226  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

side  of  the  lake,  was  also  granted  to  the  proprietors.  As  a  further 
inducement,  the  works  were  exempt  from  taxation  seven  years,  and  it 
was  agreed  that  Branford  should  supply  three-eighths  and  New  Haven 
five-eio-hths  of  the  wood  used  in  making  charcoal  for  the  furnaces. 

John  Cooper  was  the  agent  of  the  iron  works,  and  lived  on  Stony 
creek;  Captain  Thomas  Clark,  the  master,  and  later  was  one  of  the 
owners;  Jasper  Crayne  was  one  of  the  overseers;  Richard  Post  was  a 
founder;  John  Russell  and  Ralph  Russell  were  among  the  workmen. 
It  appears  that  others  of  the  employees  were  lawless,  and  that  the  fur- 
nace had  gathered  some  disorderly  persons,  so  that  complaint  was 
made  to  the  town,  December  1st,  1657,  oh  that  score.  It  was  then 
agreed  that  those  working  there  in  the  future  should  bring  certificates 
of  character,  and  later  Matthew  Moulthrop,  2d,  was  appointed  con- 
servator of  the  morals  of  the  people  at  the  iron  works.  In  1679 
there  was  an  epidemic  sickness  among  the  workmen,  which  caused 
the  death  of  Ralph  Russell  and  a  number  of  others.  It  is  said  that 
this  circumstance  led  to  the  suspension  of  work  soon  after. 

In  September,  1657,  John  Winthrop,  Jr.,  disposed  of  his  interest  to 
Captain  Clark  and  a  Mr.  Payne,  also  of  Boston,  and  the  former  later 
became  the  chief  owner  and  last  operated  it.  The  furnace  was  sup- 
plied with  bog  ore  from  North  Haven,  most  of  which  was  carted  here, 
but  some  of  the  ore  was  taken  by  boat  down  the  Ouinnipiac  and  up 
Stony  creek  to  a  place  below  the  furnace,  which  is  to  this  day  called 
"  Bog  mine." 

It  is  probable  that  this  enterprise  did  not  meet  with  the  expecta- 
tions of  the  owners,  and  it  was  discontinued  about  1680.  In  that  year 
Thomas  Clark  sold  the  furnace  farm  of  300  acres  upland  and  60  acres 
meadow  to  William  Rosewell,  whose  daughter  married  Gurdon  Salton- 
stall,  afterward  the  governor  of  the  colony,  and  who  lived  there  for 
a  number  of  years. 

A  later  attempt  to  manufacture  iron  was  made  in  1692,  when  John 
Potter  was  given  permission  to  setup  a  forge  near  the  first  spring  west 
of  Stony  river.  This  was  not  long  operated,  but  the  place  was  called 
for  many  years  the  "old  forge." 

In  1686  the  furnace  site  was  sequestered  for  a  grist  mill,  to  be  put 
up  by  Samuel  Heminway,  the  village  of  East  Haven  granting  him 
certain  privileges,  which  the  town  of  New  Haven  refused  to 
ratify.  After  25  years,  in  1706,  the  sons  of  Samuel  Heminway,  John 
and  Abraham,  secured  from  the  town  of  Branford  additional  priv- 
ileges, which  enabled  them  to  control  the  ground  on  both  sides  of  the 
outlet.  This  mill  was  long  carried  on,  and  was  known  as  the  town 
mill.  The  Chidseys,  father,  son  and  grandson,  in  succession,  were 
for  many  years  the  millers.     The  mill  is  but  little  u.sed  at  this  time. 

Just  below  this  place  was  a  mill  for  making  writing  paper,  etc.,  in 
which  a  number  of  hands  were  employed,  and  which  was  operated  by 
James  Donoghue,  James  Harper  and  others.     This  became   the  prop- 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    IIAVKN   COUNTY.  227 

erty  of  the  Saltonstall  Milling  Company,  whose  name  was  changed  in 
1871,  to  the  Saltonstall  Manufacturing  Company.  It  had  a  capital  of 
$40,000,  and  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  heavy  carriage  and 
portable  engine  wheels.  Stephen  Bradley  was  the  president  of  the 
.company.  On  the  decline  of  the  interest  at  that  place,  a  part  of  it  was 
transferred  to  a  shop  in  the  village  where  steam  power  is  employed, 
and  work  is  still  done  by  Stephen  Bradley  &  Co.  In  the  old  building, 
on  the  lake  outlet,  Charles  L.  Fabrique  manufactured  brushes  until 
the  building  was  burned,  when  the  interest  was  taken  to  Westville. 
The  waters  of  the  lake  are  now  almost  wholly  used  by  the  city  of  New 
Haven,  which  here  obtains  a  part  of  its  supply.  Pumping  works  have 
been  erected  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake. 

The  privilege  where  .stood  the  forge  was  granted  in  1706  to  John 
and  Abraham  Heminway  and  John  Marsh,  who  erected  a  fulling  mill 
at  that  place  in  1709.  This  was  operated  many  years,  when  the  build- 
ing was  used  for  the  manufacture  of  horn  buttons.  Later  a  grist  mill 
was  here  established  and  is  now  carried  on  by  Hawkins  &  Forbes. 

On  the  western  border  of  the  old  town,  along  the  Quinnipiacnear 
what  was  in  early  times  known  as  Dragon  point,  the  village  of  Fair 
Haven  sprang  up,  after  the  war  of  1812.  It  has  grown  steadily  until 
it  is  a  place  of  considerable  importance,  containing  all  the  adjuncts  of 
a  progressive  village.  The  part  in  East  Haven  was  incorporated  as  a 
borough,  with  the  title  of  Fair  Haven  East,  which  permitted  the  reg- 
ulation of  their  local  afifairs,  independent  of  the  town,  and  which 
aided  materially  in  the  improvement  of  the  place;  and  the  population 
increased  to  about  two  thousand.  Since  18S1  this  has  been  a  part  of 
New  Haven. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  village  commerce  with  the  West  Indies 
and  coastwise  trading  gave  employment  to  many  of  the  inhabitants. 
Later  the  oyster  trade  at  this  place  assumed  large  proportions,  as 
many  as  several  score  vessels  being  thus  engaged,  during  the  oj'ster 
season.  In  the  summer  and  fall  the  quarrying  of  building  stone,  near 
the  village,  was  a  leading  occupation,  and  this  interest  is  still  carried 
on. 

After  1860  many  of  the  East  Haven  oyster  men  transferred  their 
base  of  operations  to  the  Chesapeake  bay,  and  at  Baltimore  and  other 
points,  became  leading  dealers  and  packers.  Among  these  were  the 
Mallorj's,  Augurs,  Hemingways,  Luddingtons,  Rowes,  Landfairs, 
Footes,  Millers,  Farrans,  Chidseys,  Holts  and  ]\Ialtbys.  Their  removal 
caused  the  decline  of  this;industry  at  East  Haven,  but  since  1872,  when 
the  systematic  cultivation  of  oysters  in  the  waters  of  this  locality  was 
begun,  it  has  been  somewhat  revived  and  again  engages  considerable 
attention. 

Several  manufacturing  plants  of  parties  from  other  localities  have 
been  placed  in  the  town,  as  the  copper  mill  of  the  Humphreysville 
Manufacturing  Company,  about  forty  years  ago;   the   works   of  the 


228  HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

American  Chemical  Company,  in  1866;  the  New  Haven  Wire  Com- 
pany, in  1871;  the  Bushnell  Lumber  Company,  in  1866;  and  the  New- 
England  Acid  Company,  in  1881.  Fair  Haven  East  has  also  a  num- 
ber of  stores  and  shops  in  the  ordinary  mechanic  pursuits. 

The  village  of  East  Haven,  below  Lake  Saltonstall,  is  pleasantly 
located  on  an  elevated  plain,  the  oldest  part  being  around  the  green, 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  present  village.  It  presents  a  straggling 
but  well  kept  appearance  of  about  one  hundred  buildings,  some  of 
them  antedating  the  present  century,  but  still  giving  evidence  of  com- 
fort. Many  of  the  better  residences  are  occupied  by  business  people 
of  New  Haven,  with  which  the  place  is  connected  by  railway  and 
several  lines  of  stages.  There  are  Congregational  and  Episcopal 
houses  of  worship,  a  town  hall,  several  stores  and  the  East  Haven 
post  office,  besides  the  usual  mechanic  shops. 

The  post  office  has  been  kept  by,  among  others,  Isaac  Hagerman, 
D.  M.  Church,  Stephen  Hemingway  for  nineteen  years,  and,  since 
August  19th,  1889,  by  C.  E.  Kirkham.  It  has  commodious  and  attrac- 
tive quarters  in  the  new  Kirkham  building,  in  which  are  also  a  fine 
reading  room  and  a  society  hall.  In  the  latter  meet  a  Grange  of 
Patrons  of  Husbandry,  East  Haven,  No.  106,  organized  December  3d, 
1889;  and  Fidelity  Division,  No.  26,  Sons  of  Temperance,  which  was 
organized  January  24th,  1885,  with  thirty  charter  members.  Both 
societies  are  very  prosperous. 

Doctor  Bela  Farnham,  who  died  in  1857,  at  the  extreme  age  of  89 
years,  was,  for  a  long  period  of  time,  the  settled  physician  of  the 
town.  He  was  a  skillful  practitioner,  and  was  much  respected  as  a 
citizen. 

Doctor  James  Casey,  a  later  physician,  after  being  actively  engaged 
in  his  profession  a  number  of  years,  moved  to  Passaic,  N.  J.  Subse- 
quently Doctor  Brainerd  located  here,  coming  from  Naugatuck,  but 
moved  to  Bran  ford. 

Doctor  Marvin  D.  Smith  is  the  present  physician. 

As  properly  accredited  attorneys  there  were  in  East  Haven,  in 
1890,  S.  W.  F.  Andrews,  James  S.  Thompson,  Dwight  W.  Tuttle  and 
Grove  J.  Tuttle,  whose  legal  business  is  in  New  Haven. 

The  first  inhabitants  of  East  Haven  attended  religious  meetings 
at  New  Haven,  which  necessitated  a  long  and  tiresome  journey.  The 
way  was  by  "  Red  Rock,"  through  forests  and  swamps,  and  the  river 
must  be  crossed  by  means  of  a  ferry,  none  too  safe  or  reliable.  Hence, 
as  soon  as  the  population  warranted  such  a  step,  the  "  East  Side 
Farmers  "  asked  for  their  own  place  of  worship  in  the  midst  of  their 
new  homes.  A  petition  for  such  a  privilege,  in  1677,  was  not  granted 
until  1679,  and  tw^o  more  years  elapsed  before  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments could  be  made  for  holding  meetings.  In  1681  Reverend  James 
Ailing  was  engaged  as  a  minister,  and  preached  two  years,  when,  not 
having  received  permission  to  organize  a  church,  he  left  for  a  field 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  229 

where  he  could  become  a  settled  pastor.  Reverend  John  Harriman, 
of  New  Haven,  now  preached  to  them  for  two  years,  when,  owing  to 
the  removal  of  many  inhabitants,  who  had  been  connected  with  the 
iron  works,  the  meetings  could  no  longer  be  continued,  and  for 
eighteen  years  the  services  were  intermitted. 

In  1704  the  matter  of  establishing  public  worship  in  the  village  of 
East  Haven  was  again  taken  up.  and  the  end  attained  by  securing 
Jacob  Heminway  as  a  minister.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Samuel 
Heminway,  E.sq.,  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  village,  and  was  one 
of  the  three  young  men  who,  in  1701,  first  entered  the  newly-founded 
school  at  Saybrook,  and  which  in  time  became  Yale  College.  In  the 
summer  of  1704  he  graduated  from  Mr.  Pierson's  institution,  being  at 
that  time  in  the  twenty-first  year  of  his  age.  Returning  to  his  home, 
he  was  in  so  much  favor  with  his  neighbors  that  he  was  desired  to 
become  their  minister.  Hence,  at  the  meeting  of  the  villagers, 
November,  1704,  "Voted,  To  seek  Sir  Heminway,  that  he  would  give 
us  a  taste  of  his  gifts  in  order  to  a  settlement  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, and 

'•  2.  Voted,  To  desire  John  Potter,  Sen.,  Caleb  Chidsey  and  Eben- 
ezer  Chidsej-  to  treat  with  Sir  Heminway  to  get  him,  if  they  could,  to 
give  them  a  taste  of  his  gifts  in  preaching  the  word." 

The  "  taste  of  his  gifts,"  was  so  pleasing  to  the  villagers  that  they 
voted,  December  19th,  1704,  to  engage  him  as  a  minister  at  £50  per 
year.  Thus  he  continued  two  years,  when  he  was  more  formally 
engaged,  the  villagers  promising,  on  their  part,  a  salary  of  £50  per 
year,  to  furnish  him  his  firewood,  and  to  build  him  a  house.  In  1707 
they  built  him  a  house,  20  by  40  feet,  on  a  five-acre  lot,  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  green.  In  1709  54  more  acres  of  land,  in  three 
tracts,  were  settled  upon  him.  In  the  meantime,  in  1706,  a  small  plain 
meeting  house,  barely  16  by  20  feet,  had  been  built  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  green. 

These  buildings  provided  and  a  minister  secured,  they  voted.  May 
3d,  1709,  to  petition  the  general  assembly  to  be  embodied  into  a  church 
state.  This  was  done  October  8th,  1711,  when  the  East  Haven  Con- 
gregational Church  was  formally  organized.  On  the  same  day  Rev- 
erend Jacob  Heminway  was  ordained  to  the  pastorate,  in  which  he 
continued  until  his  death,  in  1754,  preaching  for  the  people  more  than 
half  a  century,  which  is  evidence  of  his  proper  service  in  his  chosen 
field  of  labor. 

The  first  meeting  house  becoming  too  small,  a  new  one  was  built 
on  the  knoll,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  green,  which  was  long 
known  as  the  Meeting  House  hill.  The  building  committee  were: 
Captain  Ailing  Ball,  Sergeant  John  Thompson,  Samuel  Russell,  Ser- 
geant Joseph  Granniss,  Samuel  Hotchkiss,  Nathaniel  Hitchcock  and 
Samviel  Goodsell.  The  house  was  a  high  frame,  30  by  40  feet,  having 
a  straight  roof  and  jutted  ends.     It  was  ready  for  occupancy  in  the 


280  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

fall  of  1719,  when  it  was  properly  seated,  after  the  manner  of  those 
times,  according  to  the  rates  paid  in  1717.  Although  a  rude  and  barn- 
like structure,  it  was  made  to  do  duty  more  than  fifty  years,  longer 
perhaps  than  if  there  had  not  been  difficulty  as  to  the  site  for  a  pro- 
posed new  house.  This  was  a  matter  for  a  heated  controversy  between 
the  people  of  the  South  End  and  the  Center,  who  preferred  the  green 
as  a  site,  and  those  of  Woodward  town  and  Foxon  Farms,  who  had 
selected  Mullen  hill  as  their  site.  After  the  matter  had  been  more  or 
le.ss  agitated,  from  1769  to  1772,  Thompson's  corner,  between  the  two 
proposed  sites,  was  selected  as  a  compromise  site.  Upon  this  the  con- 
struction of  the  now  famous  "Stone  Meeting  House  "  was  begun  the 
same  year  by  a  building  committee  composed  of  Captain  Amos  Mor- 
ris, John  Woodward,  Joel  Tuttle,  Stephen  Morris,  Lsaac  Chidsey, 
Stephen  Thompson,  Dan  Bradley  and  Stephen  Smith.  It  was  finally 
determined  to  build  the  house,  50  by  73  feet,  "  and  to  build  a  steeple 
to  be  carried  up  with  stone."  The  plan  was  at  that  time  in  the 
advanced  style  of  architecture,  and  it  is  possible  that  the  old  South 
church  of  Boston  may  have  been  taken  as  a  pattern.  The  material 
was  gathered  in  the  town,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  work  was  done 
by  those  who  expected  to  occupy  it.  The  walls  were  finished  and  the 
roof  put  on  in  iVugust,  1774,  and  it  was  so  far  completed  that  it  was 
dedicated  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  Up  to  this  time  its  cost  was  about 
$12,000,  or  nearly  three-fifths  of  the  grand  list,  which  shows  to  what 
extent  the  people  went  in  their  endeavor  to  have  a  suitable  and  endur- 
ing house  of  wor.ship.  How  well  they  succeeded  in  that  laudable, 
though  sacrificing  purpose  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  this  is  now  one 
of  the  oldest  meeting  houses  in  the  state,  and  the  oldest  stone  meet- 
ing house  standing  in  all  New  England.  Its  walls  are  to-day  as  firm 
as  when  put  up,  and  will  probably  stand  a  century  longer. 

The  house  was  not  fully  completed  until  1796,  after  an  expenditure 
of  $2,500  had  been  made  mainly  in  finishing  the  interior  and  in  build- 
ing a  spire.  The  following  year,  October  8th,  1797,  the  "  great  tor- 
nado," which  passed  over  the  center  of  the  town,  threw  down  the 
spire,  unroofed  the  house,  and  damaged  it  to  the  extent  of  $1,000. 
The  repairs  were  immediately  made,  and  in  1798  the  spire  was  first 
supplied  with  a  bell.  It  was  cast  in  New  Haven  that  year,  when  nine- 
teen Spanish  milled  dollars  were  added  to  the  other  metal,  by  Doctor 
Bela  Farnham,  who  was  present  when  the  bell  was  cast.  In  conse- 
quence the  bell  has  a  peculiar  silvery,  pleasing  tone.  vSoon  after  per- 
mission was  given  to  Edmond  Bradley  and  others  to  place  a  clock  in 
the  spire  which,  like  the  bell,  has  done  faithful  service  through  a  long 
course  of  years. 

In  1850  the  meeting  house  was  so  extensively  remodelled  that  it 
was  deemed  proper  to  re-dedicate  it,  October  16th,  1850.  About  $6,000 
was  expended.      In  1859  the  steeple  was  rebuilt  and  given  a  more 


HISTOKY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUXTV.  231 

modern  appearance,  having    now   most   graceful    proportions  and   a 
height  of  196  feet  from  the  ground.     This  work  cost  $2,000. 

The  interior  of  the  house  was  renovated  in  1868,  at  an  expenditure 
of  $H,()00,  and  about  the  same  time  the  property  was  enclosed  with 
an  iron  railing  and  the  grounds  beautified,  at  an  outlay  of  $1,800. 
Wood  stoves  were  first  placed  in  the  meeting  house  in  1825,  coal 
stoves  in  1840,  and  steam  heating  apparatus  in  1808. 

A  commodious  chapel  was  built  in  1874,  which  was  conse- 
crated as  the  Centennial  chapel;  and  the  same  year  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  the  occupancy  of  the  "  Stone  Meeting  House  " 
was  appropriately  celebrated  on  the  16th  of  September.  The  society 
purchased  a  parsonage  in  1853,  and  a  more  commodious  one  in  1873, 
which  has  been  enlarged  and  beautified.  All  the  church  property, 
which  is  very  valuable,  has  recently  been  placed  in  good  repair,  and 
the  parish  is  not  encumbered  by  a  debt. 

Reverend  Nicholas  Street  was  ordained  as  the  second  pastor,  Octo- 
ber 8th,  17.J0,  and  "acquitted  himself  a  workman  thoroughly  fur- 
nished into  every  good  work,"  until  his  death,  on  the  olst  anniver- 
sary of  his  ordination,  October  Sth,  1806,  aged  76  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  superior  ability,  kindly  disposed,  yet  of  dignified  appearance, 
and  well  fitted  to  inspire  reverence,  confidence  and  affection.  In 
theology  he  was  an  "  Old  Light,"  and  was  opposed  or  indifferent  to 
the  more  advanced  methods  of  awakening  interest  in  religious  work. 

Reverend  Saul  Clark,  ordained  the  third  pastor  January  13th,  1808, 
was  the  opposite  of  Mr.  Street  in  his  methods  and  pastoral  work. 
He  was  aggressive,  zealous  in  his  calling,  and  his  ministry  was  char- 
acterized by  a  series  of  revivals,  which  greatly  augmented  the  mem- 
bership, in  spite  of  the  fact  that  some  of  the  older  members  took 
exception  to  his  methods  and  withdrew  from  the  church.  In  many 
things  Mr.  Clark  was  in  advance  of  the  times,  taking  positions  which 
are  now  occupied  by  the  religious  world,  but  which  at  that  time 
aroused  so  much  opposition  that  for  the  sake  of  harmony  he  was  dis- 
missed, at  his  own  request,  May  19th,  1817.  He  died  in  Meriden  in 
1849,  but  is  interred  at  East  Haven,  where  his  memory  is  still 
respected. 

Reverend  Stephen  Dodd  was  installed  as  the  fourth  pastor.  Decem- 
ber 11th,  1817,  and  resigned  April  20th,  1847.  He  continued  to  reside 
in  the  town  until  his  death  in  1856,  at  the  age  of  77  years.  He  was 
an  earnest  and  successful  pastor,  and  an  able  and  at  times  eloquent 
preacher.  His  long  pastorate  was  quiet,  yet  one  of  steady  growth,  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  in  1830  many  members  withdrew  to  form  the 
First  church  in  Fair  Haven.  In  1824  Mr.  Dodd  published  his  "  East 
Haven  Register,"  which  isavaluable  historical  work,  and  from  which 
have  been  gleaned  many  facts  for  this  sketch. 

The  succes.sor  of  Mr.  Dodd  was  Reverend  Daniel  \V.  Havens,  who 
was  installed  June  16th,  1847,  and  resigned  July  2d,  1877.     Under  his 


232  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ministry  the  church  prospered  materially  and  spiritually.  Many  of 
the  most  important  changes  and  additions  to  the  church  property 
were  made  in  this  period,  which  placed  the  parish  among  the  fore- 
most in  the  county.  In  this  time,  also,  several  revivals  of  unusual 
interest  took  place,  the  fruits  of  the  one  in  the  spring  of  1852  being 
an  addition  of  85  persons  to  the  membership  of  the  church.  In  Sep- 
tember, ]874,  Mr.  Havens  preached  the  historical  sermon,  on  the  occa- 
sion of  celebrating  the  KlOth  anniversary  of  the  occupancy  of  the  "  Old 
Stone  Meeting  House."     This  has  been  published. 

Reverend  Joseph  Tomlinson  was  the  acting  pastor  from  1877  to 
1879.  On  the  7th  of  July,  1880,  Reverend  Daniel  J.  Clark,  who  had 
just  graduated  from  the  Hartford  Seminary,  was  here  ordained  to  the 
ministry  and  installed  as  the  pastor  of  the  church.  In  that  capacity 
he  has  since  successfully  continued. 

In  October,  1890,  the  parish  contained  130  families,  and  there  were 
245  communicant  members.  The  clerk  of  the  church  was  A.  L. 
Fabrique.  The  vSabbath  school  had  more  than  2()0  members,  and  F. 
B.  Street  was  the  superintendent.  In  1886  a  mission  Sabbath  school 
was  established  at  Morris  cove,  which  is  in  charge  of  deacon  J.  H. 
Morris,  and  which  is  prosperous. 

The  deaconry  of  the  church  embraced  the  following:  Caleb  Chid- 
sey,  died  in  1713;  Joshua  Austin,  died  in  1760;  Thomas  Smith,  died 
in  1762;  Daniel  Hitchcock,  died  in  1761;  Deodate  Davenport,  died  in 
1761;  Samuel  Heminway,  chosen  1758,  died  1777;  x\braham  Hemin- 
way,  chosen  1761,  removed;  Amos  Morris,  chosen  1776,  died  1801; 
Stephen  Smith,  chosen  1778,  died  1816;  Samuel  Davenport,  chosen 
1797,  died  1810;  John  Morris,  chosen  1800,  removed  1806;  Levi  Par- 
dee, cho,sen  1800,  died  1813;  Enos  Heminway,  chosen  1806,  removed 
1830;  Amos  Morris,  chosen  1816,  resigned  1818;  Bela  Farnham,  chosen 
1832,  resigned  1852;  Amos  Morris,  chosen  1832,  resigned  1852;  Samuel 
H.  Heminway,  chosen  1832,  died  1849;  Reuel  Andrews,  chosen  1852, 
died  1864;  Alfred  Morris,  chosen  1852,  died  1876;  A.  L.Curtiss.  chosen 
1864,  died  1872;  Edwin  Street,  chosen  1868,  resigned  1878;  Asa  L. 
Fabrique,  chosen  1868,  still  serves;  Samuel  T.  Andrews,  chosen  1872, 
deceased;  Thaddeus  Street,  chosen  1872,  deceased;  Julius  H.  Morris, 
Fred.  B.  Street  and  Collis  B.  Granniss,  still  in  office. 

Christ  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal)  had  its  origin  in  a  move- 
ment to  unite  the  churchmen  of  the  town,  set  on  foot  March  17th, 
1788.  Previous  to  that  time  these  worshipped  in  Trinity  church. 
New  Haven.  The  meeting  for  organization  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Samuel  Tuttle,  who  acted  as  chairman,  and  John  Bird  as  clerk, 
when  the  following  signed  an  agreement  to  form  a  parish:  Henry 
F.  Hicks,  John  Bird,  Samuel  Tuttle,  James  Pardee,  Stephen  Pardee, 
Mabel  Bishop,  Samuel  Barnes,  John  Hunt,  Stephen  Thompson,  Jr., 
David  Goodsell,  Jehiel  Forbes  and  Levi  Forbes.  Two  weeks  later 
another  meeting  was  held  to  elect  officers,  when  Samuel  Tuttle  and 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  238 

James  Pardee  were  chosen  wardens;  Jehiel  Forbes,  Captain  Samuel 
Barnes,  Samuel  Thompson,  Captain  Stephen  Thompson,  Jr.,  Ichabod 
Bishop,  vestrymen.  The  new  parish  was  now  placed  in  care  of  Trinity 
church. 

Early  in  1789  the  work  of  building  a  chapel  was  begun,  the  frame 
work  being  raised  April  2Hd,  1789,  when  some  of  the  timbers  fell 
down,  killing  Jeremiah  Bradley  and  injuring  several  others.  The 
building  was  only  partially  completed  and  was  not  finished  for  con- 
secration until  July  2.5th,  1810.  It  was  not  painted  until  1817.  In 
the  fall  of  1828  it  was  supplied  with  a  stove. 

On  Easter,  1789,  Reverend  Edward  Blakeslee  became  the  first  rector 
of  the  parish,  continuing  about  a  year,  but  before  that  time  Doctor 
Hubbard,  of  Trinity  church,  had  preached  here. 

In  1843  and  1845  the  chapel  was  enlarged  and  a  tower  built,  in 
which  a  bell  was  placed  in  1847.  The  following  year  Reverend 
Edward  Warren  gave  an  altar  for  the  church.  In  1S.")9  the  building 
was  again  repaired  and  a  font  placed  in  it,  by  the  Todd  brothers — 
Edward,  Henry  and  Charles— of  Brooklyn,  N.Y.  In  1866  the  rectory 
was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $2,400,  $r>0()  of  which  was  a  bequest  b}' 
Mrs.  vSarah  A.  Barnes.  Ten  years  later  it  was  remodelled  and  enlarged. 
In  the  summer  of  1867  the  chi:rch  building  was  transformed  to  its 
present  shape  under  the  direction  of  a  committee  composed  of  O.  B. 
Thompson,  C.  E.  Kirkham  and  Ralph  Wright.  Later  a  memorial 
window  was  placed  in  it,  in  honor  of  Rector  O.  Evans  Shannon,  who 
died  September  20th,  1877.  In  1881  all  the  remaining  debt  of  the 
parish  was  paid  off  under  the  rectorship  of  Reverend  Clayton  Eddy, 
who  also  presented  the  church  with  a  cabinet  organ.  Improvements 
since  that  time  have  placed  the  parish  property  in  good  condition. 

The  ministers  and  rectors  of  the  parish  have  been:  1788-9,  Doc- 
tor Hubbard;  1790,  Reverend  Edward  Blake.slee;  1791,  Reverend  Hull: 
1796,  Doctor  Hubbard;  1796-9,  Reverend  Smith  Miles:  1800-1,  Doctor 
Hubbard;  1801-5,  Reverend  Ami  Rogers;  1805-10,  Doctor  Hubbard: 
1810-n,  Reverend  Samuel  P.  Jarvis;  1812-17,  Elijah  G.  Plumb;  1819- 

26, Perry;    1827,  Peter    G.  Clark;    1834-9,   Henry    Ives;    1840-5, 

Henry  Townsend;  1846,  George  W.  Nichols:  1847,  Henry  Townsend: 
1848,  Henry  Edwards;  1849,  N.  S.  Richardson;  1850-63,  Henry  Town- 
send;  1864,  Alonzo  G.  Shearer;  1865,  Henry  Townsend;  1866-77,  O. 
Evans  Shannon;  1878-80,  John  Gray;  1880,  Henry  Tarrant:  1881-6, 
Clayton  Eddy;  1887,  Charles  Westerman. 

In  1890  the  parish  was  without  a  rector,  and  services  were  only 
occasionally  held.  The  senior  wardens  have  been  the  following: 
1788-94,  Samuel  Tuttle;  1794-5,  Samuel  Barnes;  1795-1803,  Samuel 
Tuttle;  1803-17,  Samuel  Barnes;  1818,  Samuel  Tuttle;  1819-36,  Truman 
Cole;  1837-45,  Leverett  Bradley;  1846-53,  John  Bishop;  1854-73,  Fred- 
erick W.  Tuttle;  1874-89,  Orlando  B.  Thompson;  1890,  Dwight  W. 
Tuttle. 


234  HISTORY    OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

At  the  same  time  William  H.  Shannon  was  the  junior  warden. 
Many  of  the  foregoing  served  in  the  same  office,  and  others  were: 
1790-1,  Jehiel  Forbes;  1794-1812,  Ichabod  Bishop;  1819,  Joseph  Par- 
dee; 1858-9,  Jesse  Tuttle;  1860-6,  J.  H.  Todd;  1873-8.5,  Jesse  Tuttle; 
1887-9,  Charles  L.  Mitchell. 

It  is  said  that  the  first  settlers  of  East  Haven  were  not  as  mindful 
of  the  benefits  of  schools  as  those  of  some  other  towns,  and  even  after 
the  lapse  of  a  century  of  years  the  cause  of  education  was  said  to  be 
in  a  backward  condition.  In  more  recent  years  better  schools  were 
established,  especially  in  the  part  which  became  Fair  Haven  borough. 

The  tirst  school  house  was  at  the  town's  market  place,  or  the  village 
green,  near  where  the  first  meeting  house  stood.  It  stood  there  as 
early  as  the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  and  in  1707  Mr.  Heminway 
was  the  teacher.  In  1728  the  village  was  divided  into  four  districts; 
in  1769  six  districts  are  mentioned,  with  a  new  .school  house  north  of 
Bloomary  brook. 

In  1823  there  were  but  five  districts,  which  contained  388  children.. 
About  that  time  more  interest  was  manifested  in  educational  matters, 
and  a  library  company  was  formed.  The  library  was  maintained  with 
good  results  some  years.  The  later  statistics  of  schools,  on  account  of 
the  division  of  the  town,  are  here  omitted. 

But  a  considerable  number  of  the  young  men  of  the  town  availed 
themselves  of  the  benefits  of  Yale  College.  The  East  Haven  gradu- 
ates of  that  institution  prior  to  1800  were;  1704,  Jacob  Heminway; 
1724,  Thomas  Goodsell;  1724,  John  Goodsell;  1760,  Jared  Potter;  1780, 
Asahel  Morris;  1793,  Amos  Pardee. 

The  first  public  place  of  burial  was  sequestered  in  1707,  but  before 
that  time  a  few  persons  had  been  buried  in  the  town  on  the  west  side 
of  the  green.  Most  of  those  who  died  at  an  early  day  were  buried  in 
New  Haven.  The  cemetery  was  enlarged  in  1797  and  subsequently. 
It  is  still  used,  but  the  new  East  Haven  cemetery,  opened  and  con- 
trolled  by  Samuel  Forbes,  appears  to  meet  the  present  requirements 
better  than  the  old  one.  The  latter  consists  of  about  five  acres  and  is 
well  conditioned.     It  is  also  at  the  center. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  town  a  Jewish  cemetery  of  small  area 
has  lately  been  opened. 

The  first  death  of  a  citizen  of  the  town  was  Thomas  Greg.son,  wha 
was  lost  at  sea  in  1047.  He  was  also  the  first  white  settler  in  East 
Haven.     Other  early  deaths  were: 

1659,  Edward  Hitchcock,  one  of  the  South  End  men. 

1662,  Matthew  Rowe  and  William  Luddington,  each  being  the  first 
of  those  names. 

1668,  Francis  Brown  and  Matthew  Moulthrop,  the  latter  being  the 
father  of  that  family. 

1669,  Edward  Patterson  and  Matthias  Hitchcock  of  the  South  End. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  235- 

1673,  Benjamin  Lingo,  an  early  settler  of  vStony  creek;  Thomas 
Morris,  the  ancestor  of  the  Morris  family  in  the  town. 

1674,  Reverend  Nicholas  Street,  the  father  of  the  Street  family:  John 
Thompson,  father  of  the  East  Haven  Thompsons. 

1679,  Ralph  Russell. 

1688.  Deacon  John  Chidsey,  father  of  the  Chidseys,  at  one  time  so 
numerous  in  the  town. 

1690,  John  Austin,  father  of  the  East  Haven  Austins. 

1700,  George  Pardee,  the  ancestor  of  the  Pardees  of  this  part  of  the 
county. 

1702,  Jane,  the  widow  of  Thomas  Gregson,  the  first  settler,  and 
who  was  also  the  first  to  lose  his  life.  He  was  above  eighty  years  of 
age. 

1707,  Sergeant  John  Potter,  the  head  of  the  Potter  family  in  the, 
town. 

1713,  Isaac  Bradley,  aged  sixty-two  years.  He  was  the  father  of 
the  East  Haven  Bradleys. 

1724,  Captain  Thomas  Smith,  the  father  of  the  Smith  family,  which 
was  in  the  town  in  the  early  part  of  its  history. 

The  town  was  much  exposed  to  Indian  attack  after  the  termination 
of  King  Philip's  war,  and  in  1689  a  patrol  of  four  horsemen  was  kept 
scanning  the  woods|,in  search  of  hostile  Indians.  But  there  is  no  record 
to  show  that  the  Indians  ventured  upon  an  attack.  The  resident 
Indians  were  always  friendly,  but  when  in  liquor  a  trifle  annoying. 

In  the  French  and  Indian  war  of  17.55  and  the  years  following  the 
town  furnished  about  fifteen  men.  Benjamin  Russell,  of  East  Haven, 
was  captured  at  sea  in  that  period. 

The  war  for  Independence  affected  this  town  more  than  some  of 
the  others  in  the  county.  A  number  of  men  lost  their  lives  in  the 
service,  and  considerable  property  was  also  destroyed.  Elijah  Smith 
was  killed  at  Long  Island  in  1776,  Thomas  Smith  died  the  same  }-ear 
at  Rye,  Nathan  Andrews  and  Isaac  Potter  died  as  prisoners  about  the 
same  time.  July  oth,  1779,  Isaac  Pardee  was  killed  at  Fort  hill  b}'  a 
cannon  ball  fired  by  the  enemy  at  that  time  in  this  town.  The  British 
landed  at  Morris  neck  and  South  End,  July  4th,  1779,  while  making 
their  movement  upon  New  Haven.  They  encamped  for  the  night 
and  burned  eleven  houses  and  nine  barns,  among  them  being  those  of 
Amos  ^Morris,  John  Woodward,  John  Luddington.  Jr.,  Elam  Lud- 
dington,  Joseph  Tuttle,  Jacob  and  Abijah  Pardee,  Jehiel  Forbes,  Mary 
Pardee  and  Noah  Tucker.  They  also  destroyed  Gurdon  Bradley's 
sloop  "and  plundered  as  much  as  they  could  lay  hold  of."  They  left 
the  next  day,  having  inflicted  much  damage  upon  this  section. 

In  1779  Zebulon  Bradley  was  killed,  and  Richard  Paul,  Jacob  Par- 
dee, Jr.,  Asa  Bradley,  Abijah  Bradley  and  Elijah  Bradley  were  made 
prisoners  and  were  placed  on  shipboard  in  New  York,  where  all  except 
the  latter  died. 


236  HISTORY    OF   XKW    HAVEX   COUNTY. 

In  17S1  John  Howe  was  killed  by  tories  at  the  surprise  of  Fort 
Hale.  John  Walker  was  killed  at  Long  Island;  and  Edward  Goodsell. 
Isaac  Luddington  and  Jared  Heminway  died  later  from  the  effects  of 
exposure  in  the  service.* 

BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

Leonard  R.  Andrews,  born  in  East  Haven  in  18BB,  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  T.,  he  a  son  of  Jared,  he  a  son  of  Elisha,  born  1746,  whose 
father  was  Timothy  Andrews,  who  married  for  his  first  wife  Rachel 
Adkins  and  for  his  second  ^Irs.  Anna  Holt.  They  were  all  farmers. 
Elisha  married  Sarah  Moulthrop  in  1769.  Jared  married  Dorothy 
Phelps  in  1792.  Their  children  were:  Eliza,  Sylvia,  Polly,  Susan  and 
Samuel  T.  Samuel  T.  Andrews  represented  the  town  in  the  legisla- 
ture about  ISoB.  He  married  Sally  Davidson.  Their  children  were: 
Jared,  Timothy,  Leonard  R.,  Elizabeth  C.  and  John  D.  Jared  mar- 
ried Harriet  Smith.  Timothy  married  Maria  Benawaj'.  Elizabeth  C. 
married  Lucius  Smith.  John  D.  married  Susan  A.  Russell.  Leonard 
R.  Andrews  has  held  the  office  of  selectman  .several  years  and  was 
elected  to  the  legislature  in  1873.  He  married  Lydia  S.,  daughter  of 
Elijah  Bradley  in  1867. 

Willis  Bailey,  born  in  Branford  in  1821,  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel,  born 
1780,  and  grandson  of  Elisha,  who  was  a  ship  carpenter  and  a  resident 
of  Haddam,  Conn.  His  children  were;  Lucy,  Sarah,  Nathaniel, 
Jonathan  and  Elijah.  Nathaniel  Bailey  was  a  farmer.  He  settled  in 
Branford  and  about  1828  became  a  resident  of  East  Haven.  He  mar- 
ried Desire,  daughter  of  John  Robinson  of  Branford.  and  their  child- 
ren were:  Eliza,  vSarah,  Sylvanus,  Lucinda,  Oliver,  Willis,  Lucy. 
Elizabeth  and  Merwin.  Nathaniel  Baile}^  died  in  1868.  Desire,  his 
wife,  died  in  1866,  aged  79  years.  The  onlj- children  of  Nathaniel 
living  are  Willis  and  Merwin.  Merwin  is  a  farmer.  He  married  in 
1859,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  Augur.  They  have  one  son, 
Walter,  born  1860.  Willis  Bailey  carried  on  a  saw  and  grist  mill  for 
many  years,  and  for  eighteen  years  ran  a  stage  line  between  East 
Haven  and  New  Haven.  He  held  the  office  of  selectman  three  years. 
In  1845  he  married  Anna  L.,  daughter  of  William  Ward,  from  Lee. 
N.  H.,  who  died  in  East  Haven  at  the  age  of  82.  Their  children 
were:  vSophia  L.,  born  1847,  and  Eleanor  W.,  born  1849,  and  mar- 
ried in  1873  to  James  D.  Ashbee.  He  was  born  in  Kent,  England,  in 
1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Jo.seph  and  Jane  ( Faith  i  Ashbee.  He  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  about  1846,  and  settled  in  Madison.  Jo.seph 
Ashbee  had  three  children:  Joseph  R.,  James  D.  and  Emma  S. 
Joseph  R.  married  Eliza  Dowd.  Emma  S.  married  Lucius  Howe  of 
New  Haven  and  for  her  second  husband  Henry  ilerriman  of  Hamden. 
Joseph  Ashbee  died  September  22d,  1878.  Jane,  his  wife,  died  Sep- 
teinber  23d,  1878.     The  children  of  James  D.  and  Eleanor  W.  A.shbee 

*Froin  Doctor  Dodd's  account. 


inSTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  287 

are:  Willie  R.,  born  1874;  Edward  J.,  born  1877,  and  Burton  W.,  born 
1878. 

Charles  W.  Bradley,  born  in  East  Haven  in  December,  1834,  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  H.,  born  1808,  and  grandson  of  Samuel,  who  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  accidentally  met  his  death  in  the  peat  bog  near 
where'now  is  located  the  Shore  Line  railroad  in  East  Haven.  His 
grandmother  on  his  father's  side,  was  Sarah  Bradley,  and  his  great- 
grandmother,  Elizabeth  Woodward.  Samuel  H.  Bradley  was  an 
apprentice  to  his  brother-in-law,  Roswell  Chidsey,  and  succeeded  him 
in  business,  as  the  village  blacksmith;  their  place  of  business  was  the 
north  side  of  the  green.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  East 
Haven  sixty  years  ago,  and  accumulated  a  large  property  for  those 
times.  East  Haven  was  a  rendezvous  for  mules  from  Kentucky,  pre- 
vious to  shipment  to  West  Indies,  and  a  feature  of  Mr.  Bradley's  busi- 
ness was  pulling  off  the  shoes  preparatory  to  the  sea  voyage. 

Samuel  H.  married  Sarah  Louisa,  employed  in  the  family  of  James 
Thompson.     At   that   time    there  was  no  foreign  help.     She  was  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Tyler  of  North  Branford.     Her  mother  was  Huldah 
Stannard  of  Westbrook.     Samuel  H.died  in  1848,  and  his  wife  in  1848, 
at  the  early  ages  of  35  and  83  years.     They  had  but  one  child,  Charles 
W.,  who  was  educated   in  the  public  schools,  Branford  Academy,  the 
.select  school  of  .Samuel  M.  Brown,  of  Fair  Haven,  and  St.  ISIatthew's 
Hall,  at  Port  Colden,  N.  J.     John   Hemingway  was  his  guardian  for 
twelve  years.     He  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade  with  his  cousin 
Stephen  Hemingway  in  the  fall  of  1851,  buying  out  the  business  of 
Horace  R.  Chidsey.     This  store  was  originally  established  by  Charles 
Lmdsley.     The  firm  continued  until  1855,  when  Mr.  Bradley  bought 
his  partner's  interest,  and  continued  the  business  alone,  having  one  of 
the  largest  country  stores  in  the  county,  Naugatuck  valley  excepted. 
The  same  year  he  sold  this  business  to  ^Ir.  Hemingway.     In  this  con- 
nection it  may  be  interesting  to  note  the  fact,  that  during  the  time 
Messrs.  Hemingway  &  Bradley  were  in  business,  the  post  office  was 
removed  from  the  house  of  Ruel  Andrews,  where  it  had  been  for 
nearly  a  half  century,  to  their  store.     They  also  contracted  to  carry 
the   mails   between  New    Haven  and    East    Haven,  with    horse  and 
wagon.     The  cars  on  the  N.  H.  &  N.  L.  road,  when  it  was  built  in 
1851,  were  inclined  not  to  give  much  accommodation  to  East  Haven. 
After  selling  out  his  business  as  previously  stated,  he  then  engaged 
in   farming  and  trade;  was  also  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools    in 
Branford  and  Guilford,  and  a  correspondent  for  various  newspapers. 
In  politics  Mr.  Bradley  is  a  democrat,  and  has  been  selectman  in  his 
native  town.     In  1867  he  was  appointed  keeper  of  the  New  Haven 
Light  House,  during  the  national  administration  of  Andrew  Johnson, 
and  at  the  time  James  F.  Babcock   was  collector  of  the  port  of  New 
Haven,  which  position  he  held  for  two  years  and  two  months,  until 
President  Grant's  appointees  in  1809,  took   possession  of  the  offices. 


238  iirsTORV  of  new  haven  county. 

He  was  then  appointed  superintendent  of  the  New  Haven  almshouse 
from  January  1st,  1870,  remaining  there  one  year. 

During  the  three  years  following  he  resided  in  East  Haven,  and 
built  the  first  dwelling  house  which  was  erected  primarily  for  the 
purpose  of  renting  in  East  Haven,  the  village  of  Fair  Haven  possibly 

-excepted.  In  1873  he  was  re-appointed  superintendent  of  the  New 
Haven  almshouse,  which  office  he  held  from  Jar\uary  1st.  1874,  to 
March  1st,  1878.  From  that  time  until  May  1st,  1890,  he  resided  in 
We.?tville,  where  he  erected  a  genteel  residence,  at  which  date  he 
again  became  a  resident  of  East  Haven. 

In  1854  he  married  Sarah  Amelia,  eldest  daughter  of  Horace  Leete, 
of  Guilford,  a  descendant  of  Governor  Leete,  one  of  the  colonial  chief 
magistrates  of  Connecticut.  Their  children  are:  Annetta  Adeline, 
born  1856:  Harriett  Louisa,  born  1857.  died  1882;  and  Seymour  Perc}-, 
born  1859.  The  last  named  was  appointed  a  cadet  to  the  United 
States  Military  Academy  from  the  Second  congressional  district  of 
Connecticut  in  a  competitive  examination  in  1878;  an  honor  never 
before  conferred  upon  an  East  Haven  man.  Mr.  Bradley  is  a  life 
long  member  of  the  East  Haven  Episcopal  church,  always  taking  an 
active  interest  in  its  affairs.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Com- 
pany, Governor's  Horse  Guards,  and  was  honorably  discharged. 

Justin  Br.\dlev  was  born  m  East  Haven  in  1815,  and  is  a  son  of 
Samuel,  whose  father  Azariah.  born  in  17H4,  was  a  son  of  .Samuel, 
who  married  Sarah  Robinson  in  1715,  and  whose  father  Isaac  Bradley, 
was  a  resident  of  the  county  as  early  as  1674,  and  settled  in  East 
Haven  in  1683.  He  was  a  native  of  England.  Azariah  Bradley  was 
a   farmer   and   joiner.      He   married    Elizabeth    Woodward.      Their 

■children  were:  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Esther,  Roswell  and  Lydia. 
Samuel  Bradley  was  also  a  farmer  and  joiner.  He  built  the  house 
in  which  Justin  Bradley  now  lives,  in  1792.  He  held  the  office  of 
selectman  several  years,  and  was  prominent  in  town  affairs.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah,  daughter  of  Jared  Bradley.  Governor  Saltonstall's  son 
resided  on  the  governor's  large  farm  by  the  lake:  and  having  become 
wasteful  in  its  management,  the  town  of  Branford  appointed  Jared 
Bradley  his  overseer,  and  he  resided  there  many  years.  The  children 
of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Bradley  were:  William,  Laura,  George,  Lue, 
Esther,  Azariah,  Sarah  Adeline,  Samuel  H.,  Lydia  and  Justin,  who  is 
the  only  one  living.  He  learned  the  joiner's  trade,  and  made  that  his 
principal  business  for  many  years.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in 
farming.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church  of  East  Haven. 
In  1885  he  was  elected  representative  to  the  Connecticut  legislature. 
In  1839  he  married  Esther  S.,  daughter  of  John  Tyler.  They  had 
three  children;  Marietta,  who  married  Willet  Forbes:  George,  who  at 
the  age  of  46  is  unmarried;  and  Louisa  C,  who  died  in  1851,  aged  two 
years.     Mrs,  Bradley  died  in   1882.     In   1883  he  married  Frances  E., 

■daughter  of  Charles  L.  Paddock  of  Meriden.     Many  items  of  interest 


v./^'U/'i   ^^yy^/rii^w-^j 


HlSIOkV    OF    \E\V    HAVEN    COUXTV.  239 

might  be  mentioned  respecting  Mr.  Bradley's  long  and  active  life. 
The  late  ex-governor,  James  E.  linglish,  who  had  a  national  reputa- 
tion, learned  the  joiner's  trade,  and  he  and  Mr.  Bradley  worked  at  that 
occupation  at  the  same  time,  in  New  Haven. 

Stephen  Bradley,  born  in  1836,  is  a  son  of  Stephen,  born  179.5,  he 
a  son  of  Stephen,  and  he  a  son  of  Stephen  Bradley,  who  married 
Thankful  Smith.  Stephen,  their  son,  married  Mehitable  Luddington. 
Stephen,  their  son,  married  Lydia  Foote  and  their  children  were: 
Mary,  Amanda,  Baldwin,  Samuel,  Lydia  and  Stephen.  Mr. 
Bradley  engaged  in  carriage  and  wagon  making  in  East 
Haven  about  1856,  and  has  earned  on  that  business-  continuously 
since  that  time.  He  has  been  twice  married;  first  in  1858  to  Sarah 
B.  Wheeler  They  had  one  son,  Stephen,  born  January  12th,  1867, 
died  November  2d,  1888.  Mrs.  Bradley  died  April  15th,  1870.  Mr. 
Bradley  married  for  hi,s  second  wife  Susan  B.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Silah  Clark  of  Woodbury.  Conn.,  in  1872.  They  had  one  daughter, 
■Grace,  born  January  loth,  1873.  Mrs.  Susan  B.  Bradley  died  Decem- 
ber 21st,  1888.  Mr.  Bradley  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  66,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  New  Haven. 

Samuel  Chidsey,  born  m  East  Haven  in  1810,  was  a  son  of  Samuel, 
he  a  son  of  Isaac,  born  1731,  he  a  son  of  Caleb,  born  1697,  he  a  son  of 
Deacon  Caleb,  born  1661,  and  he  a  son  of  John  Chidsey,  who  was  a 
deacon  of  the  first  church  of  New  Haven.  He  came  from  England 
and  signed  the  colony  constitution  in  1644.  Deacon  Caleb  Chidsey 
married  Anna  Thompson.  Caleb,  their  son,  married  Mrs.  Abigail 
Smith.  Lsaac,  their  son,  married  Sarah  Bradley  in  17.52.  Samuel, 
their  son,  married  Betsey  Holt.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  old  militia. 
Their  children  were:  Sally,  Ru.ssell,  Harriett,  Lorinda,  Annie,  Samuel, 
Almira,  Betsy,  Lydia,  Abbie,  Hannah,  and  two  that  died  in  infancy. 
Samuel  Chidsey,  son  of  Samuel,  was  a  farmer  and  was  also  exten- 
sively engaged  in  stock  speculations  for  man}-  years.  He  always  took 
a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  holding  various  town  offices, 
and  served  one  term  in  the  general  assembly.  He  married  for  his 
first  wife  Esther  Bradley.  They  had  four  children:  Jane,  John, 
Josephine  and  Hattie.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Maria  A., 
daughter  of  William  Ford  of  North  Branford.  They  had  one  son, 
Samuel  R.  Chidsey.     Mr.  Chidsey  died  in  1886. 

Reuben  H.  Coe,  born  in  Durham,  Conn.,  in  1837,  is  a  .son  of  Mer- 
rick and  grandson  of  Abraham  Coe,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  married  Rebecca  Elwell.  Merrick  Coe  married  Aseneth 
Harrison.  Reuben  H.  Coe  settled  in  East  Haven  in  I860,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  held  the  office  of  selectman  and 
was  assessor  for  two  years.  He  married  in  1857  Marietta  San  ford. 
Their  children  are:  Hattie  R.  (deceased),  born  1861,  and  Herbert  W., 
born  1863,  married  in  1887,  Emogene  Hall.  Their  children  are: 
Herbert  Earl  and  Ethel  May. 


240  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Charles  L.  Davis,  born  in  New  Haven  in  1855,  is  a  son  of  Samuel, 
whose  father  Avery,  was  a  son  of  Averj-.  The  two  Averys  were  resi- 
dents of  Stafford,  Conn.  Avery,  the  father  of  Samuel,  married 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Deacon  Samuel  Lyon.  Samuel,  their  son,  was 
superintendent  of  the  New  Haven  almshouse  from  1851  to  1864.  He 
married  Emily,  daughter  of  Captain  Ebenezer  Mansfield.  Their 
children  were:  Elihu  S.,  Avery,  Charles  L.,  Martha  E.,  Elizabeth  L., 
Susan  L.,  Benjamin  J.  and  John  H.,  all  living.  Charles  L.  Davis  for 
fourteen  years  was  in  the  employ  of  the  New  York  Central  Railroad 
Company.  In  1887  he  settled  in  East  Haven  and  is  extensively 
engaged  in  market  gardening.  He  was  elected  assessor  in  1888, 
'89  and  '90.  He  was  married  in  1877,  and  has  one  daughter, 
Emily  N. 

Frederick  A.  Forbes,  born  in  East  Haven  in  1860,  is  a  son  of 
Alexander,  he  a  son  of  William,  he  a  son  of  John,  born  1770,  lie  a  son 
of  Isaac,  born  1742,  and  he  a  son  of  Samuel,  who  married  Mary 
Thompson.  Isaac,  their  son,  married  Hannah  Hemingway  in  1776. 
John,  their  son,  married  for  his  first  wife  Anna  Holt  and  for  his  second 
wife  Amey  Holt.  William  C.  carried  on  a  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness in  New  Haven  for  many  years.  He  married  Abigail  Wilmot. 
Their  children  were  Alexander  and  Louise.  Alexander  was  a  farmer 
and  carried  on  a  grain  and  milling  business  in  East  Haven  for  many 
years.  He  represented  the  town  in  the  legislature  several  years.  He 
married  for  his  first  wife  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Chester  Bradley. 
Their  children  were:  Frank  B.,  Frederick  A.  and  William  C.  Mr. 
Forbes  married  for  his  second  wife  Jane  Tuttle.  They  had  one 
daughter,  Lelia  M.  Frank  B.  married  Matilda  C.  Barnard.  Frederick 
A.  Forbes  is  in  the  milling  business. 

Charles  W.  Granniss,  born  in  East  Haven  in  1844,  is  a  son  of 
Frederick,  born  1813,  he  a  son  of  Jared.  born  1756,  he  a  son  of 
Isaac,  born  1716,  he  a  son  of  Joseph,  born  1677,  and  he  a  son  of 
Edward  Granniss,  who  came  from  England  in  1644,  and  settled  in 
North  Haven,  where  during  the  next  hundred  years  more  than  one 
hundred  of  the  name  were  born.  Joseph  Granniss  married  Hannah, 
daughter  of  John  Russell.  Isaac  married  Keziah  Moulthrop.  Jared 
was  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war.  He  married  Eunice  Munson. 
Their  children  were:  Horace,  born  1805;  John,  born  1811;  Frederick, 
born  1813;  and  Isaac,  born  1815.  Frederick  Granniss  married  Emily 
Bailey.  Their  children  are:  George  F.,  born  1885;  Andrew  J.,  born 
1841,  and  Charles  W.,  born  1844.  George  F.  married  Matilda  Burgess. 
Andrew  J.  married  Honoria  Irwin.  Charles  W.  Granniss  is  engaged 
in  farming  and  the  milk  business.  He  enlisted  in  the  Tenth  Connec- 
ticut Regiment  in  1861,  and  served  four  years.  He  was  sergeant  in 
Company  A.  He  is  a  member  of  Admiral  Foote  Post,  G.  A.  R..  of 
New  Haven.  He  married  Annie  C.  Irwin.  Their  children  are  Irwin 
and  Lincoln. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  241 

Charles  T.  Hemingway,  born  in  East  Haven  in  1857,  is  a  son  of 
Stephen,  he  a  son  of  John,  he  a  son  of  Stephen,  he  a  son  of  Samuel, 
he  a  son  of  Samuel,  he  a  son  of  John  and  he  a  son  of  Samuel,  who  is 
supposed  to  have  come  from  England,  and  who  settled  in  East  Haven 
and  in  1662  married  Sarah  Cooper.  John,  their  son,  born  1675,  married 
Mary  Morris  in  1703.  Samuel,  their  son,  born  1713,  married  Mehitable 
DenLson.  Samuel,  their  son,  born  1739,  married  Hannah  Morris. 
Stephen,  their  .son,  married  Esther  Bradley  in  1791.  John,  their  son, 
married  Adeline  Bradley.  Their  children  were  Stephen  and  Jared. 
Stephen,  born  1827,  married  Ann  A.,  daughter  of  Merwin  Tuttle. 
Their  children  were  Charles  T.  and  Charlotte  A.  Stephen  Heming- 
way engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade  about  1857  in  East  Haven  and 
continued  until  his  death  in  1889.  He  was  pcstmaster  for  over  thirty 
years.  Charles  T.  Hemingway  became  a  partner  of  his  father  in 
1881,  and  continues  the  business.  He  was  elected  town  clerk  in  1881 
and  held  the  office  continuously  until  1892;  also  justice  of  the  peace 
since  1881.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  a  vestryman 
and  treasurer  of  the  parish,  also  clerk  of  the  board  of  health  several 
years. 

William  H.  Hosley,  born  in  Branford  in  1863,  is  a  son  of  Benjamin 
A.,  born  1823,  and  grand.son  of  Loring  D.  and  Anne  A.  (Beach)  Hosley. 
Benjamin  A.  Hosley  married  in  1849  Lois  W.,  daughter  of  William 
Ward  of  Vermont.  Their  children  are:  Benjamin  F.,  Anna  M.,  John 
H.,  M.  Carrie,  William  H.,  Edward  K.  and  Judith  E.  (deceased). 
Benjamin  F.  married  Idella  Pond.  Anna  M.  married  George  W. 
Dory.  John  H.  married  Jane  Van  Wie.  M.  Carrie  married  Gaius  W. 
McClunie.  William  H.  married  in  1885  Amelia  L.,  daughter  of 
Charles  W.  Farnam  of  Norwich,  Conn.  They  have  one  son,  Charles 
F.  Air.  Hosley  became  a  resident  of  East  Haven  in  1885,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  the  milk  business. 

Joseph  Ives  Hotchkiss,  born  in  East  Haven  in  1814,  is  a  son  of 
Lyman,  he  a  son  of  Joseph,  born  1756,  he  a  son  of  Joseph,  born  1725, 
he  a  son  of  Samuel,  born  1683,  and  he  a  son  of  Samuel  Hotchkiss,  who 
married  Sarah  Talmadge  in  1678.  Samuel,  their  sou,  married  for  his 
first  wife  Sarah  Bradley  in  1705,  and  for  his  second  wife  he  married 
Hannah  Russell.  Joseph,  their  son,  married  Esther  Russell.  He 
served  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Jo.seph,  his  son,  married  Temper- 
ance, daughter  of  Timothv  Andrews.  Their  children  were:  Annie, 
Lyman,  Orrilla,  Esther,  Polly  and  Huldah.  Lyman  Hotchkiss  mar- 
ried Sybil,  daughter  of  Captain  Daniel  Bradley.  Their  children 
were:  Grace  A.,  Sophronia,  Joseph  Ives,  Lyman,  Samuel,  Daniel, 
Elizabeth  (died  in  infancy!  and  Elizabeth  A.  Joseph  Ives  Hotchkiss 
was  clerk  in  a  store  at  Fair  Haven  for  a  time,  then  spent  a  year  in 
the  West.  Returning  he  followed  the  sea  for  six  years,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  held  the  offices  of 
assessor,  selectman,  etc.,  and  in  1869  was  elected  to  the  legislature. 
15 


242  HISTORY    OF    XEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

He  was  captain  of  the  East  Haven  militia  four  years.  He  married  in 
1836  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Roswell  Bradley.  Their  children  were: 
Ellen  E.,  Sarah  E.,  Theron  B.,  Joseph  I.  and  Cornelia  M.;  all  living- 
except  Theron  B.     Mrs.  Hotchkiss  died  in  1889. 

William  S.  Jones,  born  in  Northford,  Conn.,  in  1839,  is  a  .son  of 
Edwin  L.,  who.se  father  John,  was  a  son  of  Morris  Jones,  who  was  in 
the  revolutionary  war.  They  were  farmers  and  residents  of  North 
Madison.  John  Jones  married  ilarian  Webber.  Edwin  L.  married 
Emily,  daughter  of  Luman  Johnson.  They  had  one  son,  William  S. 
Jones.  He  resided  in  New  Haven  from  18(»4  to  1876,  then  came  to 
East  Haven.  August  8th,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  14th  Connecticut 
Regiment.  He  married  in  1862  Ellen  C,  daughter  of  Richard  and 
Lucretia  iMoulthrop")  Russell. 

Archibald  A.  Perkins  was  born  in  Bethany,  Conn.,  in  1819.  His 
father's  name  was  Jesse,  and  he  was  a  son  of  Archibald,  who  was 
a  resident  of  Woodbridge  (now  included  in  Bethany)  and  kept  a 
tavern  on  the  New  Haven  and  Waterbury  Turnpike  for  over  sixty 
years.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the  Episcopal  church  of  Bethany  for  many 
years.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  a  Miss  Wooding 
and  the  second  a  Miss  French.  Their  children  were:  Lybias, 
Archibald  A.,  Jesse,  Guy,  James,  Burr,  Charles,  Rebecca  and  Sarah. 
Archibald  A.,  son  of  Archibald,  was  a  shoemaker  and  tanner  by  trade 
and  was  one  of  Bethany's  prominent  men,  representing  the  town  m 
the  legislature  several  terms  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  many 
years.  He  was  also  prominent  in  the  Masonic  Order.  Jesse  Perkins 
was  a  joiner  by  trade.  He  married  Charlotte  Hotchkiss  and  their 
children  were:  Hiram,  Maria,  Celestia,  Jesse  D.,  Nancy,  Noah  H.  and 
Archibald  A.  Archibald  A.  Perkins  is  a  brass  and  iron  moulder  by 
trade  and  for  fourteen  years  was  superintendent  of  the  W.  &  B. 
Douglass  Manufacturing  Company  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  after  which 
he  was  superintendent  of  the  brass  foundry  of  J.  B.  Sargent  &  Co., 
of  New  Haven  for  nine  years.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  B.,  2oth  Connecticut 
Infantry  in  1862,  and  served  thirteen  months.  He  became  a  resident 
of  East  Haven  about  1867.  He  married  Malvina  Andrews  of  Bristol 
in  1840.  Their  children  were:  Martha  M.,  born  1844,  and  Noah  H., 
born  1850.  Martha  M.  married  Lovell  Jones.  Their  childi^en  are: 
Helen  M.,  Je.sse  and  Bertha.  Mr.  Perkins  married  for  his  second 
wife  Barbara  Patrick. 

Jonathan  N.  Rowe  was  born  in  East  Haven  in  1839,  and  is  a  son 
of  Robert,  who  was  born  in  Lands  End,  England,  and  came  to 
America  about  1825.  He  followed  the  sea  for  many  years  and  for 
thirty  years  he  ran  between  New  Haven  and  New  York  as  first  mate 
on  a  steamer.  He  married  Abbie  A.  Story.  They  had  five  sons  and 
nine  daughters.  Jonathan  N.  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  in  1883. 
He  was  elected  selectman  of  New  Haven  in  1890.  He  married 
Margary  M.  Kenty  in  1888.     They  have  one  daughter,  Margary  S. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    MAVEN   COUXTY.  243 

Frank  M.  Sperry,  born  in  New  Haven  in  1850,  is  a  son  of  Hosmer 
and  grandson  of  Marcus,  whose  father  Jacob  was  a  son  of  Lemuel 
Sperry.  Jacob  Sperry  was  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war.  He 
married  vSarah  Perkins  of  Woodbridge.  They  went  to  Waterbury 
when  young  and  six  children  were  born  to  them  there.  Huldah,  the 
eldest,  married  Noah  Bronson.  The  next  two,  Marcus  and  Sally, 
were  twins.  Sally  married  Daniel  Cook.  Lydia  married  Gideon 
Piatt.  Anson  married  Lois  Upson.  Charity  married  Clark  Sperry. 
Anson  Sperry  was  a  cooper  by  trade  and  carried  on  that  business 
in  Waterbur}'  for  over  forty  years.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
181'2  and  was  captain  of  the  First  Flank  Company  of  the  22d  Regi- 
ment Connecticut  militia  several  years.  Marcus  Sperry  married 
Rebekah,  daughter  of  .Samuel  Carrington  of  Woodbridge.  They  had 
two  sons:  Edwin,  born  1808,  and  Hosmer,  born  1810.  Jacob  Sperry 
died  in  1834,  aged  86  j^ears.  Marcus,  his  son,  died  in  1811,  aged  33 
years.  Lemuel,  the  father  of  Jacob,  was  a  soldier  in  the  English 
army  during  the  French  war  in  Canada  and  died  there  at  that  time. 
Hosmer  Sperry  learned  the  joiner's  trade  and  for  forty  years  was 
engaged  in  stair  building.  He  married  Desire  Smith,  daughter  of 
Captain  Caleb  and  Elizabeth  Chidsey  of  East  Haven.  Their  children 
were:  Minot,  who  died  in  infancy;  Elbert  H.,  born  in  1843:  Marj-, 
born  1845:  Frank  M.,  born  1850,  and  Charles  E.,  born  1852.  The  sons 
learned  their  father's  business,  Elbert  H.  becoming  a  partner  of  his 
father.  In  1887  he  engaged  in  the  same  business  for  himself.  He 
married  in  1871  Martha  Jane  Leavenworth.  They  had  one  child, 
Fannie  G.,  born  August  14th,  1876.  Charles  E.  married  in  1881  Mary 
E.  Robinson.  Their  children  are:  Mary  E.,  born  1882:  Lulu  F.,  born 
1884.  Frank  M.  Sperry  became  a  resident  of  East  Haven  in  1881, 
held  the  office  of  constable  from  1885  to  1889,  selectman  in  1889  and 
1890,  and  in  1891  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  under  C.  A.  Tom- 
linson.  He  is  a  member  of  Polar  .Star  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  New 
Haven,  and  is  secretary  of  the  Foxon  Grange.  He  married  in  1871 
Nellie  A.,  daughter  of  Albert  Palmer  of  North  Branford.  They  have 
one  son,  Arthur  Sperry. 

Asahel  H.  Thompson,  born  in  East  Haven  in  1840,  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  C,  born  1806,  he  a  son  of  x\braham.  born  1772,  he  a  son  of 
Timothy,  born  1727,  he  a  son  of  John,  born  1692,  he  a  son  of  John, 
born  1667,  he  a  son  of  John,  who  was  a  son  of  John,  who  was  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  colony  constitution  of  New  Haven  in  1639.  Timothy 
Thompson  married  Esther  Perkins.  John,  his  father,  married  Sarah 
Pardee.  Abraham  Thompson,  son  of  Timothy,  was  a  sea  captain. 
He  married  Mary  Smith  in  1797.  Their  children  were:  Julia  A.,  born 
1798;  William,  born  1801;  Desire,  born  1804;  Samuel  C,  born  1806: 
Mary  A.,  born  1808;  Abraham,  born  1810;  Asahel,  born  1813:  Joseph, 
born  1816,  and  Sally,  born  1820.  Abraham  died  May  6th,  1848.  Mary, 
his  wife,  born  1778,  died  1855.     Samuel  C.  Thompson  was  a  seafaring 


244  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

man.  For  many  years  he  ran  a  packet  between  New  Haven  and 
New  York.  He  married  Grace  A.  Hotchkiss  in  1832.  Their  children 
were:  Samuel,  Asahel  H.,  Lyman  and  Theodore.  Samuel  married 
Eveline  F.  Andrew.s  for  his  first  wife.  They  had  a  daughter,  Olive 
A.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  Susan  O.  Russell.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Julia  E.  Asahel  H.  was  married  in  1865  to  Mary  A. 
M.  Woodward.  Their  children  are:  Grace  E.,  born  in  1867;  Charles 
W.,  born  1868,  died  1869;  William  W.,  born  1874.  Lyman  C.  married 
Julia  L.  Morris.  They  have  one  son,  Morris  L.  Theodore  Thompson 
married  Ella  S.,  daughter  of  Elizur  Thompson.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Florence  S. 

Elizur  Thompson,  born  in  East  Haven  in  1809,  is  a  son  of  James, 
and  grandson  of  Stephen,  born  1723.  He  was  a  stone  mason  by  trade, 
and  was  one  of  the  building  committee  who  built  the  stone  church  at 
East  Haven;  was  one  of  the  builders,  fell,  had  his  skull  fractured,  was 
trepanned  and  got  well.  He  married  Hannah  Rowe.  vStephen  had 
a  second  wife,  widow  Mary  Baldwin.  She  was  the  mother  of  James. 
The  father  of  Stephen  was  John,  born  1692,  son  of  John,  born  1667, 
he  a  son  of  John  and  he  a  son  of  John.  James,  the  father  of  Elizur, 
married  Lydia  Chidsey.  Their  children  were:  Stephen,  Mary, 
Leonard.  Nathaniel,  Henry,  Elizur,  James,  Abraham  C,  Abraham, 
Edward  E.  and  Haynes  H.  Elizur  Thompson  learned  the  tailor's 
trade  but  soon  after  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  New  Haven, 
with  his  brother  Stephen,  which  they  carried  on  for  several  years; 
afterward  was  so  engaged  in  East  Haven.  In  1861  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  New  Haven  Light,  and  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  was  in  charge  of  the  same  until  1877,  when  he  resigned  and 
his  son  Henry  C.  Thompson  was  appointed  in  his  place  and  has  since 
held  the  position.  Since  1877  Mr.  Thompson  has  had  charge  of  the 
signal  station  at  Morris  Cove.  He  married  in  1830  Elizabeth  M., 
daughter  of  Leverett  Bradley  of  East  Haven.  Their  children  were: 
Leonard,  born  1831;  Henry  C,  born  1833;  Hemingway  H.,  born  1835; 
Antoinette,  born  1839;  Jason  D.,  born  1841;  Sidney,  born  1844;  George, 
1846;  Stephen  E.,  born  1849;  and  Ella  S.,  born  1851.  Leonard  mar- 
ried Susan,  daughter  of  Daniel  Thompson.  He  was  in  New  Orleans 
at  the  openmg  of  the  war  and  was  never  heard  of  after  that  time. 
Henry  C.  married  Lucretia  Buttrick.  Hemingway  H.  is  supposed  to 
have  been  lost  at  sea.  Antoinette  married  Lyman  Granni.ss.  Jason 
D.  married  Harriett  Arison.  Sidney  married  Emily  Craig.  George 
married  Fannie  Hunt.  Ella  S.  married  Theodore,  son  of  vSamuel 
Thompson.  Elizabeth  M.  Thompson  died  December  9th,  1871,  and 
in  1877  Mr.  Thompson  married  Mrs.  Ellen  Pierce.  Three  of  his 
children  served  in  the  Union  Army  through  the  rebellion  and  were 
honorably  discharged,  viz.:  Jason,  enlisted  for  three  months,  reenlisted 
in  Connecticut  Cavalry,  was  captam,  served  under  General  Custer; 
Sidney  and  George,  served  as  privates. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  245 

Henry  J.  H.  Thompson,  born  in  East  Haven  July  5th,  1832,  is  a 
son  of  Albert  I.,  he  a  son  of  Joel,  born  1764,  he  a  son  of  Samuel,  born 
1737,  he  a  son  of  Samuel,  born  1704,  he  a  son  of  John,  born  1667,  he  a 
son  of  John,  and  he  a  son  of  John.  John  second,  married  Priscilla 
Powel  in  1666.  Samuel,  son  of  John  third,  married  Hannah  Heming- 
way. Samuel,  their  .son,  married  Desire  Moulthrop  in  1759.  Joel, 
their  son,  married  Lois  Chidsey  in  1782.  Albert  I.,  their  son,  married 
Jane  B.,  daughter  of  Harmon  Byington  in  1831.  They  had  one  son, 
Henry  J.  H.  Thompson.  He  is  a  joiner  by  trade  and  was  a  contractor 
and  builder  for  many  years.  He  enlisted  in  the  9th  Regiment  Con- 
necticut Infantry  as  drum  major,  but  being  taken  sick  did  not  serve 
in  that  regiment.  He  enlisted  in  1862  in  the  15th  Connecticut 
Infantry  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  promoted  to 
corporal.  He  is  a  member  of  Admiral  Foote  Post,  G.  A.  R.;  Polar 
Star  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Fair  Haven;  Golden  Rule  Encampment, 
No.  24,  of  New  Haven;  the  Veteran  Firemen  of  New  Haven  and  the 
Foxon  Grange  and  Pomona  Grange.  He  married  in  1856  Lucretia 
E.,  daughter  of  David  Cooper  of  North  Haven.  They  have  one  son, 
Ellsworth  H.  Thompson,  born  July  4th,  1866. 

John  Woodward  Thompson,  born  in  East  Haven  in  1833,  is  a  son 
of  James  and  Laura  Woodward  Thompson.  His  grandfather,  James 
Thompson,  was  a  son  of  Stephen,  who  was  a  descendant  of  John 
Thompson,  who  came  from  England  at  an  earl}^  date  and  settled  in 
East  Haven  in  1647.  James  Thompson,  son  of  Stephen,  was  one  of 
the  prominent  men  of  the  town,  and  represented  East  Haven  in  the 
legislature  eleven  terms.  He  was  also  a  captain  in  the  Old  Militia. 
James,  his  son,  was  in  the  legislature  in  1857  and  1859,  and  was 
selectman  several  years.  John  Woodward  Thompson  was  elected  to 
the  legislature  in  1875.  The  children  of  James  and  Laura  Woodward 
Thompson  were:  John  Woodward,  Eliza  C,  Emeline  A.  and  James. 
John  W.  began  life  as  an  entry  clerk  in  a  New  York  dry  goods  house 
and  later  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  in  New  Haven,  retiring 
in  1871.  He  is  a  descendant  of  Reverend  John  Davenport,  the 
founder  of  New  Haven;  of  Reverend  John  Woodward,  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Norwich,  1699:  of  Deacon  John  Chidsey  and  John  Thompson. 

Ruel  S.  Thompson,  born  in  New  Haven  in  1831,  is  a  son  of  Ruel, 
he  a  son  of  Joel,  born  1764,  he  a  son  of  Samuel,  born  1737,  he  a  son 
of  Samuel,  born  1704,  he  a  son  of  John,  born  1667.  he  a  son  of  John 
and  he  a  son  of  John.  John  second  married  Priscilla  Powel.  Their 
son  Samuel  married  Hannah  Hemingway.  Samuel,  their  son,  mar- 
ried Desire  ]\Ioulthrop,  and  Joel,  their  son,  married  Lois  Chidsey. 
Their  children  were:  Sarah,  born  1783;  Huldah,  born  1785;  Polly, 
1789:  Anson,  1792;  Horace,  1794;  Nancy,  1796;  Ruel,  1798;  Lucy,  1800; 
Linda,  1802;  William,  1805;  Almira  D.,  1808:  and  Albert,  1811.  Ruel 
Thompson  married  Lucy  Sanford  of  North  Haven.  Their  children 
were:  Clarrissa,    Nancy,  Ruel   S.,   Reumah    A.    and    Lucy.     Ruel    S. 


24(3  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Thompson  was  assessor  several  years  and  with  the  exception  of  two 
years  has  held  the  office  of  selectman  since  1879.  He  married  in  1855 
Martha  Noble  of  Portland,  Maine.  Their  children  are:  Ruel  N..  born 
1858,  and  Eugene  S.,  1863.  Ruel  N.  married  Eva  J.  Schappa.  He 
died  in  1887.     Eugene  S.  married  in  1882  Eva  J.  Weisbarth. 

John  Smith  Tyler,  born  in  East  Haven  December  2d,  1834,  is  a  son 
of  William,  and  grandson  of  John,  who  was  a  native  of  Branford,  and 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  carrying  on  an  extensive  business  in  that  town. 
John  Tyler  was  in  the  government  service  during  the  war  of  1812. 
He  settled  in  East  Haven,  and  married  there  Mabel  Bradley.  Their 
children  were:  John,  Ami,  William  and  Jerusha  Louisa.  William 
was  a  shoemaker,  having  a  shop  just  east  of  his  residence  on  the 
main  street,  and  also  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Julia  A., 
daughter  of  Abraham  Thompson,  who  resided  at  .South  End,  town  of 
East  Haven.  The  dwelling  house  in  which  William  Tyler  was  born 
has  always  been  the  residence  of  John  S.,  and  is  probably  the  oldest 
in  the  town.  It  has  a  leanto  roof,  which  was  common  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  ago,  and  is  in  good  repair  at  the  present  time.  .Simeon 
Bradley  was  great-grandfather  to  John  S.,  and  also  lived  in  this  hou.se. 
The  children  of  William  Tyler  were  John  S.  and  Harriet  A.,  who 
died  in  1852.  John  S.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  in  the 
select  school,  which  was  in  the  town  hall,  the  instructor  of  which 
was  a  Mr.  Potter,  also  at  one  time  a  Mr.  Woolcott.  He  has  always 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  elected  selectman  on 
the  republican  ticket  in  188G,  and  was  reelected  in  1887,  '88,  '89  and 
'90.  In  1866  he  married  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Thompson. 
The  children  of  this  marriage  were  Willie  J.  and  J.  Alexis  D.,  both 
deceased. 

Gilbert  Van  Sickles  was  born  in  Milton,  N.  J.,  in  1845,  and  is  a  son 
of  Augustus  Van  Sickles,  who  with  his  family  settled  in  East  Haven 
nearly  fort}'  years  ago  and  was  superintendent  of  the  New  Haven 
Chemical  Company's  works  for  many  years.  He  married  Hannah 
Ayres,  and  their  children  were:  Margaret  O.,  Elizabeth,  Gilbert,  Alex- 
ander, Euphemia  and  Frederick.  Margaret  O.  married  David  Ben- 
nett, Elizabeth  married  George  Ward,  Euphemia  married  Luke 
Haviland,  Frederick  married  Lillian  Forbes  and  Alexander  married 
Ella  Talmage.  Gilbert  Van  Sickles  enlisted  in  the  1st  Connecticut 
Heavy  Artillery  in  1864,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
is  a  member  of  Admiral  Foote  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  New  Haven.  He 
married  in  1866  Alice  E.  Thompson.  Their  children  are:  Fannie  H.„ 
Augustus,  Theodore,  Irving  and  Ra3'mond. 

Edmund  B.  Woodward  was  born  in  1859.  The  first  of  the  family 
to  settle  in  New  Haven  county  was  Reverend  John  Woodward,  who 
graduated  from  Cambridge  College  in  1693.  He  assisted  in  the 
council  that  compiled  the  Saybrook  platform  in  1708,  and  was  admitted 
an  inhabitant  of  New  Haven  in  1716.     He  married  Sarah  Roswell, 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  247 

and  had  a  son  John,  who  married  Mar\'  Denison.  They  had  a  son 
Stephen,  born  1758,  who  married  Elizabeth  Morris.  William  Wood- 
ward, born  1781,  son  of  vStephen,  was  thrice  married:  fir.st  to  Sarah 
Bradley,  second  to  a  Mrs.  Davis  and  third  to  Xancy  Thompson. 
Charles  Woodward,  son  of  William,  married  for  his  first  wife  Maria, 
daughter  of  Morris  Hemingway.  Their  children  were:  William  A., 
born  1841,  married  1861,  Lois  Thompson;  Anna  M.,  who  married 
Asahel  H.  Thompson;  Charles  E.,  born  1848,  married  Flora  Hull,  and 
John  E.  (deceased).  Charles  Woodward  married  for  his  second  wife 
Laura  A.,  daughter  of  William  and  Mehitable  Richards.  They  had 
two  children:  Edmund  B.  and  Lulu  E.  (deceased).  Edmund  B.  mar- 
ried in  1883  Hattie  S.  Brigham. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  TOWN  OF  NORTH  HAVEN. 


By  Sheldon  B.  Thorpe. 


Location  and  Description. — Settlement. — Early  Religious  Affairs. — Reverend 
Benjamin  Trumbull.— Congregational  Church. — St.  John's  (P.  E.)  Church. — 
Baptist  Church  at  Montowese. — Clintonville  Union  Mission. — The  Militia. — 
Cemeteries. — Education. — Incorporation  of  the  Town. — Civil  List. — Public 
Improvements. — Public  Buildings. — The  Bradley  Library. — The  Town  Cen- 
tennial.— General  Business  Interests. — Villages. — Sabbath  Day  Houses. — 
Slaves. — Fishing  Privileges. — Taverns. — Physicians. — North  Haven  in  the 
Nation's  Wars. — Biographical  Sketches. 


THE  town  of  North  Haven  lies  within  the  tract  purchased  of 
Alomaugin,  the  Indian  sachem,  by  the  New  Haven  colonists  in 
1638.  Its  botmdaries  are  irregular,  but  mainly  conform  to  the 
layout  of  March  19th,  1715,  at  which  time,  by  petition  of  its  settlers, 
the  mother  town  (New  Haven)  gave  them  permission  to  apply  to  the 
general  assembly  for  erection  into  a  separate  parish,  which  prayer  was 
granted  at  the  October  session,  1716.  Its  length  north  and  south,  is 
about  eight  miles,  and  its  greatest  breadth  not  far  from  three.  Its  area, 
taken  from  its  first  grand  list  in  1786,  is  given  as  8,348  acres;  in  1890 
as  11,837  acres.  The  surface  is  denominated  as  level.  Two  ridges  of 
easy  grade  traverse  its  length  and  give  variety  to  its  contour.  The 
westernmost  is  composed  of  a  soft  reddish  gravel,  terminating  on  the 
south  at  East  Rock.  The  other,  much  the  older,  geologically  con- 
sidered, is  of  igneous  origin,  with  walls  of  trap  rock  markedly  exposed 
on  their  eastern  face.  On  this  ridge,  near  the  southern  line,  rises 
"  Peter's  Rock,"  or  Rabbit  Rock,  notable  .for  its  steep  escarpments 
and  hexagonal  coltimns  of  basalt.  These  latter  are  among  the  finest 
in  the  state. 

Two  rivers,  the  East  and  the  Muddy,  water  its  valleys,  the  latter 
uniting  with  the  former  at  the  historic  locality  of  "  Momauguin  hill." 

Generally  speaking  the  soil  is  light.  The  land  is  easily  worked 
and  the  river  bottoms  and  occasional  areas  on  the  hills  yield  abundant 
crops.  Its  poorest  area  is  in  the  northern  portion,  where  the  soil  has 
become  utterly  exhausted  and  patches  of  barren  sand  are  frequently 
seen.  The  valley  of  the  Quinnipiac,  formerly  called  the  East  river, 
is  underlaid  on  either  side  by  immense  clay  beds,  from  which  large 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  249 

quantities  of  brick  are  manufactured.  On  the  extreme  southern  bor- 
der lies  an  extended  marsh,  once  diked  and  yielding  hundreds  of  tons 
of  passable  fodder,  but  now  neglected  and  of  little  value.  Timber 
grows  freeh'  and  of  excellent  quality.  There  are  no  minerals,  with 
the  possible  exception  of  bog  iron  ore,  once  dug  in  considerable 
quantities. 

The  first  settler  in  North  Haven  was  William  Bradley,  a  reputed 
officer  in  Cromwell's  army.  He  located  on  the  ridge  west  of  East 
river  and  above  what  is  now  known  as  Cedar  hill.  His  dwelling 
house  doubtless  did  not  stand  within  the  present  town  limits,  but  as 
a  large  portion  of  his  farm  lay  north  of  the  New  Haven  line,  he  is 
assumed  as  the  finst  comer.  This  was  about  1640.  In  1660  Thomas  Yale 
came  from  New  Haven  and  located  near  the  present  residence  of  Gen- 
eral E.  D.  S.  Goodyear.  With  him  came  two  of  his  sons,  John  and 
Nathaniel.     Thev  were  the  pioneers  and  in  point  of  fact  the  actual 

settlers   of    North    Haven.       John   Yale   married    Rebecca . 

Of  their  children  David  was  born  October  8th,  1699.  He  went  to 
England  in  1712.  returned  in  1718,  and  was  made  one  of  the  first  two 
deacons  of  the  Congregational  church,  in  that  year,  being  then  only 
19  years  old.  He  received  an  honorary  degree  from  Yale  College  in 
1724,  and  died  in  1730.  His  only  child,  Martha,  married  James  Todd, 
from  whom  descended  Yale  Todd,  afterward  a  soldier  m  the  revolu- 
tionary army  and  ancestor  of  many  of  the  Todds  in  the  town  to-day. 
Nathaniel  married  Ruth  Bi.shop  of  New  Haven. 

At  the  death  of  their  father  the  two  sons  succeeded  to  the  paternal 
estate.  Nathaniel  kept  the  old  place,  while  John  set  up  near  by  for 
himself.  The  country  above  them,  in  1660,  was  a  wilderness,  but  the 
New  Haven  colonist  was  aggressive  and  slowly  forced  his  way 
into  it.  In  1670  Jonathan  Tuttle,  Nathaniel  Thorp,  Ebenezer  Blakeslee 
and  John  Huma.ston,  all  from  New  Haven,  went  on  two  miles  above 
the  Yales,  crossed  the  river  and  located  in  and  around  the  present  vil- 
lage center.  In  the  same  j^ear  Daniel  and  Thomas  Barns,  Moses 
Brockett  and  Thomas  Jacobs  began  a  settlement  at  Muddy  River,  now 
called  Montowese.  These  men  were  the  fathers  of  North  Haven. 
With  the  exception  of  Yale,  their  family  names  are  the  most  numerous 
within  our  borders  to-day. 

Other  settlers  followed.  Land  could  be  had  almost  for  the  asking. 
The  East  river  was  alive  with  fish,  the  woods  with  game.  The  Indians 
were  not  troublesome,  the  open  country  was  easy  of  tillage,  and  its 
nearness  to  the  city  of  New  Haven  made  it  desirable  as  a  location. 
Notwithstanding  this,  the  condition  of  the  settlers  was  far  from  envia- 
ble. Their  first  dwellings  were  log  houses;  raiment  was  of  the  coarsest 
quality,  and  all  food  plain  and  oftentimes  not  abundant.  Social  priv- 
ileges were  scant:  there  was  little  of  literature  and  less  of  the  lighter 
accomplishments:  they  were  there  to  fight  the  battle  of  life  in  the 


2nO  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

wilderness  with  the  axe,  the  plough,  the  gun,  rather  than  with  the  em- 
broidery needle,  the  piano,  the  palette. 

From  1670  to  171(5  this  small  nucleus  received  slow  but  constant 
accessions.  In  all  this  time  they  were  as  much  a  part  of  New  Haven 
as  if  they  lived  within  the  city  limits.  There  they  attended  church, 
there  they  voted,  and  there  did  military  duty.  Doctor  Trumbull  says 
frequently  the  women  walked  from  North  Haven  to  New  Haven,  in 
some  instances  with  a  child  in  arms,  attended  two  long  services  and 
returned.* 

In  1716  the  population  of  the  parish  comprised  forty  households.-f- 
In  addition  to  the  families  named,  had  come  the  Sanfords,  Batons, 
Coopers,  Todds,  Clarks,  Bradleys  and  a  few  others.  All  told,  the  pop- 
ulation was  between  two  hundred  and  three  hundred.  It  was  at  the 
above  date,  as  stated  in  the  commencement,  that  they  became  embodied 
as  the  "  North  Parish,"  or  "  Northeast  Parish  "  of  New  Haven.  Un- 
der their  new  privileges  their  first  meeting  was  held  November  2d, 
1716,  at  which  time  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  was  organized, 
with  Nathaniel  Yale  moderator  and  Joseph  Ives  clerk.  Mr.  Ives  held 
his  position  14  years,  or  until  his  removal  to  Wallingford,  in  1730. 
Their  earliest  business  was  to  seek  a  place  of  worship,  which  was  first 
established  at  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Blakeslee,  and  later  with  Captain 
Joseph  Ives.  Two  years  before  (1714)  Reverend  James  Pierpont  of 
New  Haven  had  given  •'  the  neighbors  "  of  the  North  Parish  a  plot 
of  land  (8  or  10  acres),  "provided  they  would  set  their  meeting 
house  there  and  make  their  training  and  burying  place  there." 

This  grant  they  accepted,  and  began  the  erection  of  a  meeting 
house  on  it  late  in  1717.  It  was  a  plain  wooden  structure,  30  by  40 
feet,  without  "  steeple  "  or  "  terrett,"  and  stood  at  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  present  old  cemetery,  or  probably  at  the  exact  center  of 
"The  Green,"  Mr.  Pierpont's  grant.  It  was  two  stories  in  height,  with 
a  gallery  on  two  sides.  The  furnishings  were  rude,  and  but  one  pew 
was  built  within  it.  Reverend  James  Wetmore,  a  graduate  of  the  col- 
legiate school  at  vSaybrook,  Conn.,  came  from  Northfield,  Mass.,  to 
preach  in  the  spring  of  1717.  He  remained  a  little  more  than  a  year 
on  trial,  holding  services  during  this  time  at  the  house  of  Ebenezer 
Blakeslee,  and  was  accepted  by  the  society  and  ordained  as  the  first 
minister,  in  October,  1718.  The  society  received  permission  to  embody 
itself  in  church  estate  May  Sth,  1718.  The  meeting  house  was  not 
finished  until  1722. 

Mr.  Wetmore  remained  with  his  charge  four  years.  In  September. 
1722,  he  avowed  his  sympathy  with  the  belief  and  practice  of  the 
Church  of  England,  and  was  at  once  dismissed  from  the  North  Parish 
pulpit.  He  went  to  England  for  orders,  returned  and  was  settled  over 
a  little  church  at  Rye,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Wetmore's  successor   was  Reverend   Isaac  Stiles,  a  native  of 

*Century  sermon.      fPresident  Stiles. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  251 

Windsor,  Conn.,  who  was  ordained  November  11th,  1724.  His  pastor- 
ate covered  a  period  of  36  years,  or  until  his  death,  May  14th,  1760. 
During  his  ministration  the  parish  received  its  greatest  impetus.  A  new- 
meeting  house  65  by  40  feet  and  second  to  no  country  structure  in  the 
state,  was  built  in  1739,  a  little  .south  of  the  old  site.  New  highways 
were  laid  out.  bridges  were  built,  commons  cleared,  boundaries  defined, 
schools  organized,  better  dwellings  erected,  and  all  the  incipient  ma- 
chinery of  a  town  set  in  motion.  Mr.  Stiles  died  May  14th,  1760.  His 
successor  was  Reverend  Benjamin  Trumbull,  of  Hebron,  Conn.,  ordain- 
ed December  24th,  1760.  He  maintained  a  pastorate  of  60  years,  and 
died  February  2d,  1820.  He  was  eminently  fitted  to  take  up  the  work 
dropped  by  Mr.  Stiles.  A  man  of  immense  resource,  of  ceaseless 
energy,  of  strong  convictions,  an  intense  lover  of  his  people  and  a 
devoted  servant  of  God,  he  led  his  church  .safely  through  more  than 
half  a  century,  and  left  it  a  monument  to  perpetuate  his  memory. 

Doctor  Trumbull  was  born  December  19th,  1735.  He  graduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1759,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1760.  It  was  in 
the  summer  of  the  latter  year  that  he  came  to  North  Haven  church, 
and  November  14th  was  ordained  as  its  pastor.  The  following  year 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  of  Joseph  Pierpont,  and  began  the  erec- 
tion of  a  dwelling  house  upon  it.  The  old  mansion  is  still  standing 
and  in  excellent  repair.  It  is  the  property  of  Hon.  Ezra  Stiles,  who 
has  occupied  it  something  more  than  60  years.  As  a  historic  point, 
there  is  none  greater  in  the  town.  The  great  double  dours  were  ever 
ajar.  Over  its  threshold  were  ceaselessly  trooping  scores  of  busy 
feet.  Ministers,  messengers,  committees,  referees  and  strangers 
made  it  a  religious  caravansary  and  rested  in  its  shadow.  Hither 
came  during  the  revolutionary  war  aids  and  officers  with  despatches, 
and  later  eminent  historians  and  theologists  tarried  within  its  walls. 

Following  the  outbreak  at  Lexington,  Mass.,  April  19th.  1775,  Gov- 
ernor Trumbull  (relative  of  Reverend  Benjamin)  summoned  the  gen- 
eral assembly  of  Connecticut  to  take  mea.sures  for  the  public  safety. 
Six  regiments  of  soldiers  were  ordered  raised.  Among  the  first  to 
report  was  Colonel  Wooster's.  Of  this  command  Reverend  Mr.  Trum- 
bull was  appointed  chaplain.  It  was  sent  to  the  "  Northern  Depart- 
ment "  and  returned  at  the  expiration  of  its  service  in  November. 
Early  in  1776  Mr.  Trumbull  again  received  the  appointment  of  chap- 
lain in  Colonel  Douglass'  regiment,  and  was  absent  a  second  campaign 
of  six  months.  During  this  period  he  experienced  continuous  hard 
service.  In  January.  1777,  the  enemy  appeared  to  be  threatening  the 
seaboard  towns  above  New  York  city,  and  a  sudden  call  was  made  for 
assistance.  Mr.  Trumbull  responded  at  once,  this  time,  however,  as 
a  captain,  at  the  head  of  60  men  from  Mt.  Carmel  and  North  Haven. 
The  British  attack,  if  such  was  contemplated,  was  frustrated,  and 
Trumbull's  command  returned  home  late  in  the  winter  of  that  year. 

The  revolutionary  war  over,  Mr.  Trumbull  was  invited  by  the  gen- 


252  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

eral  association  of  Connecticut,  in  1785,  to  compile  a  history  of  its 
events.  He  accepted  tlie  trust  and  began  his  labors.  From  year  to 
year,  as  the  association  met,  he  reported  the  progress  of  his  work,  but 
it  was  slow,  and  not  until  25  years  after  its  beginning,  or  in  1810,  was 
the  first  volume  of  his  "  History  of  the  United  States  "  issued  from 
the  press.  The  second  and  third  volumes  were  never  completed. 
During  the  compilation  of  this  work  he  was  also  engaged  upon  a 
"  History  of  Connecticut,"  the  first  volume  of  which  was  published  at 
Hartford  in  1797;  the  second  volume  in  1818.  Besides  these  publications 
were  nearly  a  score  of  others  relating  to  his  ministerial  work,  such  as 
sermons,  discourses,  addresses,  etc.  In  1796  Yale  College  worthily  con- 
ferred the  degree  of  D.  D.  upon  him,  an  honor  he  esteemed  and 
reflected  credit  upon.  He  died  February  2d,  1820,  and  was  buried  in 
the  old  cemetery,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  his  church  and  his  home. 

vShould  it  be  said  by  the  reader  that  unusual  prominence  has  been 
given  Messrs.  Stiles  and  Trumbull,  it  will  be  answered  that  these  two 
divines  in  the  formative  period  of  the  town,  more  than  all  others, 
helped  lay  those  foundations  of  morality,  honor  and  godliness  on 
which  the  reputation  of  the  town  to-day  rests.  The  clergyman  of  the 
18th  century  builded  better  than  he  knew. 

Following  Doctor  Trumbull  came  Reverend  W.  J.  Boardman,  a 
native  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  ordained  September  3d,  1820,  and 
resigned  October  8()th,  1833.  Of  his  pastorate  it  may  be  said  that 
during  its  continuance  the  church  received  its  largest  accession  of 
members;  in  all,  there  being  280  admissions  in  the  thirteen  years  of 
his  service. 

Reverend  Leverett  Griggs  of  Tolland,  Conn.,  succeeded  Mr. 
Boardman.  He  was  ordained  October  30th,  1833,  and  dismissed 
at  his  request,  July  30th,  1845.  During  his  ministry  the  present 
Congregational  church  was  erected.  The  second  meeting  house, 
which  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  "green,"  and  completed  in 
August,  1741,  was  used  until  the  summer  of  1835.  In  1750  a  small 
bell,  brought  from  England,  was  placed  in  a  turret  on  the  rear  of  the 
building.  In  1800  a  tall  spire,  costing  £210,  was  built  to  the  house, 
and  in  it  was  placed  a  new  bell,  weighing  900  pounds.  In  the  fall 
of  1834  the  present  meeting  house,  originally  45  by  62  feet, 
and  built  of  brick,  was  begun,  and  dedicated  July  1st,  1835.  In 
1871  the  house  was  enlarged  by  extending  the  side  walls  16i  feet 
and  building  an  addition  to  the  rear.  At  the  same  time  the  arched 
ceiling  was  removed  and  the  interior  of  the  house  remodelled,  includ- 
ing the  fitting  up  of  the  basement  room.  The  re-dedication  of  the 
house  was  put  off  until  the  spring  of  1874,  when,  on  account  of  the 
breaking  of  the  church  bell,  it  was  postponed.  A  new  bell  was  pro- 
cured, and  November  18th,  1874,  the  meeting  house,  which  had  been 
improved  at  a  co.st  of  $14,000,  was  duly  dedicated.  It  is  now  a 
spacious  and  well  ordered  place  of  worship. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  253 

After  the  retirement  from  the  pastorate  of  the  Reverend  Leverett 
Griggs,  D.D.,  in  1845,  came  the  following  ministers :  Reverends 
Ira  vSmith,  ordained  February  10th,  ISlfi,  dismissed  March  28th,  1848; 
Theron  G.  Colton,  ordained  September  2r)th,  1841),  dismissed  August 
26th,  1851;  Silas  W.  Robbins,  ordained  June  16th,  1853,  dismissed 
October  13th,  1856;  Benjamin  St.  John  Page,  became  acting  pastor 
June  2Uth,  1857,  retired  July  1st,  1862,  and  died  at  Warren,  Ohio, 
November  9th,  1868;  Reverend  William  T.  Reynolds  became  acting 
pastor  April  1st,  1863,  and  was  installed  pastor  April  29th,  1869.  His 
ministry  has  since  been  successfully  continued,  the  church  at  no 
time  being  more  prosperous  and  united  than  in  his  pastorate. 
There  are  more  than  three  hundred  members,  belonging  to  185 
families. 

Among  those  who  served  in  the  office  of  deacon  were  the  following: 
David  Yale,  chosen  1718;  Samuel  Ives,  1718;  Samuel  Todd,  1727; 
Moses  Blakeslee,  1728;  Thomas  Cooper,  1740;  Isaiah  Tuttle,  1741; 
Jesse  Todd,  1772;  James  Humaston,  1773;  ^Solomon  Tuttle,  1780; 
Titus  Todd,  1787;  Joshua  Barnes,  1800:  Eliada  Sanford,  1800;  Byard 
Barnes,  1824;  Harvey  Smith,  1824;  Joseph  Foote,  1835;  Eleazer 
Warner,  1836;  Anson  Moody,  1838;  Henry  McNeil,  1854;  Marcus 
Linsley,  1854;  Frederick  L.  Barnes,  1857;  Nathan  W.  Brown,  1857; 
Whitney  Elliott,  1864;  H.  P.  Shares, ;  Cullen  B.  Foote,  1883. 

Whitney  Elliott  has  been  clerk  of  the  church  the  past  26  years. 
The  Sunday  school  has  an  average  attendance  of  267  and  is 
one  of  the  most  prosperous  in  the  county. 

St.  John's  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal,  was  organized  early. 
Side  by  side  with  the  establishment  of  the  Congregational  church  in 
the  parish,  grew  the  Church  of  England.  Its  beginning  dates  1722,  its 
focal  point  was  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Blakeslee,  and  its  father  was 
Reverend  James  Wetmore.  Mr.  Wetmore's  defection  uncovered  a 
condition  of  things  little  suspected  in  this  community:  With  his 
retirement  from  the  pulpit  went  also  six  of  his  parishioners,  who 
proved  the  germ  of  the  future  Episcopal  church,  viz.:  Ebenezer  Blakes- 
lee, Thomas  Ives,  Simon  Tuttle,  Nathaniel  Tuttle,  Samuel  Brockett, 
Lawrence  Clinton.  No  mention  is  made  in  the  ecclesiastical  society 
records  of  the  loss  of  these  men  and  it  is  probable  no  action  was  taken. 
In  1723  Mr.  Blakeslee  opened  his  doors  (as  he  had  done  in  1716),  but 
this  time  for  worship  according  to  methods  of  the  Church  of  England. 
There  was  no  clergyman  for  them  and  the  services  probably  were  of  a 
simple  character.  In  1740  the  members  of  this  persuasion  in  the  towns 
of  Cheshire,  Wallingford  and  North  Haven,  met  on  the  Monday  after 
Easter  and  organized  themselves  under  the  name  of  "  The  L'nion 
Church."  Wardens  and  vestrymen  were  chosen  and  the  same  year  a 
small  building  about  twelve  feet  square  was  erected  at  Wallingford  in 
the  "  Pond  Hill  district." 

Religious  services  were  maintained  by  the  joint  worshippers  until 


254  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Wallingford  withdrew  in  1757,  and  North  Haven  in  1759.  On  April 
24th  of  the  latter  year  St.  John's  parish  was  formally  organized. 
Application  ■  was  made  by  its  members  to  the  First  Ecclesiastical 
Society  for  permission  to  put  up  a  church  building  and  they  declared 
on  December  18th,  "  We  were  willing  that  those  that  profest  to  the 
Church  of  England  .should  set  a  church  or  House  for  Publick  Worship 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Green."  A  building  38  by  30  feet  was 
begun  at  once  and  dedicated  by  Reverend  Ebenezer  Punderson, 
December  27th,  1761.  This  was  a  wooden  structure,  without 
steeple  or  porch.  It  had  no  furniture  of  any  description,  nor  was 
any  used  until  years  afterward.  Mr.  Punderson  officiated  as  its 
minister  a  portion  of  the  time,  until  his  transference  to  Rye,  N.  Y., 
on  the  death  of  Reverend  James  Wetmore.  The  Reverend  Samuel 
Andrews  succeeded  Mr.  Punderson  and  divided  his  labors  among  the 
parishes  of  North  Haven,  Wallingford  and  Cheshire.  What  Reverend 
Mr.  Trumbull  was  to  the  Congregational  church,  Mr.  Andrews  was  to 
the  Church  of  England.  A  graduate  of  Yale  College,  a  man  of 
estimable  character  and  a  zealous  worker,  he  really  became  the  estab- 
li.sher  of  Episcopacy  in  the  surrounding  communities.  During  the 
revolutionary  war  he  was  a  staunch  loyalist,  and  this  attitude  caused 
him  and  his  church  some  inconvenience.  Popular  feeling  ran  bitter 
against  him  especially  in  Wallingford,  nor  was  the  North  Haven 
church  without  signs  of  dissatisfaction  at  his  course.  He  resigned  his 
labors  in  1785,  removing  to  New  Brunswick,  N.  S.,  where  he  ended 
his  days  in  1820. 

This  church  found  no  successor  for  him  until  1790,  when  they 
.secured  Edward  Blakeslee,  son  of  Abraham  Blakeslee,  a  native  of  the 
town  and  a  graduate  of  Yale  College.  He  was  entrusted  with  the 
three  parishes  of  Northford,  Hamden  and  North  Haven.  At  this  time 
the  enrolled  male  membership  of  the  latter  church  was  75.  Mr. 
Blakeslee  remained  until  the  close  of  1792,  and  then  went  to  Derby, 
Conn.  In  1798  the  pulpit  was  occasionally  supplied  by  vSolomon 
Blakeslee,  son  of  Zophar  Blakeslee,  also  a  native  of  the  town.  Rev- 
erend Samuel  Andrews,  who  had  returned  from  New  Brunswick  on  a 
visit  to  Wallingford,  also  assisted.  Mr.  Blakeslee  was  called  to  New 
London  and  the  people  were  again  shepherdless.  In  the  following 
thirty  years  Reverends  David  Butler,  Reuben  Ives.Tillotson  Bronson, 
Manoah  Miles,  Elizur  Plumb,  Nathan  Burgess,  Asa  Cornwall,  Jasper 
Davis  and  Origen  P.  Holcomb  officiated  at  different  times.  The 
church  had  a  hard  .struggle.  In  1820  there  were  but  41  Episcopal 
families  in  the  town  and  27  communicants. 

The  following  is  the  succession  of  ministers  in  this  church  from 
1822  to  1891:  1822-B,  Reverend  John  M.  Garfield:  1823-7,  Joseph 
Perry;  1827-32,  Ashbael  Baldwin;  1832-6,  Charles  W.  Bradley;  1836, 
Robert  vShaw;  1836-8,  John  W.  Woodward;  1838-9,  A.  B.  Chapin; 
1839-41,   S.   Stocking;    1841-3,   A.  B.  Chapin;    1843-6,  Henry    Fitch; 


HISTORY    OF    NKW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  255  • 

1S4G-'J,  C.  W.  Everest;  184!)-:)!,  S.  B,  Paddock:  1S51--2,  Frederick  Sill; 
1852-5,  A.  G.  Shears;  1855-7,  Seth  Davis;  1857-8,  Joseph  Scott:  1858- 
•60,  C.  C.  Barclay;  1860-8,  Enoch  Huntington;  1863-6,  Arthur  Mason; 
1866-8,  S.  P.  Simpson:  1868-9,  J.  E.  Wildman;  1869-77,  E.  L  Whit- 
come;  1877-80,  John  Coleman;  1880  to  date,  William  Lusk,  Jr. 

A  list  of  the  wardens  is  also  submitted:  1821-30,  Isaac  Stiles  and 
Philemon  Blakeslee;  1830-3,  Elisaaph  Hull  and  Isaac  Stiles;  1834-9, 
Isaac  Stiles  and  Evelyn  Blakeslee;  1840-1,  Dr.  C.  B.  Foote  and  Evelyn 
Blakeslee:  1841-2,  Evelyn  Blakeslee  and  Isaac  Stiles;  1843-4,  Evelyn 
Blakeslee  and  Stephen  C.  Gilbert;  1845-81,  Evelyn  Blakeslee  and  Ezra 
Stiles;  1882-3,  Ezra  Stiles  and  Evelyn  Blakeslee;  1883-4,  Ezra  Stiles 
and  Bennett  Todd;  1884-5,  Isaac  L.  Stiles  and  Bennett  Todd;  1885-91, 
Isaac  L.  Stiles  and  Joseph  Pierpont. 

Mr.  Evelyn  Blakeslee  was  made  warden  fifty  years  in  succession. 
Honorable  Ezra  Stiles  was  elected  parish  clerk  thirty-two  years  in 
succession. 

In  the  ministry  of  Reverend  Charles  W.  Bradley,  from  1832  to 
1836,  the  present  church  was  erected.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  by 
him  June  12th,  1834.  It  is  a  good  brick  structure,  with  300  sittings, 
and  has  a  beautiful  location.  On  the  site  of  the  old  church,  near  by, 
is  a  fine  brick  rectory.  The  parish  contains  103  families  and  the 
whole  num.ber  of  individuals  is  400.  There  are  more  than  150  com- 
municants. The  affairs  of  the  parish  under  the  direction  of  the 
present  rector.  Reverend  William  Lusk,  Jr.,  are  in  flourishing  condi- 
tion, and  the  usefulness  of  the  church  is  yearly  being  extended. 

The  Baptist  Church  at  Montowese  dates  its  existence  from  June 
12th,  1811.  Its  germ  had  been  gathering  for  some  years  previous 
partly  from  the  religious  sect  known  as  "  Separatists,"  and 
partly  from  the  strictly  orthodox  belief.  At  this  date  of  organization 
it  comprised  twenty-three  members.  Reverend  Joshua  Bradle}-  became 
its  first  preacher;  he  remained  three  years  and  increased  his  flock  to 
sevent}'  members.  The  early  services  of  this  church  were  held  for 
eighteen  months  or  more  at  private  houses.  The  first  meeting  house 
erected  in  1812  on  the  "  Muddy  River  Green"  was  45  by  35  feet, 
a  plain  wooden  building,  and  cost  not  far  from  $2,000.  From 
the  departure  of  Mr.  Bradley  in  1814,  to  December,  1817,  the  people 
depended  upon  "  supply  preaching."  In  the  latter  year  they  ordained 
Reverend  Oliver  Wilson,  who  remained  until  1825.  It  1831  Reverend 
Ira  Bentley  came  among  them.  He  proved  to  be  a  man  of  power  and 
a  second  religious  awakening  strengthened  the  little  band.  In  this 
year  their  Sabbath  school  was  also  organized.  In  July,  1835,  Reverend 
Truman  O.  Judd  was  ordained  over  them.  He  remained  nearly  four 
years  and  was  dismissed  at  his  request.  Through  his  efforts  the 
present  parsonage  was  built. 

Following  him  came  in  turn:  Reverends  John  Xoy,  1839;  Harmon 
Ellis,  1840;  E.  T.  Winter,  N.  Whiting,  Charles  W.  Potter,  1847.     This 


256  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

latter  gentleman  remained  four  and  a  half  years  and  was  instrumental 
in  the  erection  of  the  present  church  edifice.  The  first  building  of 
wood,  cheap,  unattractive  in  style  and  unsuited  to  the  wants  of  the 
worshippers,  was  superseded  by  one  of  brick  at  a  cost  of  about  $4,000. 

Mr.  Potter  resigned  in  1852,  and  was  succeeded  by  Reverend 
Truman  Judd,  who  remained  until  1862.  Following  him  came:  Rev- 
erends Solomon  Gale,  E.  J.  Ganan,  J.  M.  Lyon,  A.  H.  Simons,  1867. 
At  this  time  the  church  had  assumed  a  strong  membership  and 
though  possessing  few  or  no  men  of  wealth,  more  than  held  its 
own  among  the  country  churches  of  its  belief.  Air.  Simons  re- 
mained until  April,  1874,  and  then  resigned  the  pa.storate.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Reverend  Henry  G.  Smith,  ordained  June  11th, 
1875,  and  dismissed  March,  1877.  The  Reverend  Otis  Saxton  came 
next,  but  remained  only  a  few  months.  In  June,  1878,  Reverend 
William  Gussman  was  made  pastor,  serving  until  November,  1880. 
The  next  regular  preacher  was  Reverend  E.  S.  Hill,  1882.  After  him 
came  Reverend  W.  R.  Terry,  1885-7,  when  upon  his  retirement  an  invi- 
tation was  extended  to  Reverend  A.  H.  Simons  to  again  assume  the 
pastorate.     This  he  did  May  1st,  1887,  and  is  the  present  incumbent. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  served  this  church  as  deacons:  Jesse 
Brockett,  Ward  Johnson,  Benjamin  Baldwin,  Lewis  Bates,  Hervey 
Sackett,  Linus  Barnes,  William  P.  Todd.  There  have  been  added  to 
the  church  418  members,  1811-1891,  the  present  number  being  about 
80.  The  church  is  valued  at  $3,000,  and  the  parsonage  at  $1,500. 
John  L.  Larkin  is  the  church  clerk.  A  Sunday  school  of  about  100 
members  is  a  useful  moral  agent  in  that  part  of  the  town. 

Clintonville  Union  Mission  is  a  voluntary  association  of  the  citizens 
in  and  near  the  hamlet  of  Clintonville,  organized  in  the  spring  of  1889. 
There  were  80  contributing  members.  A  building  24  by  32  feet  was 
erected  by  them  in  the  summer  of  that  year  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,000. 
Its  character  is  purely  undenominational,  Congregationalists,  Episco- 
palians, Baptists,  and  many  without  church  connection  of  any  kind 
joining  m  its  support.  Sunday  evening  service  is  regularly  main- 
tained with  attendance  of  from  70  to  100.  Its  business  affairs  are 
managed  by  an  executive  committee  elected  annually. 

Having  provided  for  the  means  of  spiritual  defense  in  the 
settlement  by  the  organization  of  the  ecclesiastical  society,  the 
parish  next  turned  its  attention  to  the  formation  of  a  militia  company 
for  the  protection  of  its  material  interests.  This  movement  assumed 
shape  in  1718.  Joseph  Ives  was  chosen  captain,  John  Grannis,  lieu- 
tenant, and  Samuel  Ives,  ensign.  No  muster  roll  of  its  rank  and  file 
exists.  The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as  commanding  officers 
of  this  anciently  organized  company:  Joseph  Ives,  1718;  John  Grannis, 
1733;  John  Sanford,  1736;  Andrew  Tuttle,  1737;  Samuel  Barnes,  1742; 
Samuel  Sackett,  1744;  Theophilus  Goodyear,  1749;  Jason  Bradley, 
1749;  Gershom  Barnes,  1753;  Daniel  Ives,  1759;  James   Heaton,  1760; 


HISTORY    OF   .NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  257 

Joseph  Pierpont,  17(54;  Abraham  Blakeslee,  1770;  Ezra  Tuttle,  1772; 
Noah  Ives,  1776;  Jacob  Brockett,  1778;  Jonathan  Dayton,  1779;  Ben- 
jamin Brooks,  1780;  Lawrence  Clinton,  1781;  Allen  Cooper,  1782; 
Joshua  Barnes,  1782;  Timothy  Andrews,  1786;  Levi  Ray,  1787;  Joshua 
Barnes,  Jr.,  1787;  (Gideon  Todd,  1787;  George  Todd,  1788;  Joseph 
Brockett,  1790;  James  Ives,  1791;  Stephen  Mon.son,  1792;  Hezekiah 
Bassett,  1793;  Thomas  Ives,  1793;  John  Frost,  1795;  Peter  Eastman, 
1799;  Lemuel  Brooks,  1800;  Benajah  Tuttle,  1801;  Philemon  Blakeslee, 
1801;  Jacob  Bassett,  1805;  Isaac  C.  Stiles,  1806;  Ithimar  Tuttle,  1807; 
Nathan  Marks,  1808;  vSeba  Thorpe,  1810;  John  Beach,  1811;  Jesse 
Brockett,  1815;  Leonard  Ives,  1816;  John  Frost,  2d,  1829;  Elizur  C. 
Tuttle,  Rufus  Pierpont,  Willis  Churchill  (Independent  Company),  1838; 
Peter  Van  Houten,  1840;  Justin  Marks,  1843;  Henry  H.  Stiles,  1845; 
Bennett  Todd,  1849. 

About  the  time  of  the  revolutionary  war  a  second  military  com- 
pany was  organized,  composed  mainly  of  men  living  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Ouinnipiac  river.  Hence  arose  the  term  "  Westsiders "  and 
"  Eastsiders,"  in  militia  parlance,  and  hence  grew  also  considerable 
friction  between  these  rival  bodies.  At  their  annual  musters  each 
company  remained  within  its  own  jurisdiction  in  the  forenoon,  but  in 
the  afternoon  their  forces  were  generally  united  for  "battalion  drill" 
either  on  the  old  green  or  in  some  adjoining  field.  As  late  as  1812 
the  Congregational  meeting  house  was  frequently  used  for  a  drill 
room  in  stormy  weather.  The  Independent  Company  (North  Haven 
Blues,  1838)  grew  out  of  dissatisfaction  with  Captain  E.  C.  Tuttle,  as 
commandant  of  the  local  forces  which  a  few  years  before  had  been 
united  again  in  one  company. 

The  last  parade  was  made  September  26th,  1851,  at  which  time 
only  three  officers  and  eight  privates  reported  for  duty.  The  arms 
were  returned  to  .state  headquarters,  and  thus  terminated  its  existence. 
But  its  spirit  was  transmitted.  A  careful  study  di.scloses  the  curious 
fact  that  the  "Wide  Awakes"  of  1860  were  mainly  the  children  of 
those  who  once  bore  arms  in  its  ranks,  and  further  that  more  than 
sixty  per  cent,  of  the  latter  politico-military  organization  enlisted  in 
the  war  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion. 

The  third  main  event  in  order  after  settlement  of  the  parish 
was  the  laying  out  of  the  burying  ground.  By  the  conditions 
of  the  grant  of  Reverend  James  Pierpont  it  must  be  established 
upon  the  meeting  house  green.  Its  place  was  designated  by  vote  of 
the  society  in  1720.  The  oldest  recorded  date  on  any  stone  within  its 
borders  is  1723  (Joel  Cooper).  The  last  interment  was  in  1882  (Elvira 
Cooper).  Hither  for  a  little  more  than  a  hundred  years,  or  until  1835, 
were  brought  the  dead  of  the  community.  In  the  latter  year  the 
present  cemetery  was  laid  out,  and  though  an  occasional  burial  took 
place  in  the  old  enclosure,  it  was  practically  abandoned.  So  many  had 
been  buried  within  it  that  it  had  become  absolutely  impossible  to  open 
16 


258  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

a  grave  without  uncovering  the  dust  of  some  sleeper.  The  settlers  at 
Muddy  river  had  established  a  burying  ground  in  their  vicinity  a  score 
of  years  before  this  in  question,  the  earliest  date  there  being  1700. 
This  makes  it  probable  that  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  parish,  the 
people  at  the  center  buried  their  dead  at  New  Haven.  On  no  other 
ground  can  the  late  date  of  1720  be  explained. 

There  is  no  mention  made  that  it  was  even  enclosed  until  1774, 
when  "certain  gentlemen '"  were  given  permission  by  the  ecclesias- 
tical society  to  erect  a  fence  at  their  own  expense.  This  latter  con- 
cession with  a  single  exception  appears  to  have  been  the  sum  total  of 
the  society's  concern  about  it  for  170  years  or  until  1890,  when  upon 
the  occasion  of  an  attempted  renovation  of  the  long  neglected  place, 
it  got  itself  into  a  great  passion  over  the  alleged  desecration  of  the 
briar  strangled  graves.  Since  1822  the  town  has  assumed  the  cost  of 
its  few  repairs.  Originally  it  was  enclosed  by  a  plain  unpainted  w^ooden 
fence.  In  1856  a  stone  and  iron  fence  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
$800,  of  which  amount  the  ecclesiastical  society  granted  $100,  the 
town  $300,  and  the  balance  came  from  private  sources. 

On  the  ancient  sandstones  in  this  cemetery  there  are  three  distinct 
types  of  cutting.  From  1723  to  1750  winged  faces  are  frequent,  but 
the  sculptor's  conception  of  them  is  hideous.  The  head  is  a  veritable 
deaths  head,  fleshless  and  sightle.ss;  the  neck  is  unduly  prolonged  and 
the  wings  coarse  and  clumsy.  Foot  stones  are  not  common  in  this 
period,  and  when  found  are  from  eight  to  ten  feet  in  rear  of  the  head 
stone.  Nathaniel  Thorp  had  the  first  in  1725.  The  oldest  epitaph  is 
recorded  on  the  stone  erected  for  Mr.  Moses  Clark.  He  "  dyed  Aug  ye 
21,  1736." 

Reder  stop  your  space  &  stay 

&  harken  unto  what  I  say, 
Our  lives  but  cobwebs  tho'  near  so  gay, 

And  death  ye  broum  ye  sweeps  away. 

His  wife,  Dinah,  survived  him  fifteen  years  and  "  Dyed  Oct  ye  2d, 
1751."  To  alia}'  all  doubt  in  after  years,  concerning  her  station  in 
life,  it  is  asserted  both  on  her  head  and  foot  stones  that  she  was  "  once 
ye  wife  of  'Mr.  Moses  Clark."  Her  epitaph  is  similar  to  others  in  this 
yard: 

On  this  grave  stone  mj'  name  is  red, 

You  are  alive  but  I  am  dead. 
In  a  short  space  of  preacious  time 
*  Theay  will  read  your  name  as  well  as  mine. 

The  pecond  period  of  stonecutting  occurs  between  1750  and  1800. 
The  work  durmg  this  half  century  was  done  by  one  Miller  of  Middle- 
field,  Conn.  He  quarried  the  stones  from  his  own  farm  and  brought 
them  to  North  Haven  on  sleds  during  the  winter  season.  His  stock 
was  kept  under  the  oak  trees  on  the  hill.  Miller  was  an  artist.  Few 
country   cemeteries   can    produce    "winged   heads"    and  "borders," 


HISTORY    OP'    NEW    HAVKN    COUNTY.  239 

fcomparable  with  his.  The  poise  of  the  face,  the  lines  of  the  eye,  the 
sweep  of  the  wings,  are  in  some  cases  so  singularly  drawn  that  they 
reveal  that  indefinable  sphinx  like  gaze  common  in  old  Egyptian 
cuttings. 

Marble  was  introduced  about  the  year  ISOO.  and  also  at  this  date 
occurs  the  third  type  of  ornamentation.  New  designers  entered  the 
field  and  drooping  and  broken  willows  shading  mortuary  urns  of 
impossible  construction  supplanted  the  winged  emblem  of  immortality. 
The  change  was  not  a  happy  one  although  it  prevailed  for  forty  years. 
From  175()  to  1820  was  the  age  of  the  epitaph  in  this  church  yard. 
Saint  and  sinner  alike  during  this  period  invoked  the  chisel's  aid  to 
express  sentiments,  the  wonder  and  puzzle  of  men  and  angels.  Not- 
withstanding all,  this  ancient  yard  is  an  historic  spot.  To  the  North 
Haven  people  "  names  that  were  not  born  to  die  "  are  found  here. 
Stiles,  Trumbull,  Pierpont,  Foot,  yea  and  a  hundred  others  to  whom 
we  owe  our  birthright  to-day,  make  it  all  "  hallowed  ground." 

The  present  cemetery  was  laid  out  in  1841,  and  the  first  burial 
within  it  was  a  child  of  Zophar  Blakeslee,  who  died  May  21st  of  that 
year.  Formerly  the  entrance  was  at  the  north  end.  Later  its  area 
was  enlarged  and  a  handsome  gateway  erected  on  the  east  side.  At 
the  present  rate  of  occupation  less  than  another  fifty  years  will 
demand  still  a  third  location. 

At  an  ecclesiastical  society  meeting  held  December,  1720.  it  was 
'■  Agreed  on  by  ye  society  that  ye  school  shall  be  kept  at  four  places. 
First,  that  it  be  kept  on  ye  east  side  New  Haven  East  river,  below 
Muddy  river — secondly,  that  it  be  kept  on  the  west  .side  East  river, 
below  ye  Pine  bridge — thirdly,  from  ye  Pine  bridge  upward  to  ye 
Blew  Hills — fourthlv,  on  ye  east  side  East  river  and  northward  of 
Aluddy  river."  These  were  the  four  original  districts  of  the  parish. 
The  present  number  is  eight. 

It  is  not  probable  that  school  buildings  were  erected  at  the  date 
above  mentioned.  There  is  no  mention  of  the  appointment  of  school 
officials  and  we  grope  along  to  17."")0  befoi'e  definite  action  appears.  At 
this  time  a  "committee  to  manage  school  affairs,"  consisting  of  Ser- 
geant Ebenezer  Frost,  Deacon  Isaiah  Tuttle,  Captain  Sackett  and  Cap- 
tain Barnes  was  chosen.  A  two  penny  rate  on  the  pound  was  laid.  In 
1763  the  system  was  revised  and  a  new  division  of  the  districts  ordered. 
Frequent  as  it  was  in  the  colony  to  plant  a  school  house  under  the 
eaves  of  the  meeting  house,  this  ctistom  had  not  obtained  in  the  North 
Haven  parish,  for  it  was  not  until  the  latter  year  that  they  "  voted 
that  a  school  house  might  be  set  on  the  market  place,  built  by  par- 
ticular men."  This  building  stood  a  few  rods  north  or  northeast  from 
•the  meeting  house  and  remained  well  within  the  present  century.  It 
was  adorned  with  the  usual  collection  of  autographs  of  its  pupils 
■common  to  that  day. 


260  II (STORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

The  ecclesiastical  society  continued  to  appoint  the  school  com' 
mittees  down  to  1796.  In  that  year  a  school  society  was  formed  for 
the  separate  maintenance  of  educational  privileges.  Eight  districts 
had  been  previously  organized  and  each  was  supervised  by  a  com- 
mittee man.  Two  years  later  (1798)  the  first  board  of  school  visitors 
was  appointed.  In  1820  a  local  commission  re-arranged  the  boundaries 
of  some  of  the  districts,  substantially  the  same  as  to-day.  In  1841  the 
Fifth  district  began  to  decline  in  point  of  numbers.  It  is  now  prac- 
tically abolished.  The  first  public  examination  of  candidates  for 
teachers  was  held  in  1850.  In  1855  the  school  society  came  to  an  end 
and  the  powers  heretofore  vested  in  it  were  transferred  to  the  districts. 
The  latter  plan  has  remained  in  force  to  the  present  day.  The  various 
buildings  are  in  good  order  and  well  supplied  with  the  modern  helps 
to  education.  The  most  notable  instance  of  progress  has  occurred  m 
the  Fourth  district  (Center)  when  the  old  red  school  house  alluded  to 
above  as  "  built  by  particular  men  "  was  demolished.  Its  successor 
was  a  small  brick  structure  now  standing  a  few  feet  south  of  the 
Congregational  church.  For  years  it  furnished  ample  accommoda- 
tions but  as  the  district  increased  following  the  war,  it  became  out- 
grown. A  later  attempt  to  provide  more  suitable  quarters  was 
vigorously  opposed  by  the  conservative  element  and  killed.  It 
was  not  until  the  board  of  education  threatened  to  withold  the  public 
funds  that  the  district  was  brought  to  terms.  A  lot  was  purchased 
at  a  considerable  sum  and  the  matter  rested  again. 

In  1887  it  was  resolved  to  open  the  struggle  once  more  and  force 
it  to  an  issue.  The  chief  opponent  was  now  dead,  the  large  enu- 
meration of  the  school  children  was  an  unanswerable  argument,  and  by 
degrees  former  objections  became  overcome.  A  building  committee 
was  chosen  as  follows:  Maltby  Fowler.  Edward  L.  Linsley,  Sheldon 
B.  Thorpe,  Solomon  F.  Linsley,  F.  Hayden  Todd.  The  .sum  of  p.OOO 
was  appropriated  and  the  committee  authorized  to  commence  at  once. 
The  building  was  designed  for  four  departments  and  a  capacity  of 
200  pupils.  It  was  completed  in  the  summer  of  1888,  at  a  total  cost  of 
$3,640,  and  opened  for  use  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  Additional  features 
and  improvements  have  raised  its  outlay  to  near  $6,000.  Three 
departments,  with  considerably  over  one  hundred  pupils,  are  main- 
tained in  it  with  all  the  features  of  a  graded  school. 

The  town  was  not  without  its  academy  in  the  days  when  such 
institutions  were  common.  Among  the  teachers  of  this  higher  school, 
were:  Luzerne  Ray;  William  Hartley,  1832;  Reverend  Orson  Cowles, 
1835-6;  Reverend  Samuel  Noyes,  1837-8;  Reverend  Ammi  Linsley; 
Oswin  Hart  Doolittle,  1845;  Henry  D.  Smith,  1846-7;  Leander  Cook; 
Sereno  Smith:  F.  C.  Selden;  Reverend  Mr.  Baldwin.  About  1850  a  new 
brick-academy  was  built.  In  this,  Messrs.  Dodge,  Dimock,  Linsley, 
Niles,  Tucker,  Little  and  others  taught  until  the  patronage  was  in- 
sufficient to  .sustain  it  longfer. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  261 

In  1781,  the  parish,  following  the  example  of  similar  bodies  in  the 
state,  made  an  attempt  to  secure  incorporation  as  a  town.  A  futile 
trial  had  been  made  22  years  before,  but  was  rejected  by  the 
general  assembly.  It  was  in  contemplation  at  this  time  to  unite 
the  parishes  of  Mount  Carmel  and  North  Haven.  The  mother 
town  of  New  Haven,  beginning  to  feel  the  burden  of  caring  for 
her  distant  possessions,  was  somewhat  clamorous  for  separation. 
Altogether  it  seemed  an  opportune  time,  and  February  1st,  1781, 
at  an  ecclesiastical  societv  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  to 
confer  with  Mount  Carmel.  In  December  of  that  year,  also  at 
New  Haven,  a  committee  was  raised  to  prepare  a  plan  for  the 
divi.sion  of  the  town.  This  latter  committee  reported  January  6th, 
1782,  "  that  the  parishes  of  North  Haven  and  Mount  Carmel  be  made 
into  a  separate  and  distinct  town."  The  two  parishes  endorsed  the 
report  a  few  days  later,  a  memorial  to  the  general  assembly  was  pre- 
pared and  presented  at  the  following  May  session,  but  for  some  reason 
the  plan  was  negatived. 

They  waited  four  years  and  in  February,  178.^,  resolved  to  attempt 
it  again  on  the  same  plan  as  before,  but  with  the  added  determination 
that  if  neither  Mount  Carmel  or  Northford  parishes  would  join  with 
them,  they  would  fight  it  out  alone.  On  the  latter  basis  they  went  to 
Hartford  at  the  May  session,  1786,  by  Thomas  Mansfield,  their  agent. 
The  petition  was  referred  to  the  fall  session  and  then  granted  October, 
1786. 

The  charter  directed  that  the  first  town  meeting  should  be  held  on 
the  second  Tuesday  of  November  at  the  meeting  house,  where  such 
officers  as  were  required  by  law  were  to  be  chosen.  It  appears  that 
these  appointees  were  but  temporary  and  for  the  purpose  of  providing 
for  a  second  town  meeting  in  the  following  month  of  December, 
which  was  thereafter  to  be  the  date  of  the  annual  meeting. 

The  first  selectmen  were  Joseph  Bradley.  Ephraim  Humaston  and 
Samuel  Mix.  The  first  town  clerk  was  Joseph  Pierpont,  and  the  first 
tax  collector,  Elias  Beach.  The  total  valuation  of  the  first  grand  list 
was  ^7,947,  4s.  2d.     The  amount  of  the  first  tax  laid  was  ;^171,  2s.  lOd. 

The  following  table  shows  the  prosperity  of  the  town  by  decades: 

Years. 

1786 
1796 
1806 
1816 
1826 
1836 
1846 
1856 
1866 
1876 
1886 
1890 


Acres. 

Valuation  for  Taxation. 

8,348 

§7,947 

00 

<»..5ir) 

31,074 

24 

10,S1(> 

21,920 

70 

ii.a.'jo 

20,97.5 

28 

11,293 

17,303 

89 

11,630 

19,434 

04 

11,289 

17,851 

44 

11,730 

20,867 

65 

ll.SOO 

722.3.55 

00 

ll.(J2() 

801,829 

00 

792.840 

00 

262  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  the  standard  of  value  fluctuated 
to  a  wide  degree  during  the  above  hundred  years. 

Directly  following  incorporation  came  the  division  of  the  personal 
estate  owned  in  common  with  New  Haven.  Roads,  bridges,  town 
poor,  taxes,  etc.,  had  to  be  adjusted.  In  all  this,  Joseph  Pierpont  was 
the  leading  spirit  and  the  conservator  of  the  new  town's  interests. 
He  was  the  first  repre.sentative  to  the  general  assembly  in  1787,  and 
continued  for  six  terms  thereafter. 

Under  their  new  powers  the  people  took  on  fresh  life  and  enthu- 
siasm. All  through  the  state  towns  were  springing  up  and  a 
certain  rivalry  e.xisted  among  them  to  be  well  up  on  the  front  line. 
Bj^the  separation,  taxes  were  reduced,  greater  privileges  were  secured, 
the  interests  of  the  land  holders  better  conserved  and  a  feeling  of 
hopefulness  and  buoyancy  was  general  throughout  the  community. 

The  town  records  prior  to  185i)  have  been  burned.  Since  that  time 
the  town  clerks  have  been:  1856-7,  Ezra  Stiles;  1858-61,  Nathan 
W.  Brown;  1862-3,  Stephen  C.  Gilbert;  1864,  Isaac  L.  Stiles;  1865, 
Sheldon  B.  Thorpe;  1866-9,  Nathan  W.  Brown;  1870-9,  vStephen  C. 
Gilbert;  1880-4,  Edward  L.  Linsley;  1885-90,  L.  Peet  Tuttle. 

In  the  same  period  the  first  selectmen  have  been:  1856-7,  Evelyn 
Blal:e.slee;  1858,  Jared  Bas.sett;  1859-60,  Elihu  J.  Dickerman;  1861,  Henry 
H.  Stiles^  1862-3,  Elizur  C.  Tuttle;  1864-5,  Whitney  Elliott;  1866-9, 
Henry  H.  Stiles;  1870,  Elizur  C.  Tuttle;  1871-80,  Andrew  F.  Austin; 
1881-4,  Cyrus  Cheney;  1885-6,  R.  T.  Linsley;  1887,  Whitney  Elliott; 
1888,  R.  T.  Linsley. 

There  has  not  been  shown  a  marked  disposition  by  the  people  to 
beautify  in  a  public  manner  any  part  of  the  town.  The  attempt  occa- 
sionally made  in  communities  to  make  some  central  point,  usually  the 
"  village  green,"  the  object  of  especial  attention  was  never  imitated 
here.  The  "North  Parish  Green  "  was  donated  to  "  the  neighbors  " 
by  Reverend  James  Pierpont,  of  New  Haven,  in  1714;  in  quantity  it 
contained  as  the  will  says  "8  or  10  acres."  It  is  more  than  probable 
it  was  heavily  wooded  at  that  time,  the  ancient  oaks  still  remaining 
on  its  highest  part  offering  presumptive  evidence  to  that  effect.  With 
the  exception  of  clearing  it  and  on  one  occasion  rectifying  its  bounds, 
nothing  was  done  to  enhance  its  condition  from  the  date  of  its  gift  to 
the  year  1880,  a  period  of  166  years. 

Perhaps  one  reason  for  this  neglect  lay  in  the  disputed  ownership 
of  the  tract,  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  and  the  town  both  claim- 
ing it.  The  space  is  too  limited  to  admit  the  arguments  each  body 
adduced  to  prove  its  title.  In  its  unsettled  condition  nothing  was 
done — it  was  in  sooth  a  "  public  common,"  a  sunken  highway  trav- 
ersed its  length  diagonally  and  its  surface  was  cut  and  furrowed  in 
innumerable  directions.  Barren  areas  of  sand  showed  here  and 
there  and  it  was  a  hissing  and  a  by-word  to  the  surrounding  com- 
munities. 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    IIAVEX   COUNTY.  263 

Despairing  of  its  condition  ever  being  bettered,  a  few  of  the 
citizens  living  in  the  near  vicinity,  willing  to  concede  its  oversight 
to  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society,  petitioned  that  body  for  a  commis- 
sion to^be  raised  to  improve  the  public  green.  A  special  meeting  was 
called  December  20th,  1880,  at  which  time  a  committee  of  five  was 
chosen  for  the  above  purpose  with  the  privilege  of  beginning  work 
when  the  sum  of  SoOO  had  been  raised  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
society's  committee.  The  committee  was  made  upas  follows:  Deacon 
Whitney  Elliott,  Sheldon  B.  Thorpe.  Cullen  B.  Foote,  Edward  L. 
Linsley,  John  F.  Barnes.  Elliott  re.signed  and  Charles  B.  Smith 
was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  The  committee  then  organized  with 
Thorpe  as  president,  Linsley,  secretary,  and  Foote,  as  treasurer. 
An  appeal  for  funds  was  made  and  within  sixty  days  something  over 
$700  was  secured.  Work  was  begun;  highways  around  the  tract  were 
laid  out,  trees  were  planted,  the  surface  graded  and  temporarily 
'  enclosed,  fertilizers  were  applied  with  scores  of  loads  of  clay,  soil  and 
ashes,  and  the  entire  area  underwent  a  wholesome  change. 

The  extensive  improvements,  particularly  in  the  drainage  and 
highway  work,  which  the  town  should  have  done  at  its  own  expense, 
made  large  inroads  on  the  treasury.  Local  jealousies  sprang  up  over 
the  contested  ownership  as  stated,  and  the  funds  dwindled.  The 
work  came  to  a  standstill  in  1883,  and  has  not  since  been  resumed. 
Enough  improvement  is  apparent,  however,  to  warrant  the  expenditiire 
of  the  sum  named.  .Should  at  any  time  the  conternplated  plan  be 
carried  out  the  result  will  be  a  country  park  second  to  none  in  the 
county. 

Previous  to  1886  the  town  owned  no  public  building.  Its  business 
had  been  tran.sacted  at  the  Academy  Hall,  as  has  been  said,  for  about 
35  years,  and  previous  to  that  at  any  convenient  place.  In  1885  the 
Veteran  Soldiers  Association  conceived  that  the  time  had  arrived  for 
the  erection  of  a  monument  to  their  deceased  comrades.  Application 
was  made  to  the  town  for  an  appropriation  of  one  and  one-half  mills 
on  the  dollar,  as  provided  by  statute,  on  the  grand  list  (a  sum  amount- 
ing to  about  $1,200),  for  such  purpose.  This  request  was  unanimously 
granted.  Two  thousand  dollars  was  named  as  a  suitable  sum  to  raise 
and  the  veterans  set  themselves  at  work  at  once  to  secure  it.  This 
was  in  October,  1885.  Opposition  sprang  up  in  an  unexpected  quarter 
from  certain  citizens,  and  a  special  town  meeting  was  called  early  in 
November  to  repeal  the  former  appropriation.  The  meeting  failed 
of  its  object  and  the  canvass  went  on  during  the  winter.  By  spring 
it  was  seen  the  entire  amount  would  be  secured  and  the  long  dream 
of  the  veterans  find  its  fulfillment.  The  opposition  was  again 
renewed,  this  time  in  the  guise  of  a  public  building  needed  by  the 
town.  This  project  found  favor  in  various  directions  and  a  second 
town  meeting  was  called  in  February,  1886,  for  the  repeal  of  the  grant 
of  1885.     The  scheme  succeeded.     The  appropriation  was  withdrawn 


264 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 


from  the  veterans'  plan  and  transferred  to  a  project  for  a  Memorial 
Hall  to  be  erected  at  an  expense  not  exceeding  SH.OOO. 

The  action  of  this  meeting  was  final,  and  the  building  soon  com- 
menced. A  committee  of  nine  superintended  its  construction. 
It  was  built  from  plans  mainly  prepared  by  vSolomon  F.  Linsley. 
a  local  carpenter.  Ornamental  attractions  were  held  in  little 
favor,  the  design  being  to  provide  for  space  rather  than  effect.  The 
first  floor  is  devoted  to  the  Bradley  Library  and  the  various  town 
offices.  The  second  floor  is  used  entirely  for  a  ptrblic  hall.  The 
building  was  erected  and  furnished  at  an  expense  of  something  over 
$8,000.  Externally  the  words  "  1886,  Memorial  Hall,"  and  internally 
a  marble  slab  bearing  the  names  of  those  who  fell  during  the  civil 
war,  are  all  that  indicate  its  memorial  purpose. 

The  Bradley  Library  Association  is  a  chartered  institution  under 
the  laws  of  the  state.  It  grew  out  of  the  legacy  of  $1,000  from 
Honorable  S.  Leverrius  Bradley,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  a  native  of  North 
Haven.  It  was  incorporated  March  19th,  1884.  Its  rooms  at  first 
were  at  the  house  of  Doctor  Austin  Lord,  and  until  the  completion  of 
Memorial  Hall.  By  the  most  careful  economy  it  has  been  made 
almost  self  sustaining  and  has  attained  at  the  present  time  quite 
reputable  dimensions.  Upwards  of  2,000  volumes  are  in  circulation. 
Its  rooms  are  open  two  afternoons  and  evenings  per  week.  A  small 
fee  is  charged  for  membership,  also  for  transient  books  drawn. 
By  a  recent  legacy  of  the  widow  of  Mr.  Bradley,  its  founder,  another 
$1,000  will  be  available  in  1892.  ' 

An  event  in  which  the  town  was  specially  interested  was  the  100th 
anniversary  of  its  incorporation,  which  occurred  October  21st,  1886. 
The  main  features  of  this  occasion  were  "  an  Old  Folks'  concert," 
a  "Loan  Exhibition,"  procession  of  the  trades  of  the  town,  free 
dinner,  public  addresses,  band  concert  and  fireworks  in  the  evening. 
The  interest  was  something  phenomenal.  The  entries  for  the  loan 
exhibition  rose  to  nearly  one  thousand,  and  three  thousand  persons 
were  provided  with  dinner. 

A  synopsis  of  the  interests  of  the  town,  compiled  from  the  grand 
list  of  1890,  shows  the  following:  Population,  1,858;  dwellings,  394: 
stores,  5;  manufactories,  27;  cattle,  1.027;  horses,  471;  acres,  11,837: 
valuation,  $792,840. 

The  first  mill  of  any  kind  within  our  present  borders  was  erected 
on  Pine  brook,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  town  in  the  year  1700. 
It  was  a  small  saw  mill.  The  site  of  the  old  dam  can  be  seen  at 
present. 

The  general  development  of  manufacturing  in  the  parish  was  slow. 
Water  power  was  depended  upon,  and  there  practically  was  but 
one  stream  (Muddy  riven  that  could  be  utilized.  This  at  one  time 
was  well  dotted  with  mills.  Doctor  Ezra  Stiles  shows  upon  a  rude 
map    in    1761,  seven    in    active   operation— -'•  two   corne    mills,    two 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  265 

fulling  mills  and  three  saw  mills."  On  the  East  river  in  1762. 
Aaron  Day  and  others  built  a  "  corn  mill,"  at  the  east  end  of 
Mansfield  bridge.  A  saw  mill  was  constructed  upon  the  opposite 
side,  managed  at  one  time  by  Benjamin  Bishop.  In  the  year  later 
Doctor  Walter  Monson  built  a  grist  mill  upon  the  same  stream  at 
Quinnipiac.  One  James  Bradley,  about  1720,  had  a  fulling  mill  at 
"Smithtown,"  near  the  present  Smith  sawmill.  About  1760  a  ship- 
yard was  established  on  the  west  bank  of  the  East  river,  south  of  the 
bridge,  which  was  maintained  till  after  the  year  1800.  Here  .small 
seagoing  craft  were  built.  Some  of  them  ventured  as  far  as  the 
West  Indies.  Of  these  was  the  "  Hiram,"  commanded  by  one  Cap- 
tain Davidson  of  Milford,  lost  at  sea  with  her  crew  in  1796. 

Bog  iron  ore  was  dug  in  the  swamps  in  the  vicinity  of  "  The  Pool  " 
previous  to  166.0,  and  taken  to  the  "  Iron  Works  "  at  East  Haven.  It 
was  also  carted  to  "  Bogmine  Wharf,"  a  locality  near  the  present 
Sacketfs  Point  bridge,  and  there  loaded  on  boats  for  the  same 
destination.  The  owner  of  the  land  at  this  time  was  probably  Rever- 
end James  Pierpont,  who  possessed  an  immense  tract  of  800  or  1,000 
acres  extending  between  the  East  and  Muddy  rivers. 

The  hard  wood  lumber  trade  early  in  our  history  was  the  most 
extensive  and  thrifty  of  any  of  the  pursuits  of  the  settlers.  Oak  and 
whitewood  were  exclusively  used,  and  the  North  Haven  plains  fur- 
nished both  in  abundance.  The  latter  must  have  attained  dimensions 
far  beyond  anything  found  in  the  town  in  later  days,  as  seen  in  the 
inside  finish  of  sundry  "  front  rooms  "  in  old  dwellings.  Here  in 
some  cases  are  found  "panels"  made  of  .single  boards  measuring 
from  36  to  40  inches  in  width.  Oak  was  the  main  building  material: 
frames,  floors,  clapboards  and  shingles  were  wrought  of  it  and  none 
but  the  best  quality  was  used.  Large  quantities  of  it  were  exported 
from  Xew  Haven. 

The  manufacture  of  brick  began  about  172i).  The  pioneer  in  this 
industry  was  Nathaniel  Thorp,  and  the  first  yard  was  about  100  rods 
north  of  the  present  New  Haven  &  Hartford  railroad  station,  and 
directly  east  of  the  track.  Abraham  Seeley,  a  Hollander,  came  ne.xt. 
locating  first  at  Muddy  river  and  afterward  removing  to  near  the 
present  plant  of  Brockett  &  Todd.  Later  it  was  discovered  that 
extensive  clay  beds  underlaid  large  areas  on  both  sides  of  the  East 
river,  and  as  brick  was  beginning  to  come  into  favor,  as  a  building 
material,  yards  sprang  up  quickly  all  over  the  town. 

Among  the  earlier  brick  makers  were  Josiah  Thomas,  Samuel 
Pierpont,  Seth  Blakeslee,  Ebenezer  Pierpont,  Enoch  Barnes,  Joshua 
Thorp,  Caleb  Humaston,  Jesse  Andrews,  Solomon  Bradley,  Titus 
Bradley,  David  Bradley,  Jared  Bradley  and  others.  Later  came  John 
Gill.  Orrin  Todd,  Isaac  Stiles,  Horace  Stiles,  Amasa  Thorpe  and 
others.  Then  followed  Erus  Bishop,  Henry  M.  Blakeslee,  Willis 
Hemingway,   Samuel   Culver,    Alfred    Ives,    Eleazer   Warner,   Orrin 


266  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Warner,  J.  M.  Mansfield,  and  lastly  I.  L.  &  H.  H.  Stiles,  whose  plant, 
in  1891  under  the  name  of  I.  L.  Stiles  &  Son,  produces  about  16,000,000 
bricks  annually.  The  latter  works  are  managed  on  an  extended  scale, 
employing  about  loO  men  and  60  or  more  horses.  Sewer  and  building 
brick  are  the  only  kinds  manufactured.  This  and  the  yard  of 
Brockett  &  Todd,  with  that  of  Thomas  Cody  at  Montowese  comprise 
all  at  present  in  the  town. 

An  extensive  business  in  carriage  parts  (wooden  work)  at  one  time 
engaged  attention.  Smith  Brothers.  Edwin  Clinton  &  Son,  Alonzo 
Smith,  John  F.  Barnes  &  Co.,  and  others,  have  still  interests  in  this 
branch.  The  latter  establishment  is  situated  on  the  old  Middletown 
turnpike  at  the  old  cabinet  and  undertaking  stand  of  Frederic  Barnes. 
This  business  originated  in  1806.  The  manufacture  of  choice  wood- 
work in  that  day  was  carried  on  mostly  by  hand,  and  "apprentices" 
were  common  learning  this  trade.  Mr.  Barnes'  establishment  was 
noted  for  the  number  of  apprentices  it  always  had  and  the  fine  quality 
of  its  work.  In  1870  extensive  buildings  were  erected  and  the  capacity 
for  work  much  increased. 

At  Ouinnipiac  is  a  valuable  water  power,  but  the  buildings  are  the 
worse  for  age  and  wear.  Formerly  German  silver  spoons  were  made  in 
large  quantities  there;  at  present  Hotchkiss  Brothers  manufacture 
bolts  and  a  small  grist  mill  supplies  the  near  community  with  grain. 

The  first  stock  company  of  which  any  account  is  obtainable  was 
the  North  Haven  Academy  Association,  organized  about  1850.  The 
shares  were  $25  each  but  no  record  of  the  amount  of  stock  is  found. 
Its  purpose  was  to  provide  better  facilities  for  education,  in  fact  to- 
establish  a  high  school.  Such  an  institution  had  already  been  in 
operation  in  the  community  for  a  number  of  years  with  a  paying 
patronage,  but  never  at  a  specific  place  or  maintained  except  by 
transient  enterprise.  So  far  as  can  be  learned  the  earliest  "  select 
school  "  was  taught  in  the  winter  months  over  Joel  Ray's  store  (now 
Stephen  Gilbert's),  at  least  60  years  ago,  and  among  the  earlier 
'■  Masters  "  were  Reverend  Orson  Cowles,  Reverend  Ammi  Linsley, 
Honorable  Henry  D.  Smith  and  others.  The  new  academy  was  built 
of  brick  a  few  feet  north  of  the  Congregational  church.  Its  second 
floor  provided  the  first  public  hall  in  the  village,  and  hither  the 
town's  business  was  transferred  from  the  basement  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church. 

For  a  few  years  a  school  was  maintained  with  considerable  success 
and  then  patronage  declined.  Many  of  the  incorporators  became 
restless  and  unloaded  their  holdings.  The  building  finally  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Alfred  Linsley  at  a  sacrifice.  Attempts  were  made 
from  time  to  time  to  revive  school  privileges  but  with  no  lasting 
result,  and  the  structure  was  devoted  to  commercial  purposes.  It  is 
now  occupied  by  the  Tuttle  Brothers  Printing  Company. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  267 

Following  this  came  these  organizations: 

2.  Clinton  Wallace  &  Co..  September  29th,  lSo8.  Capital  stock 
§28,000,  Lyman  Clinton,  president.  This  company  was  formed  for 
the  manufacture  of  agricultural  implements.  A  large  two  story 
wooden  building  was  erected  in  the  meadow,  west  of  the  track  and  a 
few  rods  north  of  the  New  Haven  &  Hartford  railroad  station. 
Business  was  carried  on  a  few  years  in  connection  with  the  firm  of 
David  Clinton  &  Son,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  the  venture  brought 
its  promoters  any  money.  There  were  various  changes  of  manage- 
ment, but  through  them  all  a  constant  shrinkage  of  business.  It  was 
finally  shut  down  and  the  works  practically  abandoned.  The  last 
transaction  in  .stock  was  January  12th,  1860.  The  building  was 
destroyed  by  fire. 

3.  The  North  Haven  Brick  Company,  organized  January  21st, 
1854.  Capital  stock  $13,000.  Elihu  Dickerman,  first  president.  The 
issue  of  this  company  was  disastrous.  Its  last  transfer  was  March 
13th,  1866. 

4.  The  Warner,  Mansfield  &  Stiles  Brick  Company,  organized 
May  1st,  1854.  Capital  $18,000.  J.  M.  Mansfield,  first  president.  Last 
stock  transfer  May  13th,  1874,  when  it  went  into  liquidation. 

5.  Ouinnipiac  Paper  Company,  organized  October  1st,  1869.  Capital 
$30,000.  John  W.  Bishop,  first  president.  Factory  on  Ouinnipiac 
river,  nfear  Wallingford  line.     Last  statement  made  January  1st,  1872. 

6.  The  U.  S.  Card  Factory  Company,  organized  April  12th.  1881. 
Capital  $500. 

7.  The  North  Haven  Manufacturing  Company,  organized  Novem- 
ber 27th,  1882.     Capital  $18,000.     Manufacturers  of  tin  spoons. 

8.  The  Tuttle  Brothers  Printing  Company,  organized  April  19th, 
1886.  Capital  $6,000.  Frederic  C.  Bradley,  first  president.  Pub- 
lishers of  cards  of  all  varieties. 

Among  the  prominent  industries  of  the  town,  and  for  a  long  time 
apparentl}^  the  most  successful,  was  the  Clintonville  Agricultural 
Woi'ks.  This  concern  was  founded  by  David  Clinton  previous  to  1830. 
He  fir  it  made  fanning  mills,  at  his  house.  Corn  shellers,  horse  rakes 
and  other  machines  were  coming  into  notice,  on  which  he  made  many 
radical  improvements.  In  18B1  he  united  with  Jude  B.  Smith  in  the 
erection  of  a  large  manufactory  at  what  was  then  known  as  the  hamlet 
of  Smithtown,  since  Clintonville.  The  main  building  was  of  brick 
with  various  additions,  and  the  motive  power,  water  brought  from 
Muddy  river.  Clinton's  implements  became  renowned.  They  met 
with  ready  sale  through  the  country  and  were  found  wherever  farms 
were  worked.  In  1850  Mr.  Clinton  associated  his  son  Lyman  with 
him  under  the  name  of  D.  Clinton  &  Son,  and  the  business  was  con- 
ducted more  vigorously  than  ever.  The  works  gave  employment  to 
a  large  number  of  hands  and  were  continued  until  1875,  when  they 
were  .sold  to  Carr  &  Hobson,  of  New  York  city.     This  firm  managed 


268  HISTORY   OF   \E\V    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

them  with  spirit  a  few  years,  but  in  1881  removed  the  plant  to  New 
Jerse3^  Thus  was  withdrawn  from  the  community  a  business  of  over 
a  half  century  standing,  and  one  that  doubtless  in  its  day  proved  the 
most  profitable  of  all.  The  transfer  was  unfortunate  for  its  owners, 
as  financial  disaster  overtook  and  scaitered  their  resources. 

Among  the  earlier  manufactures  was  that  of  carriages  by  Captain 
Benajah  Tuttle  and  Esquire  Jacob  Bassett.  A  factory  100  feet  long 
built  by  them,  formerly  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Smith  Brothers  plant, 
and  an  extensive  trade  was  developed.  The  destruction  of  the  estab- 
lishment by  fire  broke  up  the  business.  The  present  brick  factory 
was  then  erected. 

One  Henry  Martin  made  "  locofoco  matches  "  about  1840-45,  near 
Mansfield's  bridge. 

The  following  list  covers  nearly  all  the  business  interests  of  the 
town  at  date  (spring  of  1891):  Groceries:  Joseph  Pierpont,  Stephen  G. 
Gilbert,  George  H.  Cooper.  Saw  Mills:  Doolittle  Brothers,  Lucius 
Smith,  Hector  W.  Storrs.  Origen  C.  Clinton.  Brick  yards:  I.  L.  Stiles 
&  Son,  Brockett  &  Todd.  Blacksmiths:  Rowe  S.  Bradley,  George  B. 
Maginnis.  Carpenters:  S.  F.  Linsley,  R.  T.  Linsley.  Carnage  part 
makers:  Barnes  &  Co.,  Smith  Brothers,  W.  H.  Smith,  Clinton  &  Son. 
Wagon  makers:  Frederick  Mansfield,  George  Gilbert.  House  painters: 
Zenas  W.  Mansfield,  Vernone  Stiles.  Market  men:  Jared  B.  Bassett, 
Dennis  Tucker.  Card  works:  S.  S.  Vibbert  &  Co.,  North  Haven  Card 
Company,  The  Tuttle  Brothers  Company,  E.  H.  Pardee,  F.  L.  Clinton. 
Manufacturers:  North  Haven  Manufacturing  Company. 

The  capital  of  the  before  mentioned  concerns,  as  a  whole,  is  small, 
ranging  from  §.500  to  $50,000.  The  card  companies  employ  ladies 
mostly.  In  the  latter  line,  the  wholesale  house  of  Vibbert  &  Co.  is  a 
model  of  business  and  neatness.  Their  business  was  established  at 
Clintonville  in  187o,  and  removed  to  the  present  plant  in  18S8,  where 
a  large  building  is  occupied  and  several  dozen  people  given  employ- 
ment. 

The  pioneer  card  printer  in  the  town  was  Frederick  L.  Clinton, 
who  began  in  1872,  using  the  presses  he  had  him.self  made  at  Clinton- 
ville foundry.  He  was  one  of  the  first  in  the  state  to  advertise  the 
card  printing  business  and  has  also  been  a  pioneer  in  the  use  of 
improved  machinery  in  this  line  of  manufacture.  He  has  a  finely 
equipped  establishment  at  Clintonville,  where  the  latest  methods  in 
card  printing  are  employed.  Large  quantities  of  novelty  goods  are 
sent  by  the  above  firms  to  all  parts  of  the  Union. 

Nearly  the  entire  number  engaged  in  the  foregoing  businesses 
are  located  in  the  small  villages  of  the  town,  three  in  number — 
North  Haven,  Clintonville  and  Montowese.  The  former  is  a  station 
on  the  Hartford  railroad,  seven  miles  from  New  Haven,  and  has 
a  pleasant  location  on  both  .sides  of  the  Quinnipiac.  Here  are  the 
main  interests  of  the  town,  including  Memorial  Hall,  the  North  Haven 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  269 

green,  Congregational  and  Episcopal  churches.  Near  the  latter  is  the 
old  Trumbull  homestead.  There  are  several  hundred  inhabitants, 
living  in  homes  widely  separated,  which  give  the  place  a  straggling 
though  not  unattractive  appearance.  The  principal  interest  is  the 
brick  manufactory  of  I.  L.  Stiles  &  Son,  as  well  as  several  card  print- 
ing shops. 

Montowese  is  a  station  on  the  Air  Line  railroad,  four  miles  from 
New  Haven,  and  contains  several  dozen  buildings.  Here  are  the 
Bapti.st  church,  the  Montowese  post  ofifice,  established  in  1872,  and  of 
which  George  H.  Cooper  is  the  postmaster.  There  are  also  several 
shops  and  grain  and  lumber  mills. 

Northford  station,  on  the  Air  Line  railroad,  is  7|  miles  from  New 
Haven.  Here  is  the  Clintonville  post  office,  David  L.  Clinton,  post- 
master, the  appointment  being  third  class  presidential,  owing  to  heavy 
bu.siness,  consequent  upon  the  card  printing  establishments  of  this 
locality.  Half  a  mile  east  is  the  village  of  Clintonville,  formerly  so 
active  in  manufacturing  and  still  having  several  thriving  industries. 
In  addition  there  are  a  Union  chapel  and  a  dozen  fine  residences. 

"  Sabbath  Day  houses "  were  regarded  as  necessary  adjuncts  to 
the  meeting  house.  The  earliest  mention  of  these  buildings  occurs 
in  1753.  They  stood  on  the  west  and  .south  sides  of  "  the  green,"  ou 
ground  now  covered  by  the  Congregational  church,  the  public  school 
building  and  the  private  property  of  Henry  D.  Todd.  Their  con- 
struction was  one  story  in  height  and  not  far  from  twelve  feet  square. 
Sometimes  they  were  built  "double,"  that  is  with  a  chimney  in  the 
middle,  but  oftener  at  one  end.  Occasionally  accommodations  for 
horses  were  provided  in  the  rear.  Among  the  early  owners  were  The- 
ophilus  Eaton,  Abraham  Bassett,  Samuel  Sackett,  James  Humaston, 
Joshua  Barnes.  Joel  Barnes,  Ezekiel  Jacobs,  Samuel  Thorp.  Isaac  C. 
Stiles  and  Isaiah  Brockett.  The  last  disappeared  from  the  vicinity 
of  the  green  about  1850,  but  one  still  remains  standing  on  the 
Deacon  Byard  Barnes  estate,  removed  thither  more  than  half  a 
century  ago.  It  was  not  strange  to  see  them  converted  into  temporary 
bar-rooms  for  the  sale  of  liquor  at  "  May  musters  "  and  on  "  general 
training  days." 

North  Haven  had  colored  people  held  as  slaves  previous  to  and 
during  the  revolutionary  war.  In  1795  Joel  Blakeslee  manumitted 
his  negro  man  "  Ben,"  and  in  1798  Samuel  Hemingway  freed  his 
slaves  ••  Dick  and  wife."  Captain  Peter  Eastman  also  emancipated 
his  slave  "  Jube  "  in  1801.  There  were  others  in  the  community  who 
not  only  freed  their  property  of  this  nature,  but  paid  them  wages  and 
retained  them  to  the  end  of  life. 

The  settlers  early  availed  themselves  of  "  fishing  grounds  "  along 
the  East  river.  In  1732  the  first  was  "  taken  up "  at  "  Andrews 
Point."  After  that  came  the  record  of  "  rights  "  at  "  The  Elm  Tree," 
"Duck   Cove,"    "Mocking    Hill,"    "Red    Bank,"    "  Sackett's    Point," 


-270  HISTORY    OK    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

"Newman's  Point,"  "Bridge,"  "  Quinny,"  etc.  Companie.s  were 
formed  who  had  "  plants  "  at  these  places  and  the  town  defined  how 
much  length  of  river  line  their  fishery  should  cover.  These  ancient 
"  fish  rights  "  were  transferable  by  title  and  were  bought  and  sold 
like  real  estate.  They  were  more  especially  used  to  catch  shad  in  the 
months  of  May  and  June. 

The  taverns  were  of  very  much  significance  to  the  country  people 
at  least,  of  the  eighteenth  centurj'.  Xo  well  regulated  place  was  sup- 
posed to  be  without  one  or  more.  The  most  famous  in  this  com- 
munity was  that  known  as  the  "  Andrews  Tavern,"  at  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  old  green.  It  was  established  by  Timothy  Andrews 
about  1770.  This  gentleman  journeyed  to  Vermont  in  1788,  and  died 
there.  His  widow  carried  on  the  business  but  the  place  did  not  reach 
its  highest  renown  until  her  son  Jesse  came  to  man's  estate  and 
assumed  the  title  of  landlord.  This  was  in  1800.  Jesse  married 
Phila  Humaston  and  under  the  management  of  the  twain  no  country 
hostelry  ever  attained  so  wide  a  popularity.  It  was  known  through- 
out the  state  and  the  fame  of  it  was  carried  by  travellers  to  New 
York  and  Boston.  Before  the  advent  of  railroads  it  was  a  very  busy 
place.  Teams  and  travellers  were  arriving  and  departing  at  all  hours 
of  the  day  and  night.  Balls,  dinners,  suppers,  dancing  schools,  train- 
ings, courts,  all  sent  their  quotas  there  only  to  be  entertained  in  the 
handsomest  manner.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews  remained  in  it  until  a 
little  after  1830.  At  this  time  the  sun  of  the  country  tavern  had  begun 
to  wane.  Railroads  were  threading  the  land  and  conditions  of  travel 
were  changing.  Among  the  successors  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
Jesse,  Jr.,  their  son,  Seymour  Bradley,  John  Gill,  John  Farren  and 
one  Perkms.  The  completion  of  the  New  Haven  &  Hartford  rail- 
road gave  it  its  death  blow  as  a  public  resort. 

No  definite  account  of  any  resident  physician  can  be  obtained  pre- 
vious to  1760.  Tradition  mentions  one  Doctor  Hill  shortly  after 
1700,  but  the  evidence  as  to  residing  in  the  parish  is  very  meagre. 
Doctor  Walter  ]SIonson  came  from  New  Haven  and  opened  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  1760.  He  was  succeeded  by  Doctor  Joseph 
Foote,  1790-1836.  Then  came  Doctor  Chauncey  B.  Foote  and  Doctor 
Anson  Aloody.  These  gentlemen  gave  way  in  turn  to  Doctor  Austin 
Lord,  1849,  and  Doctor  Roswell  F.  Stillman,  1851.  The  latter  died  in 
1879.  In  1868  Doctor  R.  B.  Goodyear,  a  native  of  the  place,  having 
graduated  with  distinction,  commenced  his  practice  here  and  is  now 
the  leading  physician  of  the  town.  Doctor  Lord  is  still  living  in  the 
town,  but  not  in  active  practice. 

The  part  borne  by  the  town  in  the  war  of  the  revolution  commends 
itself  to  the  attention  of  every  resident  within  its  borders.  The 
record  is  such,  thanks  to  the  care  of  Doctor  Trumbull,  that  a  nearly 
complete  muster  roll  of  all  who  bore  arms  in  the  support  of  inde- 
pendence has  been  ascertained.     The  news  of  the  attack  at  Lexington 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  271 

Mass.,  reached  Xew  Haven  Friday  evening,  April  21st,  1775.  On 
Saturday,  the  22d,  men    from    the  various    militia    companies,   who 

■could  be  spared,  were  informally  hurried  forward  for  the  "  relief  of 
Boston."  The  first  man  in  the  parish  to  respond  to  the  call  was 
Abner  Thorpe,  living  in  the  southeast  part.  He  marched  with  the 
Branford  men.     The  limits  of  this  article  forbid  individual  mention 

■except  by  name  of  the  men  who  took  part  in  this  struggle.  The  fol- 
lowing list  has  been  carefully  prepared,  with  the  years  in  which  they 
served:  Abner  Thorpe,  1775-7;  Abraham  Bassett,  1775-6,  died  in  the 
service;  Samuel  Barnes,  1775-6;  Joel  Thorpe,  1775-7;  Solomon  Tuttle, 
1777-80;  Jonathan  Dayton,  1777;  Thomas  Barnes,  1776-7,  died  in  ser- 
vice; Joshua  Barnes,  1776-9,  (Alarm  list);  Isaac  Bishop,  1776,  died  in 
service;  Zophar  Jacobs,  1776-8,  died  in  service;  John  Smith,  1777-9, 
(three  years);  Zealous  Blakeslee,  1776-81,  inclusive;  Yale  Todd,  1776-7; 
Ebenezer  Mansfield,  1776-7;  Eliada  Sanford,  1776-9;  Thomas  Humas- 
ton,  1778-9,  (alarm  list);  Justus  Todd,  1777-9,  died  in  service;  Daniel 
Sackett,  1778;  Joy  Bishop,  1778;  Joel  Brackett,  1775,  (1779  alarm  listj; 
■Caleb  Blakeslee,  1777-81,  inclusive;  Jared  Barnes,  1777;  Gideon  Todd, 
1777;  Joel  Sanford,  1780-2,  killed  in  action;  Jacob  Thorpe,  1777-9, 
tilled  in  action;  Caleb  Tuttle,  1777-80,  inclusive;  Jonathan  Heaton, 
1776;  Calvin  Heaton,  1777;  Jonathan  Tuttle,  1776-7;  William  Tuttle, 
1776-7;  Dimon  Bradley,  1776-7;  Jacob  Hitchcock,  1776-7;  Ebenezer 
Todd,  1776-7;  Enos  Brockett,  1777;  Thomas  Pierpont,  1775-7;  John 
Pierpont,  1777;  Reuben  Tuttle,  1777;  Enos  Todd,  1777;  Abel  Tuttle, 
1777;  Isaac  Brockett,  1777;  Caleb  Thomas,  1777;  Monson  Brockett, 
1777;  Jared  Tuttle,  1777;  Jared  Hill,  1777;  Jacob  Brockett,  2d,  1777; 
Timothy  Thorpe,  1777;  Jared  Blakeslee,  1777;  Jesse  Todd,  1777; 
Ezekiel  Jacobs,  1777;  Benjamin  Bassett,  1777;  John  Brockett.  1777; 
David  Bishop,  1777;  Joseph  Sperry,  1777;  Solomon  Jacobs.  1777; 
Stephen  Ives,  1777;  Levi  Cooper,  1777;  Jacob   Brockett,  1776,  captain 

.  in  Colonel  Douglass'  Regmient;  Thaddeus  Todd,  1777;  Peter  East- 
man, 1775-7;  Nathaniel  Stacy,  1775.  prisoner  until  1779;  Jonathan 
Ralph,  1777;  Levi  Ray,  1777;  Thomas  Cooper,  1777:  Joseph  Smith, 
1776;  Noah  Barnes,  1776;  Nathaniel  Dayton,  1776;  William  Sanford, 
1776;  Moses  Thorpe,  1776;  Timothy  Andrews,  1776;  Jesse  'Blakeslee, 
1776;  Phillip  Daggett,  1776;  Ephraim  Humaston,  1776;  Thomas  Ives, 
1776;  Giles  Dayton,  1776;  Charles  Tuttle,  1776;  Benjamin  Trumbull, 
1775-7;  Richard  Mansfield,  1777;  John  Brockett,  1776. 

Though  the  terms  of  service  of  a  majority  of  the  foregoing  men 
were  brief,  yet  none  the  less  were  they  loyal  to  the  cause,  and  it  is 
with  pride  that  it  can  be  said,  out  of  these,  there  was  but  one  case  of 
desertion.  In  estimating  the  patriotism  of  these  men,  let  it  be  remem- 
bered there  was  but  little  of  pomp  and  show  in  that  day,  little  of  the 
glamour  and  fascination  that  attends  great  bodies  of  armed  men  in 
modern  times.  The  need  of  the  hour  and  the  duty  of  the  man  led 
each  hero  to  his  place  in  the  struggle,  and  of  the  fourscore  souls  who 


272  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

by  turns  followed  the  drum  from  Lexington  to  Yorktovvn,  it  is  pleas- 
ant to  know  the  blood  they  transmitted  to  their  descendants  was  found 
again  in  the  name  of  liberty  on  the  fields  of  Antietam,  Gettysburg, 
Petersburg,  and  all  along  the  lines  where  the  dread  issues  of  rebellion 
were  met  and  settled. 

The  part  borne  by  the  town  in  the  war  of  1812  was  comparatively 
an  unimportant  one.  An  alarm  was  raised  in  the  spring  of  1814,  and 
again  in  September  of  that  year.  The  latter  was  the  most  serious, 
when  demand  was  made  for  the  services  of  the  following:  Eneas 
Blakeslee,  John  Todd,  Timothy  Bassett,  Samuel  Cooper,  Thomas 
Eaton,  John  Good.sell,  Alfred  Pierpont,  Joel  Pierpont,  Augustus 
Munson,  Ziba  Shephard,  Jesse  Cooper,  John  Bassett,  Levi  Brockett, 
Joshua  Dayton,  Leverett  Frost,  Richard  Mansfield,  James  Pierpont, 
Isaac  Stiles,  John  Beach,  Enoch  Ray. 

These  men  belonged  to  the  local  militia  companies  and  were 
"levied"  or  drafted.  Their  terms  of  service  were  short  and  with  the 
exception  of  Blakeslee  and  Beach,  it  is  doubtful  if  they  ever  saw  the 
enemy.  Most  of  them  eventually  obtained  pensions.  The  last  ser- 
vivor  was  Levi  Brockett,  who  died  in  1884. 

The  first  North  Haven  born  boy  to  volunteer  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  was  Henry  F.  Cowles,  son  of  Reverend  Orson  and  Eunice 
(Foote)  Cowles,  May  7th,  1861.  He  was  then  living  at  Norwich,  Conn., 
and  entered  the  Second  Connecticut  Infantry.  The  first  resident 
young  men  to  enlist  were  Walstein  Goodyear  and  Leverett  M.  Rogers, 
May  23d,  1861,  both  in  the  Fir.st  Connecticut  Heavy  Artillery.  Joseph 
O.  Blair  and  John  McCormick  next  followed  in  the  Fifth  Connecticut 
in  July;  Luzerne  S.  Barnes  and  Alfred  A.  Howarth,  in  the  Sixth 
Connecticut  in  September;  Theodore  Bradley,  F.  Wilber  Goodyear, 
James  E.  vSmith  and  Frederic  G.  Eaton,  in  the  Seventh  Connecticut, 
also  in  September;  E.  D.  S.  Goodyear,  Oliver  T.  Smith  and  Edward 
L.  Goodyear,  in  Tenth  Connecticut  in  October.  This  closed  the  enlist- 
ments for  1861.  These  were  made  without  the  stimulus  of  town 
bounty,  and  after  careful  deliberation. 

The  first  public  flag  raised  in  the  town  was  in  the  Fifth  district, 
April  24th,  1861.  The  people  of  Montowese  followed  the  example  on 
June  26th,  and  the  town  at  large  on  North  Haven  Green,  August  28th. 

The  first  town  meeting  of  the  citizens  to  encourage  volunteering 
was  held  in  Academy  Hall,  August  4th,  1862.  A  committee  was 
appointed  and  a  boiinty  of  $100  to  each  volunteer  o-rdered  paid.  On 
the  evening  of  the  same  day  a  second  meeting  was  held  at  which 
(and  the  following  day)  thirty  young  men  enrolled  themselves  as 
volunteers.  The  wildest  enthusiasm  prevailed.  The  first  one  to  put 
down  his  name  on  this  ever  to  be  remembered  evening  was  Jacob  F. 
Linsley,  who  had  previously  enlisted  in  the  First  Connecticut  Heavy 
Artillery,  March,  1862,  but  on  account  of  sickness  had  been  discharged 
without  .service.     These  thirty  volunteers  enlisted  in  the  Fifteenth 


nisTDKv  (IK  xi;\v  havkn  (Ouxtv.  273 

Connecticut,  under  Captain  Henry  H.  Stiles,  and  went  into  camp  a 
few  days  later. 

The  next  public  meeting  was  held  August  30th,  at  which  time  the 
town  bounty  was  raised  to  $150  for  any  one  who  should  enlist  before 
September  10th.  1862.  On  October  21st,  a  third  meeting  was  held,  and 
later  a  fourth,  at  which  an  appropriation  of  $900  was  made  to  fill  the 
quota  of  the  town. 

On  March  3d,  1863,  came  the  act  of  congress  approving  of  a  draft. 
The  following  July  another  tneeting  was  held,  at  which  it  was  voted 
that  every  person  drafted  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  who 
re.sponded  either  personally  or  by  substitute  or  paid  the  commutation 
fee  of  $300  should  be  allowed  §150  from  the  treasury  and  a  sum  not 
exceeding  $.5,000  was  so  appropriated. 

November  25th,  1864,  the  town  again  voted  to  pay  such  of  its 
citizens  as  had  volunteered  or  furnished  substitutes  since  July  1st  of 
that  year,  the  sum  of  $200.  This  was  the  highest  bounty  offered. 
Under  this  act  $2,400  was  paid  to  twelve  of  its  residents. 

The  last  meeting  was  held  January  2d.  1865.  At  this  time  the 
selectmen  were  authorized  to  suspend  the  payment  of  bounties  when 
in  their  judgment  the  quota  was  full. 

Great  credit  is  due  the  town  authorities  in  these  trying  years  for 
their  .efforts  to  make  the  burden  light  upon  the  people.  Deacon 
Whitney  Elliott  and  Elizur  C.  Tuttle  wei-e  most  active  in  this 
direction. 

The  first  death  in  the  four  years  struggle  was  that  of  Leverett  M. 
Rogers,  July  23d,  1861.  The  first  death  on  the  field  was  Joseph  O. 
Blair,  at  Cedar  Mountain,  August  9th,  1862.  The  first  prisoner  taken 
was  F.  Wilbur  Goodyear,  June  18th,  1864. 

The  following  roster  of  enlisted  men  is  compiled  from  official 
sources  and  believed  to  be  correct:  Charles  M.  Barnes,  27th  Conn. 
Infantry;  Luzerne  S.  Barnes,  6th  Conn.  Infantry:  Stuart  Barnes,  15th 
Conn.  Infantry:  Hobart  A.  Bassett,  15th  Conn.  Infantry:  Seth  B. 
Bassett,  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Art.;  Joseph  O.  Blair,  5th  Conn.  Infantry: 
Julius  Blakeslee,  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Art.;  Edgar  S.  Bradley,  15th  Conn. 
Infantry;  Henry  E.  Bradley,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Ellsworth  H. 
Bradley,  General  U.  vS.  Service;  Theodore  Bradley,  7th  Conn.  Infantry; 
Charles  A.  Brockett,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Eli  I.  Brockett,  15th  Conn. 
Infantry;  George  E.  Brockett,  27tli  Conn.  Infantr}-;  Horace  Brockett, 
27th  Conn.  Infantry;  James  H.  Brockett,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  William 
E.  Brockett,  15th  Conn.  Infantry:  Edmond  Burke,  15th  Conn.  Infantry; 
Elbert  C.  Clarke,  Naval  Service:  Thomas  J  Cleary.  15th  Conn. 
Infantry;  Harvey  E.  Cooper,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Edward  O.  Cowles, 
15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Henry  F.  Cowles,  18th  Conn.  Infantry:  Henry 
Culver,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Isaac  L.  Doolittle,  15th  Conn.  Infantry; 
Jesse  T.  Doolittle,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Frederic  G.  Eaton,  7th  Conn. 
17 


274  HISTOKV    OF    NEW    II.WKX   COUNTY. 

Infantry:  Alva  Frost,  l.-)th  Conn.  Infantry;  E.  D.  S.  ('loodyear,  loth 
Conn.  Infantry;  Edward  L.  Goodyear,  lOth  Conn.  Infantry;  Walstein 
Goodyear,  1st  Heavy  Art.;  F.  Wilbur  Goodyear,  7th  Conn.  Infantry: 
Robert  B.  Goodyear,  27th  Conn.  Infantry;  John  P.  Gilbert, 
99th  X.  Y.  Infantry;  Russell  Hills,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Henry  C. 
Hart,  l.^th  Conn.  Infantry;  Henry  B.  Hartley,  loth  Conn.  Infantry; 
James  Higgins,  15th  Conn.  Infantry:  Harvey  S.  Hoadley,  10th  Conn. 
Infantry:  Walter  P.  Hovey,  10th  Conn.  Infantry:  William  B.  Hovey, 
loth  Conn.  Infantry:  Alfred  A.  Howarth,  6th  Conn.  Infantry;  Adolphus 
F.  Hunie,  ISth  Conn.  Infantry:  Charles  W.  Jacobs,  1st  Conn.  Heavy 
Art.;  Marcus  A.  Jacobs,  lOth  Conn.  Infantry;  John  T.  Jacobs,  27th 
Conn.  Infantry;  Truman  O.  Judd,  27th  Conn.  Infantry;  Adam  Lamm, 
27th  Conn.  Infantry;  Jacob  F.  Linsley,  loth  Conn.  Infantr}-;  Samuel 
M.  Linsley,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Thomas  O'Brien,  27th  Conn.  Infantry: 
Nathan  A.  Marks,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  George  Morgan,  15th  Conn. 
Infantry;  Augustus  G.  ^Slorse,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  William  J.  Morse, 
15th  Conn.  Infantry:  John  McCormick,  5th  Conn.  Infantry;  William 
P.  Phelps,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Merwin  E.  Palmer,  15th  Conn.  Infantry; 
Nathan  A.  Palmer,  27th  Conn.  Infantry;  Milton  B.  Pardee,  15th  Conn. 
Infantry;  Horace  Riggs,  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Art.;  Riley  A.  Robinson, 
15th  Conn.  Infantry:  Leverett  M.  Rogers,  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Art.;  Wil- 
liam A.  Rogers,  15th  Conn.  Infantry:  Elbert  J.  Smith,  27th  Conn. 
Infantry:  George  W.  Smith,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Henry  E.  Smith, 
15th  Conn.  Infantry;  James  E.  Smith,  7th  Conn.  Infantry;  Merton  L. 
Smith,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Oliver  T.  Smith,  10th  Conn.  Infantry: 
Sanford  B.  Smith,  15th  Conn.  Infantry:  Ezra  L.  Stiles,  13th  N.  Y. 
Cavalry;  Henry  H.  Stiles,  15th  Conn.  Infantry:  Edwin  A.  Thorpe,  15th 
Conn.  Infantry;  Rufus  Thorpe,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Sheldon  B. 
Thorpe,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Henry  D.  Todd,  27th  Conn.  Infantry: 
Kirtland  Todd,  27th  Conn.  Infantry;  Dennis  W.  Tucker,  27th  Conn. 
Infantry:  Henry  F.  Tuttle,  15th  Conn.  Infantry;  Justus  Voght,  27th 
Conn.  Infantry:  Horace  Waters,  Regular  Army. 

Of  these  men  Blair,  Eaton,  Hoadley.  McCormick  and  Smith,  were 
killed  in  action  and  buried  on  the  field.  Edgar  Ellsworth  and 
Theodore  Bradley,  the  two  Linsleys,  Walstein  Goodyear,  Leverett 
Rogers,  Hobart  Bassett,  Pardee,  Augustus  G.  Morse,  Merton  L. 
Smith,  Culver,  Clarke  and  Waten^,  died  of  disease  in  service.  F. 
Wilbur  Goodyear,  Alfred  A.  Howarth  and  Henry  F.  Cowles  lan- 
guished in  southern  prisons,  the  latter  making  a  successful  escape 
therefrom. 

Politicalh',  the  town  was  democratic  previous  to  the  war  of  the 
rebellion;  since  then  it  has  been  mainly  republican.  In  its  history, 
for  energy,  integrity  and  worth,  its  sons  have  well  borne  their  part 
along  with  the  towns  of  the  state  to  uphold  the  honor  and  dignity  of 
the  commonwealth. 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  2/.') 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


Andrew  F.  Austin,  now  ;r7  years  of  age,  resides  in  North  Haven, 
in  which  town  he  was  born  March  2(Jth,  1884.  His  education  was 
obtained  from  the  common  school.  At  the  age  of  17  he  attended  the 
State  Normal  school  for  one  term.  When  18  3-ears  of  age  he  com- 
menced teaching  school  and  followed  the  same  for  15  winters.  Novem- 
ber 26th,  18.57,  he  married  Charlotte  P.,  daughter  of  Horace  and  Lois 
P.  Stiles.  Their  children  are  Frederick  W.  and  Gardner  E.  Austin. 
When  25  years  of  age,  Mr.  Austin  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
which  office  at  the  present  writing  he  holds,  having  been  trial  justice 
for  more  than  3()  years.  About  the  same  year  he  was  elected  one  of 
the  board  of  school  visitors,  and  held  the  office  till  1889,  having  been 
acting  school  visitor  for  many  years.  In  1866,  he  was  elected  select- 
man, which  office  he  held  14  years,  and  during  11  5-ears  of  said  time 
was  elected  and  served  as  town  agent.  In  18S(i  he  was  employed  as 
census  enumerator  in  taking  the  10th  census  of  the  102d  district,  which 
then  included  his  native  town.  In  1882  he  represented  his  town  in 
the  legislature.  His  occupation,  when  not  otherwi.se  engaged,  is  that 
of  a  farmer,  although  he  spends  much  time  in  adjusting  difficulties, 
and  in  the  settlement  of  estates.  He  is  also  employed  in  selling  goods 
for  Bradley  &  Co.,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  in  selling  fire  and  burglar 
safes  for  the  Marvin  Safe  Company,  of  265  Broadway,  N.  Y.  His 
father,  Joseph  Austin,  was  born  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  April  28d, 
1803,  and  married  Celia  Foote  of  Northford,  October  14th.  1829.  They 
came  to  reside  in  North  Haven.  His  death  occurred  October  14th, 
1854.  The  widow  now  survives  him.  Their  children  were:  Andrew 
F.,  Abner  E.  and  Charles  R.  Abner  E.  resides  in  Meriden,  and 
Charles  R.  died  August  28th,  1851. 

Harley  Bishop,  son  of  Calvin  and  Rebecca  (Stilson*  Bishop,  was 
born  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  in  1797,  and  died  in  North  Haven  in  1872. 
He  lived  several  years  in  New  York  state,  and  came  from  there  in 
December,  1868,  settling  near  his  son  Joseph  E..  who  had  bought  a 
farm  here  two  years  previous.  ]\Ir.  Bishop  married  [Mary  A.  Moody, 
and  had  thirteen  children.  Six  are  now  living:  James  L.,  Mary  A., 
Janette  M.,  Henry  M.,  Joseph  E.  (who  married  Margaret  Stuart,  and 
has  five  children:  Mary  C,  Walter  H.,  Lucy  M.,  Edwin  S.  and  James 
S.,  who  died),  and  Caroline  E.,  now  Mrs.  Reverend  E.  L.  Whitcombe. 

Lucius  Brockett,  born  in  1817,  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Mabel  (Blaksley)  Brockett,  grandson  of  Benjamin  Brockett, 
and  great-grandson  of  John  Brockett.  Mr.  Brockett  is  a  farmer,  own- 
ing the  homestead  of  his  father  and  grandfather.  He  was  two  years 
selectman,  and  for  several  j'ears  had  charge  of  the  roads  in  the  south 
part  of  the  town.  He  married  Betsey  M.,  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Millie  (Baldwin)  Linsley,  and  a  granddaughter  of  Obed  Linsley. 
Their  children  are:  Melissa,  Alice   E.  (Mrs.  Wells  C.  Hoadley),  and 


276  IIISTOKY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Mary  J.  (Mrs.  James  Moulton),  who  died  leaving  one  daughter, 
Mabel.  Benjamin  Brockett,  grandfather  of  Lucius,  was  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  Mr.  Brockett  has  in  his  possession  a  powder  horn  which 
belonged  to  his  grandfather.  The  horn  bears  the  following  in.scrip- 
tion:  "  Beniamin  Brockett.  His  Powder  Horn  Dated  att  North  Hauen 
in  the  year  1753."  The  ox  from  which  the  powder  horn  was  taken 
was  killed  and  eaten  in  the  revolutionary  war.  John  Brockett  lived 
west  of  the  residence  of  Lucius  Brockett.  near  the  river. 

Wales  W.  Buckingham  was  born  in  1810,  in  O.xford,  Conn.,  and  is 
the  youngest  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Olive  (VVoodruff)  Buckingham.  He 
has  been  a  farmer  in  North  Haven  since  1843.  He  married  Julia, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Morgan.  vShe  died  in  1866.  Their  children  were: 
one  that  died  in  infancy;  Harriet  (Mrs.  George  Dickerman),  Emma, 
Mary  (Mrs.  Lewis  Dudley)  and  Henry  W. 

Thomas  Coady,  born  in  1844,  in  Ireland,  is  a  son  of  Michael  Coady. 
He  came  to  North  Haven  from  Ireland  in  1858,  and  from  that  time 
until  1867  was  employed  as  a  brickmaker.  He  bought  the  brick  yard 
of  Ami  Culver  in  1867,  where  he  has  carried  on  the  business  since 
that  time.     He  now  has  a  capacity  of  two  million  brick  a  year. 

George  H.  Cooper,  born  in  1849,  is  a  son  of  Justus  and  Julia 
(Gorham )  Cooper,  and  grandson  of  Justus  Cooper.  He  was  a  farmer 
until  October,  1883,  when  he  succeeded  C.  J.  Hills  in  the  store  at 
Montowese,  and  he  has  increa.sed  the  bu,sine.ss  to  include  a  full  line 
of  groceries,  besides  flour,  grain  and  feed.  He  has  been  the  post- 
master .since  April,  1889.  He  married  Bessie  L.,  daughter  of  Henry 
M.  and  Betsey  L.  Coe,  of  Durham.  Their  two  daughters  are  Mabel  J. 
and  Millie  M. 

Elihu  Dickerman,  born  in  1802,  in  Hamden,  is  a  son  of  Enos  and 
Mary  (Todd)  Dickerman,  grandson  of  Enos,  who  was  a  revolutionary 
soldier.  The  latter  was  a  son  of  Jonathan,  who  was  a  descendant 
from  Thomas  Dickerman.  Mr.  Dickerman  is  a  farmer.  He  came 
from  Hamden  to  North  Haven  m  1848.  He  taught  school  14  winters, 
was  a  surveyor  several  years,  selectman  in  Hamden  and  in  North 
Haven,  and  was  constable  and  justice  several  years.  He  married 
Sylvia,  daughter  of  Justus  Humiston.  Their  children  were:  Elihu  J., 
Charles  A.  (deceased),  and  Elisabeth  S.  (Mrs.  Hubert  Barnes).  Mr. 
Dickerman  had  in  August,  1891,  six  grandchildren  and  four  great- 
grandchildren living. 

Elihu  J.  Dickerman,  born  in  1828  and  died  in  1872,  was  a  son  of 
Elihu  and  Sylvia  (Humiston)  Dickerman.  He  was  a  farmer.  He 
married  Grace  A.,  daughter  of  Zopher  Blakeslee.  She  died  in  1889. 
Their  children  are:  Sarah  A.,  William  E.,  Robert  E.,  Grace  E.  and  one 
that  died,  Julia  M.  Robert  E.  is  a  farmer  on  the  homestead  of  his 
father. 

Jesse  B.  Goodsell,  .son  of  John  and  Huldah  (Bassett)  Goodsell,  was 
born  in  1830.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  from  Thomas  Goodsell,  who 
settled  in  East  Haven  in   1647.     He  is  a  farmer.     He  taueht  school  a 


HISTORY    OK    NKW    II.WKN    COUNTY.  277 

part  of  thirteen  years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for 
several  years,  acting  school  visitor  for  ten  years  and  sole  acting  visitor 
of  the  town  four  years.  He  is  now  (1890)  filling  his  third  term  as 
selectman,  and  is  also  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  married  Charry  E. 
Tucker,  and  has  one  son,  Wilson  E. 

Robert  Beardsley  Goodyear,  M.  D.— The  ancestral  home  of  the 
Goodyear  family  is  in  England,  where  their  coat  of  arms  is  a  partridge, 
holding  in  its  beak  three  ears  of  wheat — their  motto:  "  Possunt  Quia 
Posse  Videntur."  Stephen  Goodyear,  the  ancestor  of  the  family  in 
this  country,  was  one  of  the  founders  and  principal  men  of  the  New 
Haven  colony.  He  was  a  merchant  from  London  and  was  here  a  man 
of  large  business  and  active  in  public  affairs.  According  to  Doctor 
Bacon  (Hist.  Discourses)  he  had  much  to  do  with  the  civil  govern- 
ment of  the  colon}'  and  was  in  the  extent  of  his  services  and  qualifi- 
cations second  only  to  Governor  Eaton.  He  helped  to  organize  the 
government  of  the  colony  and  was  the  deputy  governor  until  his  death 
in  London,  in  1658.  His  first  wife  was  one  of  the  company  which 
sailed  from  New  Haven  in  1646  in  the  ill-fated  vessel  whose  loss  at  sea 
was  revealed  by  the  "  phantom  ship.""  He  afterward  married  Mrs. 
Lamberton,  the  widow  of  the  master  of  that  unfortunate  bark,  and 
from  this  second  marriage  are  descended  all  of  the  Goodyear  family  in 
this  country — among  them  being,  in  a  long  line  of  descent,  Bela  Hub- 
bard Goodyear,  who  was  married  to  Delia  Ann  Gill,  and  who  was  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Robert  Beardsley  Goodyear,  the  fourth  of  their  family  of  seven 
sons,  was  born  in  North  Haven,  November  4th,  1836.  He  received 
his  early  education  principally  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town  and  Wallingford.  He  was  next,  for  several  years,  a  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  North  Haven  and  other  towns  in  the  state.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  in  1861,  he  was  teaching  a  portion  of 
his  time,  being  also  engaged  in  pursuing  a  preliminary  course  of  study 
with  a  view  of  entering  upon  the  practice  of  the  medical  profes.sion. 
Four  of  his  brothers  had  enlisted  in  the  army  for  the  defense  of  the 
Union,  when  he  also  volunteered  his  services.  He  was  enrolled  in 
September,  1862,  in  Company  B,  27th  Regiment,  Conn.  Volunteers, 
and  was  commissioned  a  sergeant.  He  served  with  his  regiment  until 
the  expiration  of  its  term  of  service  in  July,  1863,  and  was  in  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December  13th,  1862;  at  Chancellorsville 
May  1st,  2d,  and  3d,  1863;  he  was  captured  and  was  a  prisoner  of  war 
at  Richmond  about  two  weeks.+ 

*See  account  in  General  Chapter. 

tOf  the  six  brothers  of  Doctor  Robert  B.  Gotjdj-ear  all  but  the  youngest, 
whose  age  did  not  permit  him  to  volunteer,  were  in  the  army  and  held  more  or 
less  prominent  positions,  obtained  by  meritorious  service.  The  eldest.  Gen.  E. 
D.  S.  Goodyear,  raised  a  company  of  voUmteers  and  was  commissioned  its  cap- 
tain in  the  Tenth  Regt.,  C.  V.  I.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major,  lieut. 
col.  and  colonel  and  brevetted  general  for  gallantry  in  leading  a  charge  on  Fort 


278  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Soon  after  his  i-«tiirn  from  the  arm}^  he  entered  the  Medical  School 
of  Yale  College,  from  which  he  finally  graduated  in  January,  1868.  In 
the  meantime,  he  received  the  appointment  of  resident  physician  of  the 
State  Ho-spital  at  New  Haven,  in  January,  1805;  the  appointment  of 
physician  and  surgeon  of  the  Hartford  Hospital,  in  January  1866;  and 
supplied  a  vacancv  in  the  Retreat  for  the  Insane,  at  Hartford,  under 
the  late  Doctor  John  S.  Butler,  in  1807.  After  his  graduation  he  became 
a  general  practitioner  in  North  Haven  and  has  since  been  successfully 
and  extensively  engaged  in  his  profession  in  this  and  adjoining  towns. 
He  has  also  retained  a  warm  interest  in  education,  serving  for  a  long 
time  as  a  member  of  the  town  board  and  for  ten  years  was  acting 
school  visitor. 

Doctor  Goodyear  was  married,  May  19th,  1869,  to  Jane,  daughter 
of  Norman  Lyman,  of  Hartford,  Conn.  She  died  in  March,  1878, 
leaving  two  children:  Anna  Lyman,  born  February  17th,  1874,  and 
Robert  Walstein,  born  January  9th,  1878.  For  his  second  and  present 
wife,  he  married  Ellen  Maria,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Maria  Good- 
year Hotchkiss,  of  New  Haven,  June  26th,  1884. 

Merwin  E.  Hemingway,  born  in  1831,  is  one  of  eight  children  of 
Augustus  Hemingway,  and  a  brother  of  Willis  B.  Mr.  Hemingway 
is  a  farmer  and  market  gardener.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Medad  Robinson.  She  died  leaving  three  children;  Walter  M., 
Harry  L.  and  Minnie  A.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Fannie  V., 
daughter  of  Grove  Winchell.  They  have  two  sons:  Louis  R.  and 
Clinton  G. 

Willis  B.  Hemingway,  born  in  1820.  is  a  son  of  Augustus  and 
Juline  (Blakeslee)  Hemingway,  and  grandson  of  Samuel,  whose  father 
Samuel,  was  a  son  of  John,  and  he  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Cooper) 

Gregg,  near  Petersburg,  in  ISO."),  in  which  he  was  severely  wounded.  He  partici- 
pated in  nearly  all  the  engagements  of  his  regiment  in  its  service,  from  ISG'2 
until  the  end  of  the  war  in  18Go.  He  ne.xt  served  for  2.5  years  as  inspector  of  the 
New  Haven  custom  house  and  is  now  living  retired  in  North  Haven. 

Simeon  Eldridge,  the  second  brother,  was  an  independent  commissary.  He 
was  captured  at  Winchester,  Va.,  and  was  a  prisoner  several  months.  He  died 
at  Springfield,  Mass.,  January  22d,  1890. 

Edward  L.,  the  third  brother,  enlisted  as  a  musician  in  Company  C,  10th  Regt. 
C.  V.  I.,  and  gallantly  assisted  in  the  care  of  the  wounded,  serving  until  the  sur- 
render of  Lee  in  1865.     He  is  now  postmaster  of  the  North  Haven  office. 

Walstein,  the  fourth  brother,  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  enlist.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  1st  Conn.  Heavy  Artillery;  was  wounded  at  Malvern,  in  the 
Peninsular  Campaign,  taken  prisoner  and  carried  to  Richmond:  paroled  and  died 
from  his  wounds  in  the  hospital  at  Philadelphia. 

Francis  Wilbur,  the  fifth  brother,  was  in  Company  E.  Tth  Regt.  C.  V.  I.:  was 
for  several  months  a  prisoner  at  Andersonville  and  has  never  recovered  from  the 
effects  of  his  imprisonment  at  that  place.  Returning  to  his  command  he  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant  and  was  with  his  company  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

The  youngest  brother.  Stephen  Edgar,  died  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him, 
November  26th,  1871,  aged  24  years. 


^     ^   ^^^^z^^. 


M^. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  279 

Hemingway.  Mr.  Hemingway  has  been  a  farmer  .since  I860.  He  was 
a  brick  maker  and  school  teacher  previous  to  that  time.  He  was 
assessor  for  about  20  years,  selectman  two  terms,  a  member  of  the 
state  board  of  equalization  in  1808,  and  was  in  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives in  1866-7.  He  married  Betsey  B.,  daughter  of  Jonathan  B. 
Huntley,  of  Fair  Haven.  They  have  two  sons:  Frank  W.  and  Edgar 
A.,  both  married. 

Romanta  T.  Lin.sley,  born  in  1882,  is  a  .son  of  Alfred  and  Polly 
(Frisby)  Linsley,  and  grandson  of  Monson  Linsley.  He  is  a  carpenter 
by  trade,  though  he  has  spent  a  part  of  his  life  farming  and  handling 
timber  and  lumber.  He  has  been  six  terms  selectman  and  five  years 
chairman  of  the  board.  He  married  Angeline  B.,  daughter  of  John 
Pardee.     They  lost  one  daughter,  Idora  A. 

George  Munson,  oldest  son  of  James  and  Abigail  (Sackett)  Munson, 
and  grand,son  of  Jonathan  Alunson,  was  born  in  181(1.  He  is  a  farmer 
and  mechanic.  He  was  two  j^ears  assessor,  and  four  years  selectman 
of  North  Haven.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  died  in  1858,  aged 
78  years.  He  had  five  children,  all  of  whom  survive  him:  George, 
Olive,  Eunice,  Willis  and  Louisa. 

Burt  H.  Nichols,  son  of  Wilbur  and  Harriet  N.  (Lewis)  Nichols, 
and  grandson  of  Samuel  Nichols,  was  born  in  ^linnesota  in  1858.  He 
is  a  farmer,  also  agent  for  fertilizers  and  farming  utensils.  He  mar- 
ried Nellie  H.,  daughter  of  George  W.  Smith.  Their  sons  are:  Herbert 
L.  and  Ralph  W.  Mr.  Nichols'  father  was  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
15  months  in  the  2d  Minnesota  Battery.  He  died  in  North  Haven  in 
1889,  aged  02  years. 

Marvin  Olmstead,  born  in  1815,  in  Wilton,  Conn.,  is  a  son  of  Alden 
and  Sally  (Smith)  Olmstead.  He  has  been  a  farmer  in  North  Haven 
since  1867.  He  was  in  the  late  war  nine  months  in  Company  H,  27th 
Connecticut  Volunteers.  He  is  a  member  of  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  5. 
L  O.  O.  F.  He  married  .Sarah,  daughter  of  William  Beers.  She  died 
leaving  one  daughter,  Margaret  A.  (Mrs.  J.  A.  Munson).  His  present 
wife  was  Mrs.  Abigfail  Andrews,  daughter  of  Artemas  Hitchcock. 
She  had  one  son  by  her  former  marriage.  Ambrose  M.  Andrews. 

Henry  J.  Pardee,  born  in  1829,  is  one  of  four  children  of  John  and 
Deborah  (Todd  1  Pardee,  grandson  of  John  and  great-grandson  of  John, 
whose  father  John,  was  the  eldest  son  of  George  and  Martha  ('Miles) 
Pardee,  they  having  been  married  in  1650  by  the  governor.  This 
George  Pardee  served  five  years  as  apprentice  to  Francis  Brown,  a 
tailor.  Henr}'  J.  Pardee  is  a  farmer,  owning  and  occupying  the  home- 
stead where  three  generations  have  been  farmers  before  him.  He 
married  Mrs.  Louisa  Davis,  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Lola  i  Humiston) 
Blakcslee,  and  granddaughter  of  Captain  Philamon,  a  son  of  Isaac 
Blakeslee.  They  have  two  children:  Fannie  A.  (Mrs.  T.  H.  Wallace) 
and  Edwin  H.,  who  has  been  a  card  printer  since  1876.  He  married 
in  1881,  Lizzie  M.,  daughter  of  Matthew  M.  Tyler  of  Fair  Haven. 


280  HISTORY    C)F    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Joseph  Pierpont.  born  in  18."33,  is  a  son  of  Rufus  and  Harriet 
(Richards)  Pierpont,  and  grandson  of  Daniel,  whose  father  Joseph, 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  Pierpont.  Mr.  Pierpont  has  been  a  merchant 
since  187G,  having  succeeded  to  the  business  which  was  established  in 
1848  by  his  father,  who  conducted  it  until  his  death,  when  his  wife 
succeeded  him,  continuing  until  1876.  Mr.  Pierpont  married  Hattie, 
daughter  of  Atwater  Brockett,  and  granddaughter  of  Bathuel  Brockett. 
They  have  three  children:  Grace  G.,  Richards  B.  and  Joseph,  Jr. 

Hubert  F.  Potter,  born  in  Hamden  in  \8^^7,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  F. 
and  Martha  E.  (Pierpont)  Potter,  and  grandson  of  Horace  Potter.  He 
graduated  from  Yale  Business  College  in  March,  1877.  He  is  a  farmer 
and  market  gardener  on  the  farm  where  his  father  lived  for  six  years 
prior  to  his  death  in  1874.  Mr.  Potter  is  a  member  of  Corinthian 
Lodge,  No.  lOH,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  in  1889  he  was  master  of  the  County 
Grange,  P.  of  H.  He  is  now  one  of  the  school  visitors  and  one  of  the 
town  auditors.  He  married  Katie  A.,  daughter  of  John  E.  and  Susan 
C.  (Heaton)  Brockett,  granddaughter  of  Bethuel,  a  son  of  Eli,  whose 
father  Isaiah,  was  a  son  of  John  Brockett.  They  have  one  son, 
Walter  F. 

Reverend  Willi.\m  Thomas  Reynolds,  the  pastor  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  of  North  Haven,  is  a  descendant  of  the  Reynolds 
family,  which  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Wethersfield,  this  state. 
His  great-grandfather,  James  Reynolds,  served  in  the  French  and  In- 
dian wars  and  later  as  a  soldier  in  the  revolution  was  with  the  gallant 
General  Wooster,  when  he  fell  mortally  wounded,  at  the  battle  of  Dan- 
bury.  Near  the  close  of  that  war,  in  the  spring  of  1783,  he  removed  to 
West  Haven,  which  was  his  home  until  his  death,  May8th,  1818.  Of  his 
family  one  of  the  sons,  James  Blakeslee,  the  grandfather  of  Reverend 
W.  T.  Reynolds,  was  born  at  Wethersfield,  April  27th,  17.")4,  and  died 
at  West  Haven,  Januarj-  1st.  1834.  His  onh'  son,  James  Reynolds,  3d, 
was  born  at  that  place  January  27th,  1795.  and  was  the  father  of  him 
whose  life  is  here  sketched.  He  was  a  merchant  and  farmer  and  died 
in  Orange,  November  ITth,  18ri2.  His  first  "vife  was  Hetty,  daughter 
of  Deacon  Ezra  Smith,  also  of  West  Haven,  whose  only  son  to  attain 
manhood  was  the  Reverend  W.  T.  Reynolds,  born  at  West  Haven, 
November  23d,  1823. 

After  spending  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm,  young  William 
Thomas  was  prepared  for  college  at  the  Episcopal  Academy  at  Ches- 
hire and  entered  the  freshman  class  of  Yale  in  1841.  He  graduated 
in  184,'5  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  entered  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Andover,  Mass.,  but  remained  only  one  year.  From  1846  to  1848 
he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  seminary  connected  with  Yale  College, 
graduating  the  latter  year.  Poor  health  prevented  him  from  at  once 
entering  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry  and  he  devoted  several  years 
to  other  duties,  teaching  in  the  academy  at  Adams,  N.  Y.,  in  1851.  In 
October  of  the  same  year,  he  began  to  preach  at  the  Congregational 


/ 


l^t^O^ 


o 


^ 


HISTORY    OP"    NliW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  281 

church  at  Sherman,  Chautauqua  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  ordained 
as  the  pastor  April  22d,  ISoS.  He  continued  in  that  capacity  three 
years,  when  failing  health  compelled  his  return  to  his  native  home, 
where  he  remained  one  year  and  was  much  benefitted. 

In  the  spring  of  ISfiO  he  removed  to  Kiantone,  Chautauqua  county, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  the  minister  of  the  Congregational  church  six 
j-ears.  In  1862  he  returned  to  West  Haven  in  consequence  of  the 
death  of  his  father  and  remained  there  until  April,  1863,  when  he  was 
invited  to  become  acting  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  of  North 
Haven.  In  that  relation  he  served  six  years  when,  in  1869,  he  was 
formally  installed  as  the  pastor.  As  such  he  has  since  continued,  how 
well  is  attested  by  the  uniform  or  increased  prosperity  of  the  church, 
in  spite  of  the  changes  in  population  of  the  town.  At  different 
periods  the  membership  was  increased  in  consequence  of  special 
awakenings  and  the  temporalities  of  the  parish  have  been  much  im- 
proved. 

In  1879  Mr.  Reynolds  took  a  trip  through  European  countries,  in 
the  company  of  his  daughter,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health  and  return- 
ed much  improved.  His  pastorate  is  one  of  the  longest  in  the  county 
and  although  confined  to  narrow  limits  has  conduced  to  the  general 
welfare  of  the  community  where  he  has  so  long  resided.  He  has 
preached  sermons  which  were  published,  and  delivered  a  historical 
discourse,  on  the  occasion  of  the  first  centennial  celebration  of  the 
town's  organization,  October  21st,  1886,  which  has  also  been  issued  in 
pamphlet  form.  By  his  ministerial  associates  Mr.  Reynolds  is  much 
esteemed  and  he  has  held  responsible  trusts  and  offices  in  ecclesiasti- 
cal associations,  in  this  and  other  states. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  18o(),  Mr.  Reynolds  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Maria  Painter,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Alexis  and  Thalia  M. 
Painter.  vShe  was  born  in  Westfield,  Mass.,  January  12th,  1827,  but 
when  eight  years  old  her  parents  returned  to  their  native  place.  West 
Haven,  where  the  Painter  family  was  among  the  first  settlers.  Thomas 
Painter,  her  grandfather,  was  a  brave  .seaman  and  while  fighting  for 
the  independence  of  the  colonies,  in  the  revolution,  was  taken  prisoner 
and  confined  for  a  time  on  the  old  "Jersey  "  prison  ship,  where  he  suf- 
fered all  the  privations  inflicted  upon  those  there  held  in  captivity. 
Five  children  came  to  bless  the  marriage  of  this  couple,  the  two  first 
born  and  the  youngest  dying  in  youth,  namely;  Julia,  born  June  14th, 
18r)2,  died  December  2d,  1867;  Sophia  Eliza,  born  August  3d,  1853, 
died  September  22d,  18.-)4:  and  Mary  Painter,  born  August  24th,  1862, 
died  March  27th,  1868. 

The  third  child,  Anna  ^laria,  was  born  at  Kiantone,  X.  Y.,  August 
12th,  18.')8.  After  being  a  student  at  Wellesley  College  a  little  more 
than  a  year,  she  traveled  six  months  in  Europe  for  her  health,  then 
remained  on  the  continent  to  study  French  and  German.  She  thus 
spent  .several  years  at  Constance,  Heidelberg,  Berlin  and  Paris.     Re- 


282  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

turning  to  this  country  she  engaged  in  teaching  at  Nyack-on-the- 
Hudson.  until  1887,  when  she  entered  into  the  service  of  the  Young 
Women's  Christian  Association.  In  that  department  of  Christian 
effort  she  is  now  (1891 )  the  state  secretary  of  the  Iowa  association. 

James  Bronson.  the  fourth  child  and  only  son,  was  also  born  at 
Kiantone,  March  17th,  1861.  He  graduated  from  the  Hopkins  Gram- 
mar School  in  1879  and  from  Yale  in  1884.  He  then  went  abroad  for 
travel  and  .study,  one  year,  when  he  returned  to  Yale,  where  he  began 
his  theological  studies  in  188o.  He  graduated  in  1888,  when  he  again 
went  to  Europe,  in  the  interests  of  the  International  Committee  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A., "  to  promote  Christian  fellowship  between  students  in  the 
Universities  of  Europe  and  America  and  to  unite  them  together 
in  helpful  relations."  He  has  thus  labored  in  nearly  all  the  European 
universities  and  his  work  in  that  capacity  is  still  successfully  contin- 
ued, with  Paris  as  his  headquarters. 

Willard  A.  Robinson,  born  in  1843,  is  the  youngest  of  eight  chil- 
dren of  Jesse  and  Betsey  (Todd)  Robinson, grandson  of  Harmon,  and 
great-grandson  of  John,  whose  father  John,  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Rob- 
inson. Mr.  Robinson  is  a  farmer.  He  was  postmaster  at  Montowese 
for  about  19  years  prior  to  April.  1889.  He  is  a  member  of  Adelphi 
Lodge,  No.  63,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  married  Georgiana,  daughter  of  Zenas 
O.  and  Lydia  W.  (Smith)  Lombard.  Their  children  are  :  Nellie  E., 
Amelia  J.,  Herbert  W..  Merton  A.  and  Jesse  G. 

Samuel  A.  Sackett,  born  in  1824,  is  the  youngest  son  of  Daniel  and 
Patta  (Brockett)  Sackett,  grandson  of  Eli,  and  great-grandson  of 
Samuel,  whose  father  Joseph,  was  a  son  of  John  .Sackett.  Mr.  Sackett 
is  a  mechanic.  In  company  with  three  brothers  he  built  an  auger  shop 
on  the  Five  Mile  brook  in  1844,  where  they  manufactured  augers  until 
1862,  when  the  factory  was  converted  into  a  saw  mill  and  is  now  owned 
and  run  by  Mr.  Sackett.  He  first  married  Mrs.  Betsey  Blaksley, 
daughter  of  Zopher  Jacobs.  His  present  wife  was  Mrs.  Delia  Maria 
Culver,  daughter  of  Zenas  Young. 

Roswald  J.  Shepherd,  born  in  1862,  is  a  son  of  Franklin,  grandson 
of  Ziba,  and  great-grandson  of  John  Shepherd.  His  maternal  ances- 
tors were:  Sarah  M'.,  Jared',  Joel",  Titus',  Titus",  Joseph',  Joseph',  Rich- 
ard Mansfield'.  Mr.  Shepherd  married  in  1888  Louise  N.,  daughter  of 
vSolomon  Linsley.     They  have  one  daughter,  Margaret. 

Mrs.  Sibyl  Smith,  daughter  of  John  and  Chloe  (Bishop)  Barnes, 
married  Jacob  Smith,  who  was  born  in  1783.  and  died  in  1834.  He  was 
the  son  of  Jacob  Smith.  They  had  three  children:  John  S.  and  Robert, 
both  deceased,  and  Marina — Mrs.  Reverend  Doctor  Bennett  of  Guil- 
ford.    She  has  one  daughter — Mrs.  Doctor  Bishop. 

EzR.-\  Sth.es  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  of  the  pres- 
ent citizens  of  North  Haven.  He  was  born  July  26th,  1804,  the  seventh 
of  a  family  of  eight  children,  and  is  the  only  surviving  member,  all  the 
others — Laura,  Lucina,  Eunice,  Isaac  (father  of  the  present  Lsaac  L.), 


^  '^ii^ 


/  /i 


HISTORY    OK   XE\V/HAVi;X   COLXTV.  283 

Zopher.  Horace  and  Harvey — having  deceased.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac 
C.  and  Eunice  I  Blakeslee)  Stiles  and  a  grandson  of  Isaac,  born  17-29. 
whose  brother  Ezra,  born  1727.  became  president  of  Yale  College. 
They  were  the  sons  of  the  Reverend  Isaac  Stiles,  who  was  born  in 
Windsor  in  1697.  and  who  became  the  pa.stor  of  the  Congregational 
church  of  Xorth  Haven.-  The  Reverend  Isaac  was  a  grandson  of 
John  Stiles,  born  in  England  in  1595,  who  came  to  America  in  1635 
and  who  died  in  Windsor  in  1662.  This  descent  places  the  family  of 
Mr.  Stiles  among  the  very  oldest  of  the  state,  in  which  this  name  has 
been  illustrious  in  church  and  civil  affairs. 

In  the  early  years  of  his  life  Ezra  Stiles  was  a  successful  teacher 
in  the  public  schools,  but  later  became  a  brick  maker,  in  which  occu- 
pation he  was  very  active.  In  later  years  much  of  his  time  was 
absorbed  in  public  affairs,  but  for  a  long  period  he  has  lived  retired. 
Since  1826  his  home  has  been  in  the  house  built  by  the  Reverend 
Doctor  Trumbull,  in  1765,  and  which  remains  in  a  fine  state  of  pres- 
ervation, much  as  it  was  built  by  that  well-known  historian.  On  the 
exterior  are  the  original  clapboards,  beaded,  chamfered  and  fastened 
on  with  English  wrought  nails.  The  famous  studv  of  Doctor  Trum- 
bull,  which  also  served  as  his  private  school  room,  has  been  enlarged 
to  form  a  chamber.  The  historic  desk  upon  which  he  wrote  his  four 
thousand  sermons,  was  detached  from  the  wall  and  presented  by  Mr. 
Stiles  to  the  Xew  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society,  and  it  is  preserved 
among  its  relics. 

Mr.  Stiles  was  thrice  married.  His  first  wife.  Esther  Pierpont. 
died  and  there  is  no  living  issue.  To  his  second  wife,  Mary  Bristol, 
two  sons  were  born,  one  dying  in  youth,  after  the  death  of  his  mother: 
the  other.  Ezra  L.,  born  in  1844,  is  now  a  citizen  of  Xorth  Haven.  He 
served  in  the  rebellion  as  a  member  of  the  13th  Xew  York  Cavalry 
and,  after  the  war,  was  for  ten  years  a  clerk  in  the  adjutant  general's 
office,  of  Connecticut,  ilr.  Stiles  married  his  present  wife,  Frances 
E.  Johnson,  in  1854.  By  this  marriage  there  is  one  son,  Arthur  M.. 
born  in  1865,  and  now  connected  with  the  dry  goods  house  of  Jordan, 
Marsh  &  Co.,  of  Boston. 

Since  his  youth  Mr.  vStiles  has  been  a  devoted  chiirchman  and  a 
member  of  St.  John's  parish.  He  had  a  fine  talent  for  music  and  early 
taught  "  singing  meetings  "  in  the  Episcopal  societv.  and  led  the  first 
chanting  in  St.  John's  church.  He  also  introduced  that  practice  in 
St.  Paul's  church,  Wallingford,  in  1825.  In  his  own  parish  he  was  the 
first  to  use  musical  instruments,  to  assist  the  service  of  song,  and  was 
the  fir-st  organist  of  St.  John's  church.  For  thirty  years  he  was  the 
leader  of  the  church  choir.  He  served  as  parish  clerk  from  1843  until 
1875  and  was  a  warden  of  the  church  from  1845  until  1884.  In  all 
things  he  has  ever  held  the  interests  of  St.  John's  parish  warmlv  at 
heart. 

*See  account  of  the  Church. 


284  IIISTORV    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

In  politics  Mr.  Stile.s  has  always  been  a  consistent  democrat,  but 
frequently  received  the  votes  of  those  belonging  to  other  parties  in 
his  election  to  important  offices.  He  was  for  many  years  the  town 
clerk  and  treasurer  and  served  a  long  term  of  years  on  the  board  of 
education.  In  1833  he  was  elected  a  selectman  and  served,  in  all,  four 
terms  in  that  office.  He  was  a  trial  justice  many  years  and  was  ap- 
pointed probate  judge  of  the  New  Haven  district.  In  184;")  he  was  the 
member  from  North  Haven  in  the  state  house  of  representatives  and 
the  following  year  he  was  honored. by  an  election  to  the  state  senate. 
In  both  houses  he  made  an  honorable  record. 

Ezra  vStiles  has  been  a  prudent,  methodical  business  man  in  his 
own  and  in  public  affairs.  His  nature  is  kind  and  genial  and  being 
blest  with  a  good  memory,  he  is  an  interesting  member  of  former 
generations,  and  is  much  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him  for  his  worth 
as  a  neighbor  and  a  citizen. 

ISA.vc  Lorenzo  Stiles,  son  of  Isaac  Stiles  and  Lois  Cooper,  was  born 
at  North  Haven,  Conn.,  June  28th,  1819.  His  grandfather  was  Isaac 
Clark  Stiles,  and  great-grandfather  Reverend  Isaac  Stiles,  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  church,  North  Haven,  1724-1760.  The  latter  gen- 
tleman was  the  son  of  John  and  was  born  at  Windsor,  Conn.,  in  1(597. 
The  Stiles  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  state.  Of  English  origin, 
the  "  passenger  list  "  of  the  good  ship  "  Christian  "  mentions  that  eight 
persons  of  this  name  were  brought  in  her  to  Boston,  early  in  1634. 
Among  them  was  Francis  Stiles,  who  joined  the  expedition  to  Con- 
necticut, shortly  after,  and  settled  at  Windsor.  According  to  Savage, 
he  was  a  freeman  there  in  1640.  Tradition  avers  that  the  wife  of  his 
son  John  was  the  fii^st  white  woman  to  set  foot  on  Connecticut  soil, 
but  as  this  honor  is  claimed  by  two  other  families  at  least,  limited 
credence  should  be  given  it. 

Mr.  vStiles  was  born  at  a  period  when  industry,  good  character, 
and  sound  religious  views  were  insisted  upon  as  requisites  of  every 
young  penson.  The  first  he  learned  on  his  father's  brick  yard,  the 
second  at  the  family  fireside,  and  the  latter,  by  inheritance,  from  that 
stubborn,  though  staunch  old  divine,  his  great-grandfather.  He  ob- 
tained but  a  limited  education  in  the  district  school.  A  boy  was  an 
indispensable  acquisition  on  a  brick  yard  and  with  the  exception  of  a 
term  or  two  under  the  tuition  of  his  uncle,  Hon.  Ezra  Stiles  (see  this 
volume)  at  the  latter's  house,  which  course  supplemented  a  few  brief 
years  in  the  "  old  red  school  house  on  the  green,"  he  had  no  other  ad- 
vantages. As  said,  he  was  early  put  to  work  on  his  father's  yard 
driving  the  oxen  on  their  weary  round  in  the  clay  tempering  pit,  and 
frequently  falling  asleep  at  his  post.  At  this  occupation — brick  mak- 
ing— he  grew  to  manhood,  becoming  thoroughly  familiar  with  every 
step  in  the  process. 

He  married  first  Sophronia  M.  Blakeslee,  February  16th,  1842. 
Two  children  were  born  of   this  union:    Isaac  W.,  a  dentist  in    New 


I 


■^^ 


^(/  i^ac  ^,  a 


<^ 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVKX    COUNTY.  285 

Haven,  and  Frank  L.,  associated  with  his  father  under  the  name  of  J. 
L.  Stiles  &  Son.  Mrs.  Stiles  died  after  a  long  and  distressing  sickness, 
November  17th,  188G.  He  married  second,  Mrs.  Ellen  (Rich)  Dicker- 
man,  October  23d,  1888. 

Mr.  Stiles  is  one  of  the  foremost  supporters  of  St.  John's  church. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  senior  warden  since  1883,  besides  serving  on 
numberless  special  committees  of  various  nattire.  For  many  years 
he  was  a  valuable  member  of  the  church  choir.  He  is  rarely  absent 
from  church  service,  and  his  liberality  has  often  assisted  the  eccle- 
siastical society  in  emergencies. 

In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  pronounced  republican.  In  1849 
he  was  placed  upon  the  town  ticket  for  selectman,  and  to  the  surprise 
of  the  opposite  party  was  elected,  the  first  whig  on  the  board  for  many 
years.  He  represented  the  town  in  general  assembly  in  1854,  1884  and 
1885,  and  with  such  popularity  that,  in  1890.  much  against  his  wishes, 
he  was  prevailed  upon  to  stand  as  senator  for  the  Seventh  district,  but 
was  beaten  by  local  issues  in  the  Naugatuck  valley.  This  defeat  was 
tempered,  however,  by  the  fact  that  he  ran  far  in  advance  of  his  ticket, 
even  exceeding  the  vote  for  governor  in  the  district.  His  sound 
judgment,  fairness  and  liberality,  have  made  him  sought  for  advice 
in  a  multitude  of  ways  by  his  townsmen.  It  is  the  exercise  of  these 
same  qualities  in  his  business  relations  that  has  made  his  name  hon- 
ored throughou,t  a  wide  circle  and  brought  financial  success.  From  a 
few  thousands  of  brick  indifferently  made  half  a  centitry  ago,  he  has 
seen  the  business  grow  to  millions,  and  is  now  the  oldest  practical  brick 
manufacturer  in  the  town. 

Shelikix  Br.\inerd  Thorpe,  son  of  Dennis  and  Elmina  (Bassett) 
Thorpe,  was  born  in  Xorth  Haven,  February  21st,  1838.  He  is  in  the 
eighth  generation  from  William  Thorpe,  who  came  with  the  colony 
under  Davenport  to  New  Haven,  in  1638.  In  English  genealogy  he 
traces  his  family  line  to  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror,  or  about 
1060.  His  ancestor,  Nathaniel  Thorpe,  in  the  second  generation  from 
William  the  colonist,  was  one  of  the  first  .settlers  of  North  Haven,  in 
1670. 

Mr.  Thorpe  received  his  education  in  the  poor  district  schools  of 
that  period  and  attended  a  few  terms  the  academy  at  North  Haven, 
walking  four  miles  daily  for  that  privilege.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
himself  began  to  teach  at  Northford  and  "boarded  around"  among 
his  patrons.  The  following  winter  he  taught  at  Hamden  Plains  and 
later  several  years  in  his  native  town.  August  9th,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  K,  loth  Connecticut  Infantry;  was  promoted  to  second 
sergeant:  served  until  after  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December. 
1862;  was  taken  sick  and  discharged  for  disability  May  1st,  1863. 

In  1865  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  H.  &  N.  H.  Railroad  Com- 
pany, at  Windsor  Locks,  Conn.,  and  was  with  that  corporation  a  couple 
of  years.     Later  he  was  four  years  in  the  service  of  the  Adams  Ex- 


286 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    CtJlNTV. 


press  Company.  December  2.")tli,  ISfi.').  he  married  Isabel  Jane  Barnes, 
of  North  Haven,  and  the^- have  two  children — Gardiner  Ellsworth  and 
Arthur  Barnes.  In  1871  he  returned  to  North  Haven  and  built  the  fine 
home  since  occupied  by  him  and  his  family. 

Mr.  Thorpe  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
and  has  since  been  an  ardent  republican.  By  that  party  he  was  hon- 
ored with  an  election  to  the  state  legislature  for  the  session  of  1881. 
He  has  also  held  various  town  offices  and  for  the  past  twenty  years 
has  been  on  the  board  of  education.  In  18,58  he  united  with  the 
Congregational  church,  in  who.se  welfare  and  that  of  the  -Sunday 
school  he  has  been  warmly  interested,  serving  four  years  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  latter  and  since  1878  has  been  clerk  of  the  Ecclesiasti- 
cal .Society,  besides  holding  many  other  positions  in  the  church  and 
parish. 

The  life  of  Sheldon  B.  Thorpe  is  full  of  unceasing  activity.  He 
is  a  member  of  Trumbull  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  ]\I.:  and  of  Admiral  Foote 
Po.st,  G.  A.  R.  When  the  Connecticut  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution  was  formed,  he  was  one  of  the  charter  members  and  the 
first  two  years  managed  that  organization.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society  and  a  writer  of  good  repute  on 
historical  subjects.  After  years  of  patient  toil  and  research  he  has 
nearly  completed  for  publication  a  history  of  his  native  town  and  is 
also  prosecuting  his  work  upon  the  genealogy  of  his  ancestor  William 
Thorpe  and  his  descendants.  The  foregoing  sketch  of  the  town  of 
North  Haven  is  also  from  his  pen. 

F^RAXcis  Hayden  Todd. — The  Todd  family  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  best  known  in  the  town.  Its  members  are  direct  descendants  of 
Christopher  Todd  and  Grace  Middlebrook.early  settlers  at  New  Haven. 
Near  the  close  of  the  la.st  century  Joel  Todd,  the  grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  married  Mabel  Mansfield,  daughter  of  Titus 
Mansfield,  of  Hamden,  and  settled  on  the  Todd  homestead,  below  the 
village  of  North  Haven.  Part  of  the  original  house,  built  by  them 
about  1795,  still  remains,  and  has  been  continuously  occupied  by  three 
generations  of  the  family.  Joel  Todd  died  in  1820,  but  his  widow 
survived  him  until  after  1850.  Their  family,  consisting  of  five  chil- 
dren, were  Dennis,  Orrin,  George,  Salome  and  Caleb.  Of  these  Orrin 
was  born  February  26th,  1800,  and  was  married  October  30th,  1828,  to 
Aurelia,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Patience  (Todd)  Clinton,  of  Walling- 
ford.  He  lived  on  this  homestead  until  his  death  December  8th, 
1889 — one  of  the  oldest  men  of  the  town.  His  widow  still  survives, 
at  the  same  place.  They  reared  as  children  Francis  Hayden,  Grace 
Angeline  (wife  of  Samuel  Hale,  of  California),  Henry  Dennis,  also  of 
North  Haven,  and  Mary  Aurelia,  who  deceased  in  November,  1886, 
as  the  wife  of  Eli  I.  Brockett. 

Francis  Hayden   Todd  was  born  on   this  homestead,  August  8th, 
1827,  and  has  followed  his  grandfather  and  father  in  its  occupancy. 


eip  ^. 


y. 


HISTORV    OK    M;\V    haven    COINTV.  287 

He  altcnded  the  public  and  private  schools  of  the  town  and  like  his 
ancestors  adopted  the  life  of  a  farmer,  in  which  occupation  he  is  en- 
terprising and  progressive.  He  is  a  member  of  the  North  Haven 
Grange  and  a  director  of  the  successful  Patrons'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  of  Connecticut.  Mr.  Todd  is  not  only  a  successful  farmer 
but  he  has  made  an  honorable  record  as  a  useful  citizen  in  public 
affairs.  Elected  tirst  as  a  grand  juror  in  1864,  he  has  since,  with  the 
exception  of  two  years,  filled  that  office,  and  it  has  been  to  his  efforts 
largely  that  the  law  and  order  of  the  town  have  been  so  well  con- 
served. He  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  that  office  in  the  county. 
In  October,  1891,  he  was  elected  for  the  sixteenth  time  treasurer  of 
North  Haven  and  yearly  disburses  the  several  funds  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  fellow  townsmen.  In  1888  the  republicans  (of 
which  party  he  has  been  a  member  since  its  organization*  elected  him 
as  their  representative  in  the  state  legislature  and  in  that  body  he 
served  with  credit  as  a  member  of  the  committee  on  agriculture.  He 
was  also  a  selectman  four  terms  and  has  held  other  public  trusts  which 
have  made  him  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1855,  Mr.  Todd  married  Aliss  Elizabeth 
M.  Gill,  daughter  of  John  Henry  and  Louisa  (Tuttle)  Gill,  of  North 
Haven,  and  they  have  reared  three  sons:  George  Henry,  born  October 
81st,  1861:  John  Hayden.born  November  14th,  1866;  William  Handel, 
born  March  oth,  1871.  All  are  citizens  of  North  Haven  and  the 
entire  family  are  consistent  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 

Henry  D.  Todd,  son  of  Orrin,  and  grandson  of  Joel  Todd,  was  born 
in  1832,  and  is  a  farmer.  He  served  from  September,  1862,  until  July, 
1868,  in  Company  B,  27th  Conn.  Vol.  He  married  Grace  A.,  daughter 
of  Bernard  and  Sarah  A.  i  Bishop)  Hartley,  and  granddaughter  of 
Henry  Hartley. 

Edmund  C.  Warner,  son  of  Rufus  and  Harriet  (Dorman)  Warner, 
and  grandson  of  Isaac  Warner,  was  born  in  1840  in  Hamden.  He  is  a 
farmer,  having  moved  to  North  Haven  from  Hamden  in  1866.  He 
has  been  selectman  two  terms.  He  married  Vestina,  daughter  of  Vinus 
Wooding.  Their  children  are:  Wilson  H.,  Alice  V.,  Herbert  E., 
Elton  v.,  L.  Jane,  and  one  daughter  that  died  in  infancy. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE  TOWN  OF  HAMDEN. 


Location  and  Natural  Features. — Early  Agricultural  Industries. — The  Early  Settlers 
and  their  Descendants. — Population. — Civil  Organization. — Town  Poor. — Town 
Hall. — Town  Clerks. — Public  Thoroughfares  — Manufacturirg  Interests. — Hamlets, 
Post  Offices,  etc. — Masonic  Lodge. — Schools. — Mt.  Carmel  (Congregational  Church. 
— Congregational  Church  in  Whitneyville. — Grace  CInircli  (Protestant  Episcopal). — 
St.  Mary's  Church  (Roman  Catliolic). — Hamden  Plains  Methodist  Episcopal  Cliurcli. 
— The  New  LeljanoTi  Mission. — Cemeteries. — Water  Works  and  Parks. — Biographi- 
cal Sketches. 


THE  town  of  Hamden  is  centrally  situated  in  the  county,  lying 
between  the  broad  valley  of  the  Quinnipiac  river  on  the  east, 
and  the  West  Rock  range  on  the  west,  which  separates  it  from 
Woodbridge  and  Bethany.  On  the  north  are  the  towns  of  Cheshire 
and  Wallingford;  east  lies  the  town  of  North  Haven,  and  on  the  sonth 
are  the  city  and  the  town  of  New  Haven,  from  which  Hamden  was 
cut  off  in  1786.  The  town  thus  has  an  approximate  area  of  32  square 
miles,  being  about  eight  miles  from  south  to  north  and  from  three  to 
five  miles  in  width.  It  is  probable  that  the  name  was  given  in  compli- 
ment to  John  Hampden,  the  English  patriot,  and  in  some  of  the  early 
records  and  contemporary  writings  it  so  appears,  instead  of  Hamden, 
which  is  more  euphonious  and  more  readily  written. 

The  borders  of  the  town  are  mountainous  or  hilly,  partaking  of 
the  characteristics  of  the  foregoing  ranges,  which  are  a  succession  of 
elevations,  composed  of  trap  rock  and  green  stone  formation,  the 
latter  affording  a  splendid  building  stone.  At  the  south  end  of  the 
town  the  West  Rock  range  is  380  feet  hieh,  increasing  in  elevation  to 
600  feet,  opposite  the  Blue  hills,  or  Mt.  Carmel,  as  this  elevation  is 
now  most  generally  called.  This  varies  from  (iOd  to  800  feet  in  height, 
and  overtops  all  the  surrounding  country.  In  one  locality  its  contour 
resembles  a  huge  man,  in  a  recumbent  position,  hence  it  is  also  called 
the  "Sleeping  Giant."  .The  western  descent  of  the  main  mountain 
is  the  most  lofty  and  is  almost  precipitous,  forming  one  of  the  most 
striking  objects  in  the  county.  At  its  foot  is  a  defile,  separating  it 
from  the  neighboring  hill,  which  is  called  the  "Steps,"  and  through 
which  the  Mill  river  breaks  its  way,  following  in  its  general  course 
the  East  Rock  ranges.  Of  this  elevation  the  southern  bluff  is  360 
feet  high  and  Whitney's  Peak,  in  the  rear,  is  300  feet  high.  These 
outlying  ranges   have  subordinate  or   projecting  inward  spurs,  Mill 


IlISTokV    OF    NEW    IIAVKX    COUNTY.  289 

Rock.  225  feet  hi^'h,  stretching  westward  from  East  Rock,  and  Pine 
Rock,  271  feet  high,  extending  eastward  from  West  Rock.  The  main 
ranges  received  their  names  from  their  relative  position  to  New  Haven 
and  the  others  from  local  circumstances.  Between  the  last  named 
hills  and  extending  toward  Mt.  Carmel,  isa  comparatively  level  stretch 
of  land,  called  Hamden  plains.  It  undulates  gently  toward  tidewater 
and  is  composed  mainly  of  alluvial  deposits,  in  many  localities  sand 
predominating.  Environed  as  the  town  is  by  the  foregoing  hills,  there 
is  a  most  pleasing  landscape,  and  in  parts  it  is  also  picturesque. 

Mill  river,  with  its  aiifluent  brooks,  drains  the  eastern  and  central 
parts  of  the  town,  flowing  through  its  entire  length  and  having  a  slope 
of  about  fifteen  feet  per  mile.  After  filling  Whitney  lake,  it  passes 
into  New  Haven,  between  the  East  Park  and  Mill  Rock.  Wilmot 
brook  drains  the  western  part  of  Hamden,  taking  the  waters  of  Cran- 
berry lake  and  flowing  into  the  West  river,  in  the  town  of  New  Haven. 
Its  course  is  between  the  West  Rock  and  Pine  Rock  hill.  These 
streams  take  the  waters  of  numerous  brooks,  flowing  from  constant 
springs,  Hamden  being  well  favored  in  that  respect. 

In  the  lower  ranges  of  hills  are  fine  quarries  of  building  stone,  of 
the  green  stone  variety;  and  the  trap  rock  has  also  been  quarried  for 
paving  purposes.  The  more  valuable  minerals  also  abound  to  .some 
extent,  of  which  copper  is  the  most  abundant.  It  is  probable  that 
most  of  it  was  floated  into  the  town  during  the  glacial  period.  The 
finding  of  a  large  mass  of  copper,  weighing  about  90  pounds,  in  one 
of  the  Mt.  Carmel  hills  by  Josiah  Todd  while  he  was  gathermg  wild 
fruit,  soon  after  the  revolution,  encouraged  the  belief  that  the  town 
had  copper  in  large  quantities  and  much  time  and  means  were  spent 
in  seeking  for  it.  Many  mining  leases  were  executed  and  at  the  Tall- 
man  mine,  on  Ridge  hill,  near  the  north  line  of  the  town,  excavations 
of  considerable  extent  were  made.  But  in  this,  as  in  many  other  cases, 
later  than  1837  (about  which  time  the  first  operations  took  place), 
there  was  not  enough  ore  developed  to  pay  the  expenses  of  working. 
But  little  mining  has  been  done  since  1804. 

The  soil  of  the  town  is  variable  but  is  adapted  to  the  production 
of  the  ordinary  crops,  and  agriculture  was  for  many  years  the 
principal  pursuit.  It  can  usually  be  advantageously  fertilized,  and  it  is 
claimed  that  the  menhaden  fertilizing  works  of  William  D.  Hall, in  ISSG, 
were  among  the  first  of  that  nature  in  the  Union.  Its  products  were 
used  with  good  effects  in  the  town.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  crops, 
attention  has  been  paid  to  crops  of  special  culture,  tobacco  being  ex- 
tensively grown  from  ]8r)4  to  186.');  peaches  prior  to  1850  and  on  a 
limited  scale  since;  cherries  have  been  grown  on  an  extensive  scale 
and  Cherry  hill,  on  the  West  Rock  range,  derived  its  name  from  that 
fact.  In  that  locality  the  peach  was  also  very  productive  many  years, 
but  in  later  periods  has  suffered  from,  the  disease  called  "yellows." 
18 


290  HISTORV    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

In  1775  Benjamin  Douglas,*  a  lawyer  of  New  Haven,  planted  an 
orchard  of  64  cherrs' trees  near  East  Rock,  all  being  of  the  grafted 
variety,  which  yielded  fine  crops  many  years. 

In  the  period  of  the  Morns  Mnlticauliis  excitement  many  mulberry 
trees  were  planted  in  the  town,  there  being  in  183G,according  to  J.  W. 
Barber,  more  than  one  hundred  acres  in  the  town  set  aside  for  this 
purpose,  and  native  silk  was  reeled  and  spun  from  the  cocoons  raised 
in  the  town.  But  as  a  permanent  industry  it  never  took  an  important 
place  and  was  soon  abandoned,  the  people  of  Hamden  sharing  the 
experience  of  other  towns  in  this  matter.  In  more  recent  years 
dairying  has  become  an  important  industry,  and  considerable  atten- 
tion is  paid  to  improved  stock. 

Hamden  was  settled  by  the  colony  of  New  Haven  and  was  in- 
cluded in  the  Indian  lands  purchased  for  the  colony  by  Reverend 
John  Davenport  and  Theophilus  Eaton,  November  24th,  1638.  Many 
evidences  have  been  found  that  this  was  favorite  ground  for  the  In- 
dians, but  in  their  own  affairs  or  relations  to  the  whites  nothing  of 
importance  appears  to  have  transpired.  The  Indians  were  peaceable 
and  the  whites  mingled  among  them  as  hunters  or  grazed  their  cattle 
here  long  before  it  was  permanently  occupied  by  the  planters  of  the 
colony  To  Jonathan  Ives-f  is  given  the  credit  of  being  one  of  the  first 
white  men  to  rear  a  home  in  the  wilds  of  Central  Hamden.  In  1735  he 
first  located  on  the  bank  of  Mill  river,  not  far  from  the  locality  called 
Ivesville,  but  afterward  lived  on  the  turnpike.  When  he  came  he  was  a 
single  man  but  in  1837  married  Thankful  Cooper  and  of  their  eight  chil- 
dren four  were  sons,  one  only  of  whom  remained  in  the  town — Jona- 
than, who  remained  on  his  father's  place.  This  became  known,  in  more 
recent  times,  as  the  Dickerman  place.  James  Ives,  who  was  born  in 
Hamden,  was  the  father  of  Elam  Ives,  also  born  in  Hamden,  about 
1762.  The  latter  and  his  sons.  Parsons,  Jason,  Elam,  Henry  and 
James,  were  among  the  foremost  in  developing  the  manufacturing  in- 
terests of  the  town.  The  name  is  still  honorably  perpetuated  in  this 
and  adjoining  towns. 

Stephen  Goodyear,  who  came  to  New  Haven  in  1638  and  was 
chosen  magistrate  and  was  deputy  governor  from  1641  until  his  death 
in  London,  in  1658,  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  colony.  From 
him,  it  is  said,  descended  all  the  Goodyears  in  America,  and  he  was 
thus  the  ancestor  of  the  numerous  Goodyear  family  in  Hamden. 
Among  these  were  Asa,  one  of  the  first  selectmen;  Theophilus  and 
Stephen,  who  held  that  office  later;  Asa,  Jr.,  Titus,  Jared  and  Eli,  all 
of  whom  were  admitted  freemen  prior  to  1796.  Charles  Goodyear, 
the  discoverer  of  vulcanizing  rubber,  was  a  son  of  Amasa  Goodyear, 
of  this  line  of  descent,  but  not  of  Hamden.  William  B.  Goodyear 
and  Watson  A.  Goodyear,  both  of  whom  became  distinguised  in  tlieir 
avocations,  are  natives  of  the  town. 

*Blake's  Hamden,  p.  90.     +Blake's  Hamden  Centenary,  p.  S.je. 


HISTORY    OK    Ni:\V    Il.WKN    COUNTY.  291 

Among  the  planters  of  the  colony  in  in:59  were  members  of  the 
Tuttle  family,  and  one  of  the  descendants,  Nathaniel,  born  in  1670, 
settled  at  Tuttle's  bridge,  on  the  Quinnipiac.  His  fourth  son,  also 
Nathaniel,  born  in  1714,  married  Mary  Todd  in  1737,  and  settled  in 
Hamden.  They  were  the  parents  of  Jesse  Tuttle,  born  in  17.-)9,  who 
died  in  Hamden,  in  1849,  aged  90  years.  He  was  the  father  of  Am- 
brose, Jesse  and  Leverett  Tuttle,  all  of  them  prominent  in  the  town's 
affairs.  The  latter  was  the  captain  of  the  Hamden  men  in  the  war 
of  1812  and  was  the  father  of  Judge  Horace  Tuttle,  Lewis  Tuttle, 
Henry  Tuttle  and  Dennis  Tuttle,  some  of  whom  attained  more  than 
ordinary  distinction  in  the  town,  or  in  their  new  homes.  This  may 
also  be  said  of  earlier  generations  of  Tuttles,  having  among  them 
Lyman,  Levi,  Asa,  Amasa,  Eli,  Julius  and  Je.s.se  S. 

The  Todds  were  also  early  settlers  and  active  in  affairs,  Christo- 
pher Todd  owning  the  old  colonial  mill,  at  Mill  Rock,  many  years. 
Asa  Todd,  born  in  1723,  was  one  of  the  Hamden  soldiers  killed  when 
the  British  invaded  New  Haven,  July  .Oth,  1779.  His  daughter  Eliza- 
beth, who  had  married  Captain  Solomon  Phipps  in  1779,  at  this  time 
fled  to  her  ancestral  home,  on  Cherry  hill,  taking  with  her  in  a  chaise 
her  young  daughter  Elizabeth,  who  married  Captain  Jonathan  Mix  in 
1800,  and  she  long  resided  at  that  place  in  an  old  fashioned  farm 
house,  which  was  taken  down  in  184,^).  The  only  child  of  Captain 
and  Mrs.  Mix,  married  Elihu  Blake,  who  built  a  new  mansion  on 
Cherry  hill,  and,  it  is  said,  so  named  that  locality.  Captain  Jonathan 
Mix  also  served  in  the  revolution,  as  captain  of  marines,  and  was  im- 
prisoned in  the  Jersey  prison  ship.  After  the  war  he  turned  his 
attention  to  inventions  and  patented  so  many  different  kinds  of  carriage 
springs  that  he  may  be  regarded  as  the  father  of  that  industry  in 
America.  The  other  Mix  families  in  the  town  descended  from  Thomas 
Mix,  who  moved  to  Hamden  before  its  incorporation  and  had  sons 
named  Benjamin,  Zina  and  Stephen.  The  former  was  the  father  of 
Norris  Bennett  Mix,  who  has  been  very  active  m  the  later  affairs  of 
the  town. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  town  settled  Daniel  Gilbert,  a  grandson 
of  Deput}'  Governor  Matthew  Gilbert.  He  had  five  sons — Matthew. 
Solomon,  Caleb,  Michael  and  John.  The  latter  two  were  killed  at  the 
invasion  of  New  Haven,  by  the  British,  July  5th,  1779.  John  Gilbert 
was  at  that  time  the  captain  of  the  LTp-town  militia  company  and  when 
he  received  word  that  the  British  were  coming  up  on  the  west  side 
of  the  West  river,  to  cross  at  Thompson's  bridge,  he  rallied  as  many 
of  his  men  as  he  could  to  intercept  them.  In  an  engagement  that  day 
five  of  his  men  were  killed  outright  and  Captain  Gilbert  himself  was 
wounded.  "  L^pon  being  ordered  to  surrender  by  the  British  Captain 
Parker,  whose  troops  confronted  him.  Captain  Gilbert  asked:  '  Will 
you  spare  our  lives?'  'No,  you  d — d  rebel,'  and  ordered  a  soldier  to 
shoot  him.     Captain  Gilbert  replied :    '  We'll   never  surrender,'  and 


292  HISTORY   OF   NKW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

shot  Captain  Parker  so  that  he  fell  wounded  from  his  horse.  Captain 
Gilbert  was  then  pierced  with  bayonets  and  his  skull  was  broken  with 
the  butt  of  a  gun.""  He  wag  at  that  time  nearly  48  years  old  and  was 
the  father  of  Jesse  Gilbert,  who  was  born  in  1762  and  died  in  1833, 
leaving  four  sons  who,  with  their  descendants,  were  mainly  the  (iil- 
berts  who  figured  in  the  afTairs  of  Hamden. 

The  Bassetts  were  also  early  settlers,  John  Bassett  being  one  of 
the  first,  leaving  a  .son  James,  who  reared  a  large  family.  Of  these, 
two  sons,  James  and  Timothy,  were  soldiers  under  Captain  John  Gil- 
bert and  were  both  wounded  July  .Ith,  1779,  Timothy  being  left  for 
dead,  -f  He  afterward  lived  on  Shepherd's  brook  and  suffered  much 
all  his  life  from  his  wound.  In  1819  he  built  what  was  considered  at 
that  time  the  best  house  in  the  town.  The  following  year  he  died. 
His  son,  Jared,  born  in  1789,  who  afterward  lived  on  this  place,  held 
many  important  town  and  state  offices  and  was  widely  known  as 
"Squire  "  Bassett.     He  died  in  1855,  most  highly  respected  by  all. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  town  lived  the  AUings,  of  whom  Caleb  and 
Abraham  took  a  keen  interest  in  public  affairs.  The  latter  was  after- 
ward pastor  of  the  Hamden  Plains  church.  In  the  same  locality  and 
farther  north  were  members  of  the  Benham  family,  some  of  the  descend- 
ants still  remaining.  The  Bradleys  were  more  numerous,  coming  prob- 
ably from  North  Haven,  where  Major  William  Bradley  settled  very 
early  in  the  history  of  the  New  Haven  colony.  In  Hamden  were,  before 
1790,  Alvan,  jabez,  Amasa,  Levi,  Eli,  Jabez,  Jr.,  and  Daniel,  Jr.,  some  of 
whom  were  frequently  called  to  hold  public  office.  Of  the  later  mem- 
bers, David  Bradley  was  ordained  a  Baptist  clergyman  in  1828,  and 
frequently  held  meetings  in  the  northwestern  parts  of  the  town. 

The  descendants  of  Deacon  Isaac  Dickerman,  of  the  "  First  Society" 
of  New  Haven,  were  also  early  in  the  town,  Samuel  Dickerman,  his 
son,  being  a  large  farmer  in  Hamden.  He  had  sons  Isaac,  Samuel, 
James  and  Chauncey,  some  of  whom  became  well-known.  Another 
son  of  the  Deacon  Isaac,  above  noted,  was  Jonathan  Dickerman.  who 
was  also  a  large  land  holder.  His  children  were  Enos,  Jonathan, 
Hezekiah,  Joel,  Amos  and  Rebecca.  From  these  have  descended  a 
long  line  of  worthy  citizens,  many  of  them  being  at  this  time  residents 
of  Hamden. 

When  the  town  was  organized  Simeon  Bristol  was  one  of  the  most 
active  participants.  He  was  a  man  of  property  and  was  a  slave 
owner.  The  family  became  few  in  numbers  and  has  passed  away. 
So,  also,  the  Ford  family,  in  its  day,  was  very  influential.  Thomas 
Leek,  2d,  a  grandson  of  Philip  Leek,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  New 
Haven,  made  some  early  improvements  in  Hamden,  probably  being 
among  the  first  to  make  a  permanent  home.  Descendants  remain. 
Russell  Pierpont,  born  in  1763,  succeeded  Simeon  Bristol  as  town  clerk 
in  1801,  and  held  the  office  until  1842.  His  ancestors  were  leading 
*From  Hamden  Centenary,  p.  iW.      fHamden  Centenary,  p.  234. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  293 

men,  the  Reverend  James  Pierpont,  pastor  of  the  First  New  Haven 
church  in  1685,  being  one  of  the  founders  of  Yale  College. 

In  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town  many  members  of  the  War- 
ner family  lived,  so  that  locality  came  to  be  called  Warnertown. 
Others  of  Hamden's  early  citizens,  whom  the  town  delights  to  honor, 
have  been  the  Putnams,  Whitings,  Whitneysand  families  represented 
b}^  the  names  of  the  members  of  the  Seventeenth  Company  or  Train 
Band  of  the  Second  Regiment,  which  was  maintained  in  the  territory, 
now  forming  a  part  of  Hamden,  in  1770  and  later.  This  list  is  compiled 
from  Barber's  "  History  of  Connecticut,"  and  some  of  the  given 
names  appear  missing:  Captain,  Stephen  Ford;  lieutenant,  John 
Gillis;  ensign,  Elisha  Booth:  clerk,  Charles  Ailing;  drummers,  Sam- 
uel Cooper,  Hezekiah  Tuttle;  corporals,  Caleb  Ailing,  Moses  Gilbert, 
Joseph  Gilbert,  ISIoses    Ford;    privates,  Zadock  Ailing,  Amos  Ailing, 

Medad  Atwater,  Abraham  Ailing,  Ebenezer , Bassett, 

Ball,   Bradley, Bassett,  Timothy  Cooper,  Dan.  Carrington, 

Hezekiah  Dickerman,  Jonathan  Ford,  Stephen  Ford,  Nathaniel  Ford, 
Daniel  Ford,  Michael  Gilbert,  Gregson  Gilbert,  Lemuel  Gilbert,  Daniel 
Gilbert,  Ebenezer  M.  Gilbert,  John  Gorham,  Amos  Gilbert.  Sackett  Gil- 
bert, Nathaniel  Heaton,  Jr.,  Hembertan,  John    Munson,  John 

Manser,  Jabez  Munson,  John  Munson,  Jr.,  Job  Potter,  Abel  Potter, 
Timothy  Potter.  Levi  Potter.  Stephen  Potter,  Amos  Potter,  John  Roe, 
Abel  Stockwell,  Thos.  Wm.Talmadge,  Gordain  Turner,  Japhet  Tuttle 
Josiah  Talmadge,  Israel  Woodin,  Silas  Woodin. 

On  the  iith  of  July,  1779,  this  company  was  commanded  by  Captain 
John  Gilbert  and  was  engaged  to  repel  the  advance  of  the  British  upon 
New  Haven,  commanded  by  Major  General  Tryon,  when  six  of  its 
men  were  killed,  namely.  Captain  John  Gilbert,  Michael  Gilbert, 
Samuel  Woodin,  Silas  Woodin,  Joseph  Dorman  and  Asa  Todd.  Most 
of  them  were  cut  off  by  a  charge  of  grape  shot,  fired  near  the  west 
end  of  Broadway,  in  the  city  of  New  Haven. 

The  names  of  other  prominent  settlers  appear  in  the  following 
pages.  In  1790,  when  the  first  census  of  the  town  was  taken,  there 
was  a  population  of  1,422.  In  the  next  two  decades  there  was  a  slow 
increase,  followed  by  a  diminished  population  in  the  next  two  decades. 
In  1840  the  inhabitants  numbered  1,797  and  since  that  time,  each 
census  shows  a  healthy  increase.  In  1880  the  population  was  3,408, 
and  in  1890  3,882. 

Hamden  was  incorporated  as  a  town  by  the  May,  1786,  general 
assembly,  to  embrace  the  parish  of  Mount  Carmel  and  the  district  of 
the  17th  Military  Company  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  the  state 
militia,  both  being  parts  of  the  town  of  New  Haven.  Provision  was 
made  to  give  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  town  privilege,  on  equal 
terms  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  old  town,  "to  catch  Fish,  Oysters, 
Clams  and  Shells  within  the  bounds  of  said  New  Haven";  and, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Haven   were  not  to  be 


294  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

hindered    "from   gettin,^  Stone   from   the   East  and   West   Rocks  as 
usual." 

The  bounds  of  the  Military  Company  began  "at  the  foot  of  the 
long  bridge  (so  called)  from  thence  a  straight  line  to  the  dwelling 
house  owned  by  Mr.  Hezekiah  Sabin,  now  in  possession  of  George 
Peckham,  thence  on  the  north  side  of  said  house  in  a  straight  line  to 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  farm  lately  owned  by  Capt.  John  Hub- 
bard, deceased,  thence  in  the  line  of  .said  farm  to  the  top  of  the  West 
Rock,  thence  on  said  Rock  northerly  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Wood- 
bridge,  thence  in  the  line  of  said  Woodbridge  to  the  southwest  corner 
of  Mount  Carmel  .Society,  thence  in  the  south  line  of  said  Society  to 
North  Haven  line,  thence  upon  said  line  to  the  East  River,  thence 
along  the  middle  of  said  River  to  the  first  mentioned  corner." 

The  bounds  of  the  parish  of  Mount  Carmel,  as  finally  fixed  by  the 
assembly,  in  October,  17r)8,  were  as  follows:  "Beginning  at  the  south- 
east corner  at  the  mouth  of  .Shepherd's  Brook,  where  said  brook  falls 
into  the  Mill  River:  thence  running  westward  a  parallel  line  with  the 
line  on  the  south  side  of  the  half  division,  so  called,  tuito  the  east  line 
of  the  parish  of  Amity:  thence  northward  in  said  line  to  Wallingford 
bounds,  and  to  extend  northward  from  the  first  mentioned  bounds  by 
.said  river,  being  the  west  line  of  North  Haven  Parish  bounds,  luitil 
it  comes  to  the  south  side  of  James  Ives's  farm,  and  to  run  eastwardly 
a  parallel  line  with  the  south  line  of  said  James  Ives's  farm,  until 
it  comes  to  a  highway  four  rods  wide:  thence  north  by  said  highway 
unto  Ithamar  Todd's  farm,  including  said  farm  within  the  limits  of 
said  Parish,  and  thence  to  the  Blue  Hills,  so  called,  and  to  run  east- 
wardly by  a  highway  four  rods  wide,  that  is,  by  the  southward  side 
of  the  Blue  Hill  land,  so  called, 'until  it  comes  to  a  highway  six  rods 
wide,  that  runs  northwardly  by  the  east  side  of  Lt.  Blacksley's  house, 
to  run  by  said  highwaj-  until  it  comes  north  of  the  widow  Todd's 
dwelling  house,  thence  eastwardly  on  the  .southward  side  of  the  said 
Blue  Hill  until  it  comes  to  Wallingford  bounds,  at  the  east  end  of  said 
hill,  and  thence  westwardly,  in  the  north  side  line  of  New  Haven 
bounds  into  said  Amity  line." 

These  divisions  will  be  recognized  as  constituting  the  southern  and 
the  northern  parts  of  the  present  town. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  June, 
17S6,  and  Simeon  Bristol  moderated.  He  was  also  appointed  town 
clerk  and  was  one  of  the  first  selectmen.  His  associates  on  that  board 
were  John  Hubbard,  Asa  Goodyear,  Samuel  Dickerman,  Moses  Gil- 
bert. Other  town  officers  elected  were  as  follows :  Constables,  Sam- 
uel Humiston,  George  A.  Bristol;  listers,  Samuel  Bellamy,  Jonathan 
Ives,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Gaylord,  Jr.,  Stephen  Goodyear,  Job  Todd,  Medad 
Atwater,  Abraham  Ailing,  .Stephen  Todd,  Samuel  Humiston.  Ben- 
jamin Wooding,  Joel  Goodyear:  grand  jurors,  Samuel  Atwater,  Jr., 
James  Bassett,  Jr.,  Amos  Peck,  Alvin  Bradley;    tything  men,  Sackett 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTy.  295 

Gilbert,  Daniel  Talmadge,  Jr.,  Calvin  Mallory,  Elisha  Atwater;  sur- 
veyors of  highway,  Samuel  Humiston,  John  Hubbard,  Thomas  Mix, 
Joel  Ford,  Samuel  Dorman,  Amos  Bradley,  Caleb  Doolittle,  Hezekiah 
Bassett,  ^ledad  Ailing,  Joseph  Johnson;  fence  viewers,  Jonathan 
Dickerman,  Stephen  Ford;  sealers  of  leather,  Joseph  Benham,  Joel 
Hough;  sealers  of  weights  and  measures,  Daniel  Bradley,  Eli  Brad- 
ley; key  keepers,  Timothy  Potter,  Asa  Goodyear,  Ebenezer  Beach, 
Caleb  Ailing,  Benjamin  Gaylord,  Jr.  Simeon  Bri.stol,  John  Hubbard, 
Thomas  Goodyear,  Isaac  Dickerman  and  Elisha  Booth  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  divide  the  town  stock,  poor,  etc.,  with  the  town  of  New 
Haven. 

Places  for  notification  of  public  meetings  were  designated,  at  the 
sign  post  and  two  extreme  taverns  in  the  parish  of  Mount  Carmel; 
and  at  one  public  hou.se  on  the  road  at  the  East  and  West  Farms  or 
Plains. 

At  the  special  meeting  held  November  ]6th,  1786,  Doctor  Elisha 
Chapman  was  chosen  clerk  pro  tempore.  George  Augustus  Bristol 
was  appointed  collector  of  taxes  laid  by  the  state  on  the  li.st  of  178o. 
The  highways  were  divided  into  districts,  and  Jabez  Bradley  was 
chosen  surveyor,  in  room  of  Amos  Bradley,  who  refused  to  serve. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  held  December  11th,  1786,  Jesse  Good- 
year was  chosen  the  first  treasurer,  a  tax  of  4  pence  on  the  pound 
was  voted  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  town  for  the  ensuing  year 
and  John  Hubbard  was  appointed  collector,  his  pay  to  be  ^10  sterling 
money,  out  of  the  town  treasury. 

In  November,  1787,  the  town  voted  on  the  question  of  approval  of 
the  United  States  Constitution — yeas  5;  nays  73.  Theophilus  Good- 
year was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  at  the  Hartford  convention  on 
this  matter,  to  be  holden  in  January  next. 

In  March,  1788,  the  town  refused  to  grant  liberty  to  Doctors  Aaron 
and  Joseph  Eliot  to  .set  up  a  "Hospital  for  the  purpose  of  Enocu- 
lation,"  at  the  dwelling  of  John  Hubbard. 

In  May,  1788,  the  town  voted  to  oppose  the  memorial  of  Captain 
John  Gill  and  others  who  wished  to  be  annexed  to  the  town  of  North 
Haven. 

The  Woodbridge  town  line  received  attention  in  179'2,  and  the 
New  Haven  line  in  1797,  committees  being  appointed  in  each  case  to 
attend  to  the  matter. 

Respecting  the  state  constitution  of  1818,  the  town  favored  the 
adoption  of  such  an  instrument  and  chose  Russell  Pierpont  as  its  dele- 
gate to  the  convention. 

In  1821,  "voted,  that  the  .selectmen  be  requested  to  invite  some 
able  physician  to  settle  in  this  town." 

The  poor  of  the  town  received  early  care.  In  1795  the  town  voted 
that  Simeon  Bristol,  Isaac  Dickerman  and  Caleb  Ailing  join  the 
selectmen  in   "devising  a  plan   for  the  more  easy  and  comfortable 


296  HISTORY    OK    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

support  of  the  town's  poor,"  and  to  report  at  the  next  town  meeting. 
No  record  of  the  same  appears.  After  the  custom  of  those  times 
those  who  were  likely  to  become  public  charges  were  warned  to  "de- 
part the  town,"  and  those  who  were  really  the  care  of  the  town  were 
sold  at  a  public  outcry,  under  the  direction  of  the  selectmen.  In  such 
cases  the  buyer  was  placed  under  bonds  that  he  would  not  abuse 
those  placed  under  his  care.  December  11th,  1815,  "Voted,  That  if 
any  person  shall  appear  to  bid  off  all  of  the  afforesaid  town  poor  for 
a  less  sum  than  they  shall  amount  to  singly,  they  shall  have  the  privi- 
lege: all  under  the  care  and  direction  of  the  selectmen." 

"Voted,  That  whoever  shall  bid  off  the  whole  of  the  town  poor 
for  the  ensuing  year,  shall  be  required  to  give  a  bond  with  sureties  to 
the  selectmen,  in  the  sum  of  $1,500,  conditioned  that  the  poor,  so  bid 
off  by  him,  shall  be  provided  and  furnished  with  comfortable  food, 
clothing,  lodging  and  fire  wood,  during  the  time  for  which  he  under- 
takes to  support  them." 

Later  more  humane  methods  were  adopted.  As  early  as  1834,  the 
question  of  providing  an  almshouse  was  agitated,  but  no  definite  ac- 
tion was  taken  until  early  in  1850.  That  year  the  Tuttle  place  was 
purchased  and  was  used  as  a  poor  farm  more  than  ten  years.  In  1861 
it  was  sold  and  the  present  poor  farm  occupied.  This  had  been  con- 
ditionall}'  willed  to  the  town  by  Enos  Brooks,  an  esteemed  citizen  of 
the  town,  and  was  also  subject  to  a  life  lease  of  his  wife,  Mrs.  Roxana 
Brooks.  By  paying  Mrs.  Brooks  an  annual  sum  the  town  obtained 
unrestricted  possession  of  the  farm,  and  adapted  it  to  its  present  use. 
The  improvements  cost  more  than  $4,000,  and  the  buildings  so  far 
have  proven  ample  for  the  proper  accommodation  of  the  inmates,  num- 
bering from  ten  to  fifteen  per  year.  The  town  farm  which  is  in  the 
extreme  northern  part  of  Hamden.  consists  of  118  acres  and  is  valued 
at  $5,750.  The  property  other  than  real  estate  is  valued  at  $2,084. 
The  town  expends  for  all  classes  of  the  poor  over  $3,000  per  year, 
$1,700  being  devoted  to  the  inmates  of  the  town  asylum. 

The  generous  legacy  of  George  Atwater,  a  citizen  of  Hamden,  has 
provided  a  fund  which  has  been  placed  in  care  of  the  trustees  of  the 
"Connecticut  Hospital  for  Insane,"  for  the  benefit  of  the  insane  poor 
of  the  town.  It  is  known  as  the  Atwater  Fund  and  originally 
amounted  to  $21,254.03.  The  proceeds  afford  fine  relief  and  the 
act  of  Mr.  Atwater  merits  commendation. 

The  earliest  action  of  the  town  in  regard  to  a  hall  or  town  house 
was  at  a  meeting  January  7th,  1793,  when  it  was  "  Vo:ed.  that  Theophi- 
lus  Goodyear,  Simeon  Bristol,  Moses  Gilbert,  Joshua  Munson,  Alvan 
Bradley  and  Samuel  Bellamy,  be  a  com'tee  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
curing subscriptions  for  building  a  Town  House."  There  is  no 
evidence  that  success  attended  their  efforts,  if  they  made  any,  and  in 
1805  the  matter  of  building  a  hall  was  again  considered,  but  without 


HISTORY   OF   NliW   HAVKN"   COUNTY.  297 

definite  results.     Subsequent  meetings  were  held   at  various  places, 
usually  in  private  halls. 

The  first  action  in  regard  to  the  present  fine  hall  was  at  a  special 
town  meeting  held  at  Warner's  Hall.  January  2d,  1888,  pursuant  to  a 
call  for  the  same,  signed  by  forty  citizens.  At  this  meeting  it  was 
decided  to  build  a  hall  and  William  P.  Blake,  Henry  Munson,  G.  S. 
Benham,  L.  H.  Ba.ssett  and  E.  W.  Potter  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  confer  with  the  selectmen  as  to  site,  cost,  etc.  They  reported, 
February  6th,  18SS,  and  their  report  and  suggestions  were  adopted  by 
Inl  ayes  to  122  nays;  §18, ()()()  was  appropriated  and  J.  E.  Andrews,  A. 
J.  Doolittle  and  (t.  T.  Benham  were  appointed  a  building  committee. 
They  adopted  the  plans  prepared  by  architect  D.  R.  Brown,  of  New 
Haven,  which  provided  for  a  building  one  hundred  feet  in  length  b}' 
Aft}'  and  sixty  feet  in  width.  This  would  permit  a  town  hall  proper, 
So  by  7.5  feet,  the  room  being  one  story  high  and  elevated  a  few  feet 
above  the  ground.  An  entrance  was  provided  on  the  south  side  and 
also  by  means  of  a  hallway  through  the  front  building.  This  is  sixty 
feet  wide  and  two  .stories  high.  In  the  lower  part  are  the  town  offices, 
supplied  with  vaults,  closets,  etc.;  in* the  upper  story  are  the  spacious 
hall  and  ante-rooms  of  Day  Spring  Lodge  of  Masons,  fitted  up,  on  a 
ten  years'  lease.  The  building  is  constructed  of  stone,  brick  and  slate, 
with  hard  pine  finish  inside,  substantial  and  most  complete,  and  is 
in  everyway  attractive.  It  stands  on  one  acre  of  land  northwest  of  the 
principal  .streets  at  Centervilleand  cost  complete  about  Sl.'i.OOO.  It  was 
first  publicly  used  at  the  general  election  November  6th,  1888,  and 
was  finished  early  in  18S9.  At  this  time  the  selectmen  were  John  E. 
Andrews.  William  I.  Munson  and  Edwin  W.  Putter. 

The  town  clerks  of  Hamden  have  been  the  following:  1786-1800, 
Simeon  Bristol:  18(11-41.  Russell  Pierpont;  1842-7.1,  Leverett  Hitch- 
cock; 1876-90,  Ellsworth  B.  Cooper. 

It  appears  from  the  minutes  of  the  general  court  that  the  first 
road  or  "  common  way,"  in  what  is  now  Hamden,  was  viewed  as  early 
as  1611,  and  probably  did  not  extend  further  than  the  Plains.  The 
best  known  of  the  highways  is  the  old  Cheshire  road,  which  was  laid 
out  in  1686,  as  the  Farmington  road.  Its  course  began  "at  the  com- 
mon near  the  house  of  Jno.  Johnson  and  continued  where  it  is  leading 
to  the  place  called  Shepherd's  Plain,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  We.st 
woods  and  so  forward  to  the  end  of  our  bounds  and  to  be  six  rods 
wide."  In  1722  the  course  of  this  road  was  again  and  more  minutely 
described  by  a  committee  appointed  b\'  the  town  of  New  Haven.  From 
their  report  it  appears  that  the  road  had  very  much  the  same  course 
as  that  which  it  has  since  retained.  It  is  a  natural  thoroughfare  of 
easy  grades,  on  dry  soil,  and  is  readily  worked.  The.se  conditions 
early  permitted  it  to  be  put  in  good  order,  and  it  became  popular  a 
century  and  a  half  ago,  and  was  for  a  long  time  the  main  road  leading- 
out  of  New  Haven  to  Boston.    Blake,  in  his  History  of  Hamden,  says. 


238  HISTORY   OK   NEW   HAVEX   COUNTY. 

that  it  is  probable  that  this  road  was  the  one  used  by  Captain  John 
Munson,  who  was  granted  in  1714,  for  seven  years,  the  exclusive  privi- 
lege to  transport  passengers  and  goods  between  Hartford  and  New- 
Haven,  making  the  round  trip  in  a  week,  usually  once  a  month. 

In  1786  the  new  town  of  Hamden  divided  the  highways  then  exist- 
ing into  districts  and  placed  them  in  care  of  the  surveyors  already 
named.  In  December,  1787,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  "  join  the 
selectmen  to  view  the  places  proposed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Plains 
and  East  Farms  for  the  purpose  of  a  highway,"  etc.,  and  public  roads 
in  other  parts  of  the  town  were  located  soon  after. 

In  1798  the  Hartford  and  New  Haven  Turnpike  Company  was  in- 
corporated and  the  road  built  by  the  company  extended  from  New 
Haven  along  Whitney  avenue  and  crossed  the  river  at  Whitneyville, 
later  by  means  of  the  covered  truss  bridge,  still  in  use  at  that  place« 
Thence  it  passed  northward,  east  of  the  lake.  Until  about  1850  it  was 
a  very  important  thoroughfare  and  had  a  large  amount  of  travel.  At 
Whitneyville  it  was  intersected  by  the  road  of  the  Cheshire  Turn- 
pike Company,  which  was  chartered  in  1800  and  whose  course  through 
much  of  its  extent  was  along  the  old  Cheshire  road.  Both  turnpikes 
infringed  more  or  less  upon  the  old  highways  of  the  town  and  as  a 
consequence  opposition  was  awakened  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
citizens  of  the  town  were  convened  in  a  number  of  special  meetings 
to  protest  and  object  against  this  encroachment.  On  the  latter  road, 
especially,  a  gate  near  Mt.  Carmel  meeting  house  was  very  objection- 
able and  its  removal  was  demanded  by  a  meeting  held  in  August,  1803. 
Failing  to  find  relief,  it  was  voted  September  19th,  1803,  to  carry  the 
matter  to  the  general  assembly  and  there  have  it  righted.  But  as  is 
usually  the  case  in  such  affairs  the  corporations  had  the  controlling  in- 
fluence and  the  people  finally  dropped  the  subject. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  covered  bridge  at  Whitneyville  was  one  of 
the  first  truss  bridges  built  in  the  Union."  It  was  designed  and  con- 
structed about  1823  by  Ithiel  Town,  an  architect  and  civil  engineer. 
The  material  is  good  oak  plank  and  timbers  so  arranged,  without 
framing,  that  all  the  strength  is  utilized.  The  total  length  is  114  feet, 
of  which  100  feet  is  in  a  single  span.  There  are  42  trusses  on  each 
side,  the  plank  crossing  each  other  at  an  angle  of  80°,  and  being  four 
feet  apart,  center  to  center,  the  ends  being  attached  to  stringers. 
This  secures  a  structure  as  strong  at  the  top  as  at  the  bottom.  When 
the  Whitneyville  dam  was  raised  it  was  moved  to  its  present  site, 
higher  up  the  stream,  the  work  being  done  by  Eli  Whitney  after  many 
engineers  had  pronounced  the  removal  impracticable  and  very  costly. 
He  employed  methods  such  as  are  in  use  now  by  building  movers, 
and  .safely  put  this  bridge  in  its  new  place  for  $250.  It  is  still  very 
substantial  and  may  last  a  half  a  century  longer. 

In  recent  years  the  town  has  cared  for  its  roads  and  bridges  in  a 

*Blake's  Hamden,  p.  103. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  299 

liberal  manner,  the  appropriations  for  these  objects  being  from  $5,000 
to  $6,000  per  year. 

In  the  period  of  canal  building  the  town  became  interested  in  such 
a  water  way,  which  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  considerable  factor, 
as  a  means  of  communication.  The  Farmington  Canal  Companj' was 
chartered  in  1822  and  organized  the  following  year.  Judge  Benjamin 
Wright,  of  New  York,  surveyed  the  route.  The  work  of  construction 
began  in  1825,  under  the  supervision  of  James  Hillhouse,  with  Davis 
Hurd  as  engineer  and  Henry  Farnam  as  assistant.  In  that  year  and 
the  following  the  canal  through  Hamden  and  Cheshire  was  built,  fol- 
lowing  in  a  general  way  the  course  of  the  Mill  river  and  the  old 
Cheshire  road.  In  Hamden,  especially  in  the  Mt.  Carmel  region,  the 
canal  had  considerable  fall,  which  afforded  water  powers  which  were 
well  utilized.  The  company  experienced  considerable  financial  difti- 
culty  before  the  enterprise  was  completed  to  the  Connecticut  river,  in 
1835,  the  co.st  very  much  exceeding  the  estimate.  A  re-organization 
took  place  October  27th,  1885,  the  property  passing  under  the  control 
of  the  New  Haven  &  Northampton  Canal  Company.  Ere  long  the 
new  corporation  also  found  its  funds  exhausted  and  until  its  abandon- 
ment in  1847  the  canal  was  operated  at  a  loss.  From  1840  to  1846  the 
city  of  New  Haven  rendered  assistance  by  paying  for  the  water  it 
used,  which  aided  the  company  materially,  but  in  1843  a  violent  flood 
damaged  the  canal  to  the  amount  of  $20,000  and  the  other  extraordi- 
nary repairs  were  so  heavy  that  the  company  never  reached  a  sound 
basis. 

The  first  boats  that  plied  on  the  canal  were  small,  the  burthen  not 
being  more  than  25  tons,  and  nothing  but  freight  was  carried.  About 
1838  a  line  of  gay  packet  boats  was  put  on,  which  afforded  accommo- 
dations for  passengers,  and  the  trip  from  New  Haven  to  Northampton 
could  be  made  in  a  little  more  than  a  day. 

In  1845  the  attention  of  the  owners  of  the  canal  was  directed  to 
the  feasibility  of  building  a  railroad  to  take  its  place,  and  a  survey 
for  that  purpo.se  was  made.  A  charter  for  a  railroad  was  secured  in 
1846  and  in  January  of  the  following  year  the  work  of  construction 
was  commenced,  using  as  far  as  practicable,  the  tow  path  of  the  canal. 
In  the  course  of  another  year  (January  18th,  1847)  the  road  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  to  Plainville,  a  short  distance  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  county.  Being  built  mainly  upon  the  old  canal  course,  this 
railroad  has  ever  since  been  locally  known  as  the  "  Canal  railroad." 
In  more  recent  years  it  has  been  properly  styled  the  Northampton 
Division  of  the  New  York,  New  Haven  &  Hartford  Railroad  Company, 
and  as  such  is  thoroughly  equipped  and  well  managed. 

In  the  construction  of  the  railroad  several  miles  of  the  highway 
between  Centerville  and  Mt.  Carmel  were  used  as  the  roadbed,  much 
to  the  detriment  of  the  travel  on  the  same.  In  1881  this  part  of  the 
road  was  vacated  and  the  railroadjine  constructed  along  the  hilLsides. 


300  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

in  the  western  part  of  the  Mill  River  valley.  The  town  aided  in  this 
work  by  appropriating  $14,000  and  secured  as  its  benefits  the  unob- 
structed use  of  a  very  fine  highway  and  a  number  of  street  crossings 
above  or  below  track  grade. 

For  many  years  the  town  had  no  station  privileges  afforded  by 
the  railroad,  there  being  only  an  open  platform  at  Ives's;  but  about 
fifteen  years  ago  Mt.  Carmel  .station  was  there  established,  with  Riley 
Parmeter  as  agent.  In  1882  the  station  was  transferred  to  the  new 
buildings,  completed  that  year,  north  of  the  Mt.  Carmel  meeting 
house,  Elam  J.  Dickerman  being  the  agent.  These  buildings  are  pleas- 
antly located  and  afford  all  the  necessary  accommodations.  The  old 
depot  building  is  devoted  to  mercantile  purposes.  Half  a  mile  from 
the  village  of  Centerv'ille  the  railroad  maintains  a  flag  station.  Easy 
and  convenient  communication  with  New  Haven  is  also  afforded  by  a 
line  of  stages,  running  betweeii  the  city,  the  Hamden  villages  and 
Cheshire. 

One  of  the  first  organized  efforts  in  the  town  at  transportation  was 
the  freight  line  established  by  Elam  Ives,  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was 
a  son  of  James  Ives  and  was  born  about  1762  in  the  town  of  Hamden. 
When  but  seventeen  years  of  age  he  volunteered  to  defend  New 
Haven  against  British  attack.  Again  in  the  second  struggle  for 
American  independence,  when  commerce  by  water  was  blockaded,  he 
was  equal  to  the  emergency  to  provide  for  the  transportation  of  goods 
from  New  Haven  to  Boston.  He  fitted  up  two  wagons  by  using  in 
each  two  cart  wheels  and  two  wagon  wheels  and  putting  on  them  a 
box  body  thirteen  feet  long,  four  feet  wide  and  eighteen  inches  high, 
which  was  capable  of  carrying  twice  as  much  as  an  ordinary  wagon. 
To  each  wagon  were  hitched  two  yokes  of  oxen  and  a  horse  for  a 
leader  and  the  teams  were  usually  in  charge  of  his  sons.  Parsons  and 
Jason,  twenty  and  fifteen  years  of  age.  Regular  trips  were  made  and 
a  considerable  quantity  of  valuable  goods  was  carried  until  the  coast- 
ing vessels  again  came  into  service. 

Manufacturing  is  one  of  the  chief  pursuits  of  the  people  of  Ham- 
den and  many  have  been  engaged  in  its  attendant  occupations.  "  At 
the  Beaver  ponds  and  near  West  Rock,  also  at  Mill  Rock,  on  Mill 
river  and  at  Mt.  Carmel,"  mills  were  early  established;  and  at  the 
latter  place  al.so  a  fulling  mill.*  The  power  of  Mill  river  was  first  used, 
and  at  the  lowest  site,  at  Mill  Rock.  William  Fowler  built  a  grist  mill 
in  1645,  which  he  sold  to  New  Haven  colony  for  i,TOO.  In  165!)  Thomas 
Mitchell  was  the  miller  for  the  colonists,  a  position  later  held  by 
Christopher  Todd,  who  bought  the  mill  before  1686,  and  it  was  long 
known  by  his  name.  The  first  dam  was  low,  being  but  a  few  feet 
high,  and  the  tide  washed  to  its  ba.se.  In  1798  this  site  was  sold  to  Eli 
Whitney,  by  whom  and  his  descendants  it  was  subsequently  much 
improved.     Before  this  was  done,  there  were  within  a  mile  of  it,  up 

*BIake's  History  of  Hamden. 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  Bdl 

the  Stream,  several  other  mill  seats,  which  have  by  this  new  dam  been 
submerged.  A  short  distance  above  the  present  bridge  was  the  Sabine 
mill  pond,  in  which  Mrs.  Mary  Edwards,  the  wife  of  Reverend  Jona- 
than Edwards,  of  New  Haven,  was  accidentally  drowned  in  June, 
1782.  She  had  been  riding  into  the  country,  on  horseback,  and  had 
-Stopped  at  the  pond  to  allow  her  beast  to  drink,  when  it  is  supposed  it 
waded  into  the  pond  beyond  its  depth  and  both  the  horse  and  rider 
were  drowned.  The  sad  event  greatly  excited  the  community  and 
when  Mrs.  Edwards  was  buried  in  Xew  Haven  she  was  followed  to 
the  grave  by  the  largest  procession  that  had  ever  been  seen  in  that 
town.  This  property  was  later  known  as  Waite's  mill.  In  the  same 
locality  was  formerly  a  paper  mill,  in  which  cotton  goods  were  also 
manufactured.     A  clock  manufactory  was  nearer  the  bridge. 

The  various  improvements  at  Whitneyville  have  given  that  dam  a 
fall  of  35  feet;  and  the  powers  in  the  river  above  have,  at  Augerville, 
a  fall  of  8  feet:  at  the  New  Haven  Web  Company,  8i  feet:  at  the 
Hall  or  Ives  dam,  10  feet:  at  Beers'  grist  mill,  8  feet:  at  Clark's  pond, 
8  feet;  and  at  Mt.  Carmel  gap,  12  feet,  the  water  of  the  pond  being 
forced  back  but  a  little  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  Between  the.se 
extreme  dams  the  distance  in  an  air  line  is  about  six  miles.  At  the 
Mt.  Carmel  site  there  was  in  1825,  besides  the  carding  and  fulling 
mill,  already  noted,  a  good  corn  mill  by  James  Wyles,  who  had.  in 
connection,  a  dry  kiln  for  preparing  corn  meal  for  Southern  markets. 
About  3,000  pounds  were  thus  prepared  daily,  in  proper  season,  and 
carried  in  hogsheads  holding  1,000  pounds,  to  New  Haven,  where 
they  were  loaded  on  vessels.  These  mills  were  also  long  known  as 
Hunt's  and  Kimberley's.  On  the  minor  streams  small  mills  were 
tiseful  in  their  day  and  served  the  local  demand  made  on  them. 

All  the  principal  streams  have  been  made  to  contribute  to  the 
water  supply  of  the  city  of  New  Haven,  the  chief  source  being  the 
Whitney  dam.  When  it  was  acquired  in  1798,  by  Eli  Whitney,  the 
dam  was  of  logs  and  but  six  feet  high.  Now  the  overflow  part  is  very 
nearly  35  feet  high  and  the  entire  dam  has  a  length  of  500  feet.  The 
cubic  contents  of  the  material  in  the  dam  are  about  250,000  feet  and 
the  structure  is  one  of  the  most  complete  of  the  kind  in  the  country. 
One  peculiarity  of  its  construction  is  that  the  descending  waters  are 
thrown  entirely  away  from  the  walls  of  the  dam,  upon  a  .solid  rock, 
by  which  means  all  jarring  vibration  is  overcome,  there  being  not  so 
much  now  as  when  the  dam  was  only  six  feet  high,  when  the  vibra- 
tion communicated  to  the  buildings  of  the  armory  sometimes  inter- 
fered so  much  that  operations  on  the  fire  arms  were  interrupted. 
The  dam  cost  more  than  §150,000  and  its  construction  involved,  by 
reason  of  the  overflow,  the  abandonment  of  twenty  buildings,  three 
bridges,  farms,  gardens  and  roads.  Almost  the  entire  appearance  at 
Whitneyville  was  changed  by  this  improvement. 

The  life  of  Eli  Whitney  and  his  connection  with  affairs  in  Ham- 


302  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

den  afford  matter  for  one  of  the  most  interesting  narratives,  but 
which  must  here  be  briefly  noted.  He  was  born  at  Westborough, 
Mass.,  December  8th,  ITG.'i,  and  imbibed  from  his  father  a  love  for 
mechanic  pursuits.  He  followed  this  bent  of  his  mind  to  the  detri- 
ment of  his  education  when  a  youth,  but  at  the  age  of  eighteen  3'ears 
resolved  to  obtain  a  college  education.  In  this  purpose  he  was  dis- 
couraged by  his  father,  who  thought  his  son  was  too  old,  but  Eli  was 
not  deterred  and  finally  his  preferences  prevailed.  For  five  winters 
he  taught  school  in  Massachusetts,  and  with  the  small  means  thus 
secured  obtained  a  preparatory  education  in  Leicester  Academy.  In 
1789,  at  the  age  of  23  years,  he  entered  the  freshman  class  in  Yale 
College  and  in  due  time  graduated,  with  the  intention  of  becoming  a 
lawyer.  Being  in  financial  want  he  could  not  do  so  at  once,  but  en- 
gaged to  become  a  tutor  in  the  family  of  a  South  Carolina  gentleman, 
at  80  guineas  a  year.  Leaving  New  Haven  he  sailed  for  Savannah, 
Georgia,  in  the  company  of  Phineas  Miller,  Esq.,  and  the  widow  of 
the  late  General  Greene,  who  resided  on  a  large  plantation  near  that 
city.  Accepting  their  invitation  to  tarry  with  them,  before  beginning 
his  duties  as  a  tutor,  he  noted  the  work  on  the  plantation  and  saw 
how  unproductive  cotton  growing  was,  by  reason  of  the  difficulty  of 
separating  the  seed  from  the  fiber — all  the  work  being  done  by  hand 
and  a  few  pounds  a  day  being  all  that  a  person  could  prepare.  His 
inventive  mind  quickly  conceived  the  idea  of  making  a  machine  to  do 
this  Avork  and  being  released  from  his  engagement  to  teach  in  vSouth 
Carolina,  he  secured  the  patronage  of  Mr.  Miller  and  Mrs.  Greene. 
and  set  himself  to  the  task  of  building  one  in  the  basement  room  of 
the  Greene  mansion.  By  the  close  of  the  winter  of  1793-4  it  was 
practically  completed  and  March  4th,  1794*  Eli  Whitney,  received 
a  patent  for  his  cotton  gin — a  machine  which  was  destined  to  revolu- 
tionize agriculture  in  the  South  and  which  increased  the  lands  of  that 
section  tenfold  in  value.  Aloreover,  it  gave  an  impetus  to  the  system 
of  American  slavery,  which  now  became  exceedingly  profitable;  and 
was  more  than  anything  else  the  means  of  extending  and  perpetuat- 
ing it  until  it  passed  away  amidst  the  throes  of  a  civil  war  whose  ob- 
ject in  behalf  of  the  system  did  not  stop  short  of  the  dissolution  of 
the  Union  of  states.  Infringements  soon  crowded  upon  Mr.  Whit- 
ney's patent  and  "he  had  the  mortification  to  see  himself  plundered 
of  the  benefits  of  his  invention,"  on  account  of  the  defectiveness  of 
the  patent  laws  of  that  period.  The  cost  of  prosecution  and  main- 
taining his  rights  exceeded  his  returns  from  machines  sold  in  the 
state  of  Georgia;  but  with  the  Carolinas  he  was  able  to  contract  on 
his  patent  so  that  a  small  pittance  was  left  him. 

It  was  while  he  was  engaged  in  the  work  of  building  cotton  gins 

*At  the  first  Centennial  Celebration  of  the  town,  commemorated  June  15th. 
1886,  the  original  model  of  the  cotton  gin,  made  by  the  inventor,  Eli  Whitney. 
was  exhibited  by  his  grandson,  Eli  Whitney,  Jr. 


iiisTORV  or  xi;\v  havex  couxty.  303 

for  South  Carolina,  that  Mr.  Wliitney  returned  to  New  Haven,  where 
he  later  became  interested  in  the  water  power  at  Mill  Rock.  He  had, 
in  this  period,  frequently  visited  Washington  in  the  interest  of  his 
patent  and  had  made  a  favorable  impression  upon  President  Jefiferson 
and  other  officials  of  the  national  government,  so  that  when  he  ap- 
plied for  a  contract  to  furnish  a  new  supply  of  fire  arms  and  offered 
to  establish  an  armory  to  build  the  same,  his  propositions  were  treat- 
ed with  favorable  consideration.  He  secured  a  contract  June  14th, 
1798.  to  build  lO.OOO  stand  of  muskets,  at  8i:i4(),  the  whole  to  be 
completed  inside  of  two  years.  For  the  faithful  performance  of  this, 
a  bond  of  $8().(l()()  was  exacted. 

"When  we  consider  his  extremely  discouraging  experience  with 
the  cotton  gin,  which  he  had  about  given  up  as  an  unprofitable  ven- 
ture, and  that  he  was  now  left  with  a  very  limited  capital,  we  must 
greatly  admire  the  spirit  of  enterprise  which  prompted  him  to  make 
this  new  venture;  and  in  view  of  the  obstacles  to  be  overcome  it  does 
not  seem  po.ssible  that  he  had  fully  estimated  the  difficulty  of  the  un- 
dertaking. He  had  no  works,  no  raw  material  collected,  no  skilled  me- 
chanics to  assist  him,  no  great  reputation  as  a  manufacturer  (being 
but  six  years  out  of  college),  with  no  reserve  of  capital  on  which  he 
might  draw — everything  had  to  be  created.  But  undaunted  by  what 
would  appear  as  insurmountable  obstacles  to  most  persons,  he  began 
his  labors  in  the  future  Whitneyvilleby  an  innovation  upon  the  prevail- 
ing system  of  manufacture  which  should  immortalize  his  name  even 
more  than  the  in\'ention  of  the  cotton  gin.  He  established  his 
armory  and  supplied  it  with  machinery  which  took  the  place  of  hand 
labor,  and  in  which  instead  of  finishing  one  fire  arm  at  a  time,  hun- 
dreds of  interchangeable  parts  were  made,  each  of  which  could  be 
adapted  to  its  place  without  reference  to  a  particular  musket.  He 
was  the  pioneer  of  the  so-called  Uniformity  s\'stem  of  working  in 
factories,  by  means  of  which  many  complex  operations  are  reduced 
to  a  series  of  simple  processes,  which  need  but  to  be  faithfully 
followed  to  achieve  the  desired  end."  But  to  accomplish  this  he  gave 
his  works  the  most  untiring  attention,  laboring  with  his  own  hands 
early  and  late,  scarcely  deeming  it  possible  to  be  absent  a  single 
hour,  and  unstintingly  supplemented  his  genius  by  his  habits  of  in- 
dustr3^  With  all  this  purpose  and  application  he  could  not  complete 
his  contract  in  the  specified  time,  and  it  required  ten  years  instead  of 
two  to  bring  it  to  a  successful  finish.  Yet  so  great  was  the  confidence 
of  the  government  in  the  success  of  his  undertaking,  that  it  made 
him  liberal  advances,  so  that  on  final  settlement,  Mr.  Whitney's  bal- 
ance was  but  $2,450. 

The  system  of  manufacturing  which  Eli  Whitney  inaugurated 
and  the  improvements  he  made  in  the  fire  arms  produced  in  his  arm- 
ory, were  recognized  by  the  government  and,  in  1812,  another  con- 
tract was  made  with  him  for  15,000  stand  of  arms.     He  also  contract- 


304  HISTORY    OK    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

ed  to  build  arms  for  the  state  of  New  York.  How  well  he  succeeded 
is  attested  by  the  letter  of  Governor  Tompkins  of  that  state,  under 
date  of  May,  1814;  "  I  have  visited  Mr.  Whitney's  establishment  at  New 
Haven  and  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  I  consider  it  the  most 
perfect  I  have  ever  seen,  and  I  believe  it  is  well  understood  that  few 
persons  in  this  country  .surpass  Mr.  Whitney  in  talents  as  a  mechanic 
or  in  experience  as  a  manufacturer  of  muskets.  Those  which  he 
made  for  us  are  generally  supposed  to  exceed  in  form  and  quality  all 
the  muskets  either  of  foreign  or  domestic  fabrication,  belonging-  to 
the  state,  and  ai-e  universally  preferred  and  selected  by  the  most  com- 
petent judges." 

^Ir.  Whitney  continued  his  improvements  tmtil  his  death  and  was 
the  first  to  use  milling  machines  in  the  manufacture  of  arms.  Many 
of  the  tools  used  in  the  most  complete  armories  of  the  present  time 
had  their  germs  m  those  used  in  the  Hamden  works,  more  than  half 
a  centur}'  ago,  and  the  best  features  of  his  system  have  been  adopted 
at  other  armories  under  the  tutorage  of  workmen    trained   by  him. 

His  work  was  not  wholly  limited  to  his  mechanic  pursuits  but  in 
various  ways  he  left  his  impress  upon  the  pages  of  the  town's  history, 
instituting  improvements  which  have  proved  to  be  of  great  value. 
He  died  January  8th,  182;"),  aged  about  60  years,  and  his  tomb,  in  the 
cemetery  at  New  Haven  bears  the  following  epitaph: 

ELI  WHITNEY 

"  The  Inventor  of  the  Cotton  Gin. 

Of  Useful  Science  and  Arts  the  efficient  Patron  and  Improver. 

In  the  relations  of  life  a  model  of  excellence. 

While  private  affection  weeps  at  his  tomb,  his  country  honors  his  memory." 

After  the  death  of  Eli  Whitney,  the  armory  remained  in  charge  of 
his  nephews,  Eli  Whitney  Blake  and  Philo  Blake  until  183.5  when,  for 
seven  years,  the  trustee  of  the  Whitnej'  estate,  Ex-Governor  Edwards, 
managed  it.  In  1842  Eli  Whitney,  Jr..  the  only  son  of  the  founder  of 
the  armory,  assumed  the  immediate  control  of  it,  and  having  im- 
proved the  power  and  the  machinery,  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
the  then  new  rifle,  of  the  "  Harper's  Ferry  "  pattern,  in  which  he  was 
very  successful.  He  also  possessed  a  mechanical  genius  of  a  high 
order,  which  he  applied  to  the  developmen(^  of  the  armory,  so  that  in 
1852  an  authority*  on  these  matters  wrote:  "  The  Whitneyville  Armory, 
property  of  the  Whitney  Arms  Co.,  is  now  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
United  States.  It  is  located  near  New  Haven,  in  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut, and  has  a  capacity  for  employing  over  five  hundred  men, 
being  supplied  with  all  the  modern  improved  machinery,  and  now 
under  the  control  of  the  son  and  grandson  of  the  founder,  who  have 
added  many  valuable  improvements." 

Since  that  account  was  written  the  plant  and  its  equipments  have 
been  much  improved,  and  arms  equal  to  the  best   in   the  world   have 

♦General  C.  B.  Norton. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUN'IV.  305 

been  here  rnanufactured.  In  18G4  the  Whitney  Arms  Company  was 
chartered  as  an  incorporated  body  by  the  legislature  of  the  state, 
Eli  Whitney  being  the  president  and  principal  stockholder  of  the 
company.  Eli  Whitney,  Jr.,  long  shared  with  his  father  the  office  of 
treasurer  of  the  corporation  and  under  their  management  this  con- 
tinues to  be  the  most  extensive  interest  in  the  town,  but  from  its 
location  is  also  practically  one  of  the  industries  of  Xew  Haven. 

The  manufacture  of  carriage  hardware  and  goods  pertaining  to 
the    carriage  trade  is  one  of  the  oldest   and    has   been    one    of   the 
most   important  industries  in    the    town.       It   is   also   claimed   that 
in    Hamden    have    originated    several    enterprises    of    this    nature, 
which    have    been    developed    into  vast    interests   in    other   locali- 
ties.     To  Captain  Jonathan   Mix,  who  was   an    occasional   resident 
of  Hamden,  were  granted  letters  patent  in   1807,  1808  and  1811  for 
some  of  the  first  carriage  springs  in  the  country.     But  to  Elam  Ives, 
2d,  must    belong  the  credit  of   conceiving  that  the  manufacture   of 
goods  other  than  the  products  of  the  ordinary  mills,  could  be  carried 
on  successfully  in  the  town.     In  the  exemplification  of  that  idea  he 
spent  much  of  his  means  about  18S0  to  erect  a  large  factory  building, 
near  his   house,  below  Mt.  Carmel,  and   adapted  it  so  that  the  waste 
water  from  the  canal  could  be  utilized  to  supply  power.     In  this  he 
was  in  a  great  measure  successful,  and  his  building  was  not  long  idle. 
Some  time  about  183::?  he  and  other  members  of  the   Ives   family — 
Parsons,  Jason  and  Henry^ — fitted  it   up  with   machinery  for  making 
iron  carriage  axles.     They  used  turning  lathes  and  boring  machinery 
of  much  the  same  pattern  as  are  still  used  in  modern  establishments, 
and  had  one  of  the  pioneer  shops  in  America  eqitipped  in  that  manner. 
Until  their  products  were  placed  on  the  market,  nearly  all  the  wagon 
axles  were  of  wood,  with  iron  skeins  and   fittings:  and  what  few  iron 
axles  were  used  in  America  were  wrought   by   hand,  cumbersome  in 
appearance   and    fitted    to    the  wheel  only  after   a  vast  amount    of 
hand  grinding  and  filing.     The  advantages  of  using  axles  such  as  the 
Ives  Brothers  manufactured  were  soon  appreciated  and  resulted  in  a 
demand  which  gave  the  products  of  the  Mt.  Carmel   Axle    Works  a 
wide  sale  and  which  has  been  continued  to  the  present  time. 

The  works  were  operated  at  the  Elam  Ives  place  until  about 
the  time  the  canal  was  abandoned,  when  they  were  removed  to  the 
site  of  the  "  Hunt  "  or  "  Kimberly  "  mill,  near  the  base  of  Mt.  Carmel. 
which  was  improved  to  its  new  use.  At  that  place  the  works  have 
since  been  continued,  but  in  ]'890  the  buildings  formerly  occupied 
were  not  all  in  use.  Upon  the  retirement  of  Henry  Ives,  his  son 
Frederick  became  an  active  or  managing  partner,  having  as  his  asso- 
ciate the  present  owner,  Willis  E.  ililler,  and  operating  as  Ives  & 
Miller.  The  latter  was  the  inventor  of  an  improved  axle  and  the 
works  have  been  supplied  with  proper  machinery  to  manufacture  them 
in  the  best  manner,  and  to  preserve  the  fine  standard  of  the  goods. 
19 


306  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

The  manufacture  of  light  carriage  hardware  in  Hamden  was  begun 
in  1S35  by  James  Ives,  the  youngest  son  of  Elam  Ives,  the  owner  of 
the  old  axle  works  building,  in  which  the  new  enterprise  was  also 
begun  as  the  Mt.  Carmel  Brass  Works.  An  earlier  occupant  here  was 
Willis  Churchill,  who  manufactured  brass  surgical  instruments. 
Young  Ives  had  been  apprenticed  to  him,  but  when  Churchill  located 
at  Augerville  Ives  began  work  on  his  own  account  and  upon  an  entireh' 
different  line  of  goods,  making  brass  hub  bands,  harness  trimmings, 
etc.  His  wares  were  so  much  lighter  and  more  attractive  than  the 
imported  goods  that  they  soon  found  favor,  and  his  business  prospered. 
In  1842  the  brass  works  were  removed  to  the  Andrew  Hall  mill  seat, 
on  the  river,  half  a  mile  east  from  the  canal,  which  he  had  improved 
in  1835.  Not  long  after  the  removal  the  works  were  destroyed  by 
fire,  when  much  larger  buildings  were  erected  by  James  Ives  &  Co., 
George  F.  H.  Read  being  associated  with  him  as  a  silent  partner. 
With  these  enlarged  facilities,  operations  were  carried  on  until  If^'n), 
when  the  Brass  Company  was  succeeded  by  the  Ives-Pardee  Manu- 
facturing Company.  The  new  corporation  purchased  the  property  of 
the  defunct  Malleable  Iron  Works,  at  the  same  water  power,  and  also 
built  a  large  brick  brass  foundry  with  twelve  furnaces.  But  after  a 
few  years  of  prosperity  reverses  came  and  the  company  was  bank- 
rupted. The  property  now  passed  to  James  Ives  and  J.  A.  Granniss 
and  after  nine  years  of  hard  labor,  the  reputation  of  the  works  was 
full}'  re-established.  In  1871  the  owners  of  the  works  were  Ives, 
Woodruff  &  Co.,  in  1883  Woodruff,  Miller  &  Co.,  and  in  1888  Walter 
W.  Woodruff  &  Sons — Arthur  E.  and  Harry  P.  The  works  have  a 
fine  water  power  and  the  buildings  are  spacious  and  well  arranged. 
Employment  is  given  to  90  men. 

More  centrally  located,  in  the  village  were  the  works  of  the  Mt. 
Carmel  Manufacturing  Company,  composed  of  Joseph  Granniss,  Ira 
Smith,  Andrew  Smith  and  others,  which  were  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  small  carriagfe  malleables.  A  substantial  brick  buildingf 
was  occupied  until  the  removal  of  that  industry  to  Ansonia.  In  1890 
this  building  and  one  formerly  used  by  Granniss  &  Russell,  in  the 
manufacture  of  patent  carriage  poles  were  idle.  Close  at  hand  were 
the  works  of  the  Mt.  Carmel  Bolt  Company,  organized  in  1880, 
officered  m  1890  by  Willis  E.  Miller,  president;  Samuel  J.  Hayes, 
treasurer;  and  L.  H.  Bassett,  superintendent.  Edward  P.  McLane,  the 
master  mechanic,  invented  some  of  the  machines  used  in  the  works, 
in  the  manufacture  of  tire  bolts,  rivets,  nuts,  etc.,  most  of  which  are 
made  of  steel.  The  works  are  of  brick,  having  a  lineal  measure  of 
140  feet,  and  the  motor  is  steam  from  a  100  horse  power  boiler.  About 
fifty  men  are  usually  employed. 

Among  the  abandoned  industries,  in  connection  with  the  carriage 
trade,  may  be  noted  spring  making,  carried  on  many  years  ago  by 
Charles  Brockett  and  Augustus  Dickerman.     Many  useful  inventions 


HISTORV   OK   NEW    HAVKX   COUNTY.  307 

of  carriage  goods  have  also  been  made  by  citizens  of  Hamden,  which 
cannot  be  here  particularized. 

Less  than  a  mile  below  Centerville,  on  the  east  bank  of  Mill  river 
is  a  small  manufacturing  hamlet  called  Augerville,  from  the  fact  that 
it  owes  its  existence  to  the  production  of  boring  tools,  etc.,  in  a  factory 
at  that  place.  The  industry  was  established  nearly  half  a  century  ago 
by  Willis  Churchill,  Vho  first  worked  on  a  small  scale.  In  a  few  years 
the  three  Churchill  Brothers— J.,  N.  and  L. — succeeded  him,  but  in 
1858  the  Willis  Churchill  Manufacturing  Company  took  charge  of  the 
works,  which  were  largely  extended  by  that  corporation.  In  1857  the 
Hamden  Auger  Company,  of  which  W.  A.  Ives  was  the  president,  was 
formed  and  operated  until  March,  1863,  when  the  interests  pas.sed 
to  \V.  A.  Ives  &  Co.,  also  a  joint  corporation,  of  which  W.  A.  Ives 
was  the  managing  head,  until  his  death  in  1888.  That  company  was 
succeeded.  May  11th.  1889,  by  the  Hamden  Manufacturing  Company, 
a  corporation  with  a  capital  of  S5U,(>(i(i,  and  H.  P.  Shares,  president: 
Charles  I.  Benham.  secretary:  and  Jared  Benham,  treasurer  and  mana- 
ger. The  plant  embraces  a  roomy  factory,  having  steam  and  water 
power,  and  is  well  located.  Sixty  men  are  employed  and  many  kinds 
of  boring  tools  and  other  goods  are  produced. 

The  Candee  Rubber  Works  of  New  Haven,  had  their  beginning 
in  Hamden.  They  were  established  at  Centerville  in  the  fall  of  1843 
by  the  firm  of  L.  Candee  &  Co.,  which  was  composed  of  Leverett 
Candee.  Henry  Hotchkiss  and  Julius  Hotchkiss,  having  a  capital  of 
$6,000.  Leverett  Candee  had  been  licensed  the  preceding  year  by 
Charles  Goodyear  to  apply  his  discovery  to  the  manufacture  of  rubber 
shoes,  which  he  succeeded  in  doing  so  successfully  that  a  new  indu.stry 
was  assured,  but  not  until  after  a  few  years'  trial  and  distrust,  on  the 
part  of  the  consumers.  The  first  shoes  were  made  on  the  buskin  style 
and  were  placed  with  dealers  for  sale  on  commission.  For  some  years 
the  goods  were  affected  by  atmospheric  changes  and  the  rubber 
coating  readily  discolored,  but  by  the  application  of  an  elastic  varnish, 
which  was  originated  in  the  Candee  factory,  that  difficulty  was  over- 
come, with  the  result  of  an  increased  demand  for  the  products. 
Another  impetus  was  given  to  the  business  in  1848,  when  the  validity 
of  the  Goodyear  patent  was  established.  It  now  became  necessary  to 
increase  the  capital  and  working  capacity.  The  Hamden  fac- 
tory was  enlarged,  but  it  soon  became  evident  that  it  was  too  remote 
from  a  commercial  center  to  afford  adequate  facilities,  and  in  1850  part 
of  the  business  was  transferred  to  New  Haven.  In  1852  the  corpo- 
rate stock  company  of  L.  Candee  &  Co.  was  formed,  with  a  capital 
of  §200,000.  In  Hamden  150  men  were  now  employed,  but  in  1859  all  the 
interests  were  concentrated  in  Xew  Haven  and  the  Hamden  factory 
was  abandoned. 

In  1863  the  plant  in  Hamden  was  rented  by  Bela  A.  Mann,  Ward 
Coe  and  Joseph  X.  Leavenworth  for  the  purpose  of  weaving  elastic 


308  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVKN    COUNTY. 

webbing  goods.  Operations  were  begun  on  a  small  scale,  one  loom 
only  being  used  at  first.  This  was  constructed  on  the  spot  by  Bela  A. 
Mann  and  he  also  designed  and  manufactured  the  other  necessary 
machinery,  for  which  he  received  letters  patent.  Other  improve- 
ments were  made  and  the  business  increased.  In  October,  1865,  the 
New  Haven  Web  Company,  which  had  been  formed  in  1864  to  carry 
on  this  industry,  increased  its  capital  to  $60,000.  In  January,  1866, 
the  old  rubber  works  propert3^  in  Hamden,  was  purchased  and  thor- 
oughly adapted  to  the  new  use.  In  September,  1875,  the  works  were 
destroyed  by  fire,  but  they  were  at  once  rebuilt,  and  in  January,  1876, 
a  three-story  brick  factory,  45  by  125  feet,  was  ready  for  use.  In  1884, 
80  feet  more  were  added  to  its  length  and  at  different  periods  other 
buildings  were  erected,  including  a  large  dye  house,  store  house,  barns, 
etc.,  and  the  factory  was  equipped  to  its  present  standard,  having,  in 
1890,  110  looms  and  attendant  machinery  in  operation.  Nearly  all  of 
this  was  manufactured  at  the  works  by  the  company  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Bela  A.  Mann,  who  has  been  the  superintendent  and  manager 
since  the  inception  of  the  enterprise.  The  motors  are  water,  operat- 
ing two  wheels,  and  steam,  and  150  persons  are  given  occupation. 
All  kinds  of  webbing  goods  for  suspenders,  in  plain  and  fancy  weav- 
ing, are  produced  and  sold  through  the  company's  store  in  New  York 
city.  In  the  plant  are,  besides  the  manufacturing  buildings,  a  number 
of  neat  houses  which  afford  homes  for  about  thirty  families.  Henry 
L.  Hotchkiss  is  the  president  of  the  company  and  Ward  Coe  the 
secretary  and  treasurer.     The  capital  remains  $60,000. 

On  the  Mill  river,  more  than  a  mile  above  this  point,  are  the  Clark 
Silk  Mills,  established  in  1875  by  R.  S.  Clark.  They  were  carried  on 
by  him  with  a  fair  degree  of  success  about  a  dozen  years,  in  the 
manufacture  of  thread,  floss,  embroidery,  etc.  In  1890  his  son,  H.  D. 
Clark,  occupied  part  of  the  mill,  manufacturing  a  patent  silk  covered 
cotton  thread.  At  this  place  is  a  good  power  and  a  fine  pond,  with 
picturesque  surroundings.  The  mill  building  is  large  and  would 
accommodate  a  greater  industry  than  its  present  use. 

Previous  to  engaging  in  this  business,  R.  S.  Clark  was  engaged  in 
Hamden  in  the  manufacture  of  small  bells,  commencing  in  1867  in 
company  with  H.  D.  Smith  at  the  Ives  &  Granniss  building.  In  1871, 
Clark  became  the  sole  owner  and  the  following  year  purchased  the 
above  power,  to  which  place  the  business  was  transferred.  Many 
kinds  of  small  bells  were  made. 

John  T.  Henry's  Shear  Factory  was  established  in  the  northern 
part  of  Hamden  in  1859,  chiefly  for  the  manufacture  of  pruningshears 
of  his  own  invention.  Other  forms  of  shears  were  later  made,  the 
products  being  in  good  demand  not  only  in  this  but  in  foreign  coun- 
tries. In  more  recent  years  the  mani:facture  of  small  tools  was 
added.     Steam  power  is  used  and  about  a  dozen  men  are  employed. 

Among   the   smaller   industries  was   the  manufacture  of  sewing 


HISI'ORV    OK    NKW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  309 

machine  needles,  for  21  years,  by  J.  E.  &  S.  D.  vSmith,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  the  old  needle  works  others  were 
engaged  in  kindred  pursuits.  Wooding  &  Bradley  occupying  it  in  1890 
in  the  manufacture  of  sewing  machine  needles  and  employing  a  few 
men.  Water  power  is  supplied  from  the  Beers  mill.  This  is  located 
on  Mill  river,  a  short  distance  below  Mt.  Carmel  .station,  and  has  a 
small  capacity.  Near  by  was  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  small 
wood  work,  such  as  knobs,  and  later  was  used  by  Beers  &  Fenn  as  a 
wheel  shop.  The  old  building  was  burned  and  a  new  one,  rebuilt  by 
Philos  Beers,  was  used  in  the  manufacture  of  fertilizers.  In  1879  A.  J. 
Doolittle  became  the  owner  and  in  1890  Ira  W.  Beers  was  the  proprie- 
tor. The  power  was  steam.  The  old  mill  was  operated  by  George 
Beers.  At  the  .station  John  E.  Andrews  &  vSons  also  had  steam  mills 
of  small  capacity,  used  to  manufacture  flour,  feed  and  lumber — the 
industry  being  but  recently  established. 

D.  W.  Shares  invented  and  patented  horse  hoeing  and  planting 
machines,  which  have  been  manufactured  by  him  to  some  extent  and 
used  with  most  satisfactory  results.  Other  farming  utensils  have  been 
made  by  him  which  have  also  secured  him  fame,  a  coulter  harrow  tak- 
ing the  highest  premium  at  three  successive  state  fairs.  His  inven- 
tions rank  well  as  labor  saving  devices,  and  merit  an  extended  use. 

The  manufacture  of  bricks  in  Hamden  has  for  many  years  been  a 
mcst  important  industry,  in  which  scores  of  men  have  been  employed 
and  which  has  brought  thousands  of  dollars  into  the  town.  Nearly 
all  the  yards  in  the  Wilmot  Brook  valley  have  been  discontinued,  many 
of  them  being  set  to  other  uses  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago;  but  in  the 
Quinnipiac  valley  the  industry  flourishes  greatly.  In  both  localities 
bricks  were  made  as  long  since  as  1645,  but  probably  to  no  great  extent 
until  withm  the  present  century.  With  the  construction  of  better 
roads  and  the  means  of  shipment  afforded  by  the  railroads  came  an 
increase  of  manufacture  of  Quinnipiac  brick,  the  product  as  long  ago 
as  18B6  being  :3,000,000  per  year.  The  clay  in  this  locality  is  very  su- 
perior and  appears  in  almost  inexhau.stible  deposits  which  insure 
permanency  to  the  industry.  In  recent  periods  the  yearly  product 
has  been  largely  increased  by  the  employment  of  modern  brick  mak- 
ing machinery  and  the  use  of  bituminous  coal  instead  of  wood.  In 
late  years  the  annual  output  has  reached  nearly  30,000,000  bricks. 
Some  of  the  principal  manufacturers  have  been  H.  P.  Shai"es  and 
Samuel  P.  Crafts,  the  latter  being  the  head  of  the  Quinnipiac  Brick 
Company. 

In  the  town  are  a  number  of  hamlets  whose  limits  are  hard  to 
define,  as  their  population  is  mu;h  diffused  on  the  surrounding  farms, 
and  in  some  localities,  especially  on  the  old  Cheshire  road,  one  hamlet 
appears  to  run  into  the  other.  The  nucleuses  of  these  clusters  are  the 
meeting  hou.ses  or  the  old  manufacturing  plants,  but  in  all  the  town 
there  is  no  prominent  center  which  has  absorbed  the  principal  busi- 


310  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ness  or  professional  interests,  as  in  most  other  rural  towns.  The 
nearest  approach  to  such  a  place  in  Hamden  is  Centerville,  which  has 
some  village-like  aspects.  Here  are  the  fine  new  town  hall,  the  Epis- 
copal church  and  the  Rectory  school,  several  public  buildings,  a  good 
Masonic  Lodge  and  the  works  of  the  New  Haven  Web  Company.  The 
inhabitants  number  several  hundred  and  the  place  has  an  attractive 
and  homelike  appearance.  The  post  office  which  is  maintained  here 
bears  the  name  of  Hamden,  and  was  kept  many  years  by  Leverett 
Hitchcock.  In  1873  he  was  succeeded  by  Jesse  Warner,  the  present 
postmaster,  whose  administration  was  interrupted  for  four  years,  end- 
ing in  April,  1889,  when  Gilbert  S.  Benham  was  the  postmaster. 

South  of  this  place  is  the  hamlet  of  Augerville,  having  less  than  a 
hundred  inhabitants,  whose  interest  in  centered  in  the  auger  and  tool 
factory  at  that  place.  It  is  dependent  upon  the  stores  of  Centerville 
and  there  are  no  public  places  or  churches. 

North  from  the  center  are  the  hamlets  of  Ivesville  and  Mt.  Carmel 
the  former  having  a  railway  station  until  a  few  years  ago.  Near  by  is 
the  Catholic  church,  and  there  are  several  halls  and  stores.  The  Mt. 
Carmel  Water  Company  furnishes  water  for  the  half  a  thousand  inhabit- 
ants, most  of  whom  are  emploj'cd  in  the  shops  in  this  locality.  The 
Mt.  Carmel  post  office  was  kept  many  years  by  James  Ives,  succeeded 
in  1885  by  William  Hitchcock  who,  after  five  years,  gave  place  to 
Lyman  H.  Bassett.     In  this  locality  are  several  very  fine  homes. 

Nearer  the  foot  of  the  mount,  is  Mt.  Carmel  station,  where  are  the 
old  axle  works,  mills,  stores  and  the  Mt.  Carmel  meeting  house.  In 
the  spring  of  1890  the  Mt.  Carmel  Center  post  office  was  here  estab- 
lished, with  George  L.  Andrews  as  postmaster.  As  this  locality  is  now 
invested  with  more  individuality,  it  will  improve  more  than  it  has  in 
the  past. 

Having  the  character  of  hamlets  are  the  settlements  at  Warner- 
town,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Hamden,  and  Hamburg  along  the 
southern  line  of  the  town,  the  latter  being  suburban  to  New  Haven. 
North  is  the  M.  E.  church. 

At  Mill  Rock,  pleasantly  and  also  picturesquely  located,  is  Whit- 
neyville,  named  for  its  founder,  Eli  Whitney,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century.  His  first  improvement,  of  a  residence  nature,  was 
a  row  of  two-.story  tenements  for  the  workmen  in  his  armory.  Higher 
up  stream  the  East  Plain  Congregational  meeting  house  was  erected 
and,  between  the.se  extremes,  residences,  some  of  prett)'  appearance, 
have  been  built.  Its  proximity  to  New  Haven  prevents  it  from  being 
a  business  place,  so  that  the  post  office,  of  which  Jesse  Cooper  was  the 
postmaster,  has  been  discontinued. 

In  the  town  have  resided  as  physicians  Doctor  Chauncey  Foote, 
and  for  many  years  Doctor  Edwin  D.  Swift,  who  is  still  in  practice, 
residing  near  Centerville.  Doctor  O.  F.  Treadwell  has  been  a  con- 
temporary practitioner  on  the  Plains,  and  since  the  spring  of  1890, 
Doctor  George  H.  Joslyn  has  practiced  from  an  office  at  Mt.  Carmel. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEK   COUNTY.  311 

Day  vSpring  Lodge,  Xo.  30,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  instituted  in  Hamden 
on  the  petition  of  Samuel  Bellamy,  Amasa  Bradley,  Ezra  Kimberly, 
Leverett  Kimberly,  George  H.  Bristol,  Tulley  Crosby,  Levi  Tuttle, 
Simeon  Goodyear  and  Job  Munson.  A  warrant  was  granted  by  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Connecticut,  May  15th,  1794,  and  on  the  30th  of 
December,  the  same  year,  that  body  was  convened  at  the  house  of 
Samuel  Bellamy  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  a  permanent  organiza- 
tion of  Day  Spring  Lodge,  No.  30.  This  house  stood  near  the  old 
canal  above  the  Mt.  Carmel  meeting  house  and  was  also  the  place 
where  subsequent  early  meetings  were  held.  In  ISO.')  the  Lodge  secured 
a  room  in  the  house  of  a  ^Irs.  Barber,  and  in  1810  the  house  of  Eliph- 
alet  Gregory  became  the  place  of  meeting.  The  latter  was  for  a 
time  used  as  a  public  house  and  was  destroyed  by  fire  many  years  ago. 

The  first  officers  of  the  Lodge  were:  Samuel  Bellamy,W.  M.;  George 
W.  Bristol,  S.  B.;  Amasa  Bradley,  J.  W.;  and  Luman  Frisbie,  tyler. 
Among  the  early  admissions  were  Elias  Hotchkiss  and  Jared  Good- 
year. After  1828  the  communications  were  irregularly  held  and  for 
half  a  dozen  years  appear  to  have  been  suspended.  In  May,  1836,  a 
full  set  of  officers  was  again  elected,  embracing  Leverett  Hitchcock, 
M.:  Doctor  C.  B.  Foote,  S.  W.;  Julius  S.  Tolles,  J.  W.;  Elam  Warner, 
T.;  Lewis  Goodyear,  S.;  Leverett  Hotchkiss,  S.  D.;  James  Wiles,  J.  D.; 
Eli  Hull,  T.  and  S.  It  is  probable  that  these  were  chosen  simply  to 
keep  up  the  organization,  but  it  appears  that  even  if  no  communica- 
tions were  held,  it  was  deemed  best,  in  view  of  the  opposition  against 
Masonry  in  that  period,  to  surrender  the  charter.  This  was  done  in 
1838. 

In  May,  1870,  through  the  efforts  of  Norris  B.  Mix,  the  old  charter 
was  restored,  and  the  Lodge  has  since  kept  up  its  organization,  in- 
creasing in  numbers  and  influence.  In  1890  there  were  about  90 
members  and  the  communications  were  held  in  an  elegant  room  in 
the  town  hall,  which  was  occupied,  after  appropriate  ceremonies,  in 
October,  1888.  Prior  to  that  and  after  March,  1875,  the  place  of  meet- 
ing was  in  Warner's  Hall. 

Since  its  reorganization  the  masters  have  been  Gilbert  S.  Benham. 
George  L.  Clark,  Elbert  A.  Doolittle,  Walter  Hoyles,  Francis  J.  Hin- 
man,  Charles  H.  Kimberly,  Norris  B.  Mix,  William  W.  Price,  David 
C.  Sanderson,  William  F.  Smith,  Ernest  C.  Spencer,  George  A.Tucker. 

In  recent  years  the  Lodge  has  admitted  from  five  to  eight  mem- 
bers a  year  and  it  is  the  only  important  organization  of  this  nature  in 
the  town. 

Public  schools  were  first  provided  by  the  Mt.  Carmel  and  East 
Plain  ecclesiastical  societies  and  in  the  course  of  years  nine  districts 
were  established.  These  were  later  subdivided  or  consolidated  until 
the  number  the  past  few  years  has  been  thirteen,  in  three  of  which 
two  schools  each  have  been  taught.  These  sixteen  schools  and  the 
interest  of  the  town  in  the  several  joint  districts  are  maintained  at  a 


312  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

yearly  outlay  of  about  §5,800.  About  two-thirds  of  this  amount  is 
raised  by  direct  taxation.  More  than  four  hundred  families  are  rep- 
resented in  the  schools,  m  which  are  over  800  children  of  .school  age. 
The  character  of  the  .schools  has  been  elevated,  as  compared  with 
former  years,  but  probably  not  as  great  a  degree  of  proficiency  has 
been  attained  as  if  the  union  were  more  clo.se.  A  scheme  to  consoli- 
date the  districts  was  defeated  in  1870.  Each  district  has  its  own 
committee  man  and  in  1889  Elias  Dickerman  was  the  school  visitor. 

Select  schools  of  good  reputation  have  been  conducted  by  mem- 
bers of  the  Dickerman  and  Everest  families,  both  of  which  have  been 
active  in  promoting  the  cause  of  education  in  the  town. 

In  1843  Reverend  Charles  W.  Everest  began  an  enterprise  at  Cen- 
terville  in  connection  with  his  duties  as  the  rector  of  the  Episcopal 
parish,  which  was  successfully  continued  by  him  many  years.  It  was 
a  boarding  and  training  school  for  boys,  known  as  the  Rectory  School. 
On  the  old  Deacon  Hart  place  south  of  the  corners,  he  began  his 
buildings  in  1844,  adding  to  the  number  or  enlarging  from  time  to 
time  as  the  patronage  required.  From  four  boys,  at  the  beginning, 
there  were,  before  the  close  of  the  second  year,  a  dozen  in  attendance, 
and  several  assistants  were  employed.  In  the  tenth  year  there  were 
4;")  pupils,  and  not  long  after  he  reached  his  desired  maximum  num- 
ber, 65.  The  pupils  were  early  dressed  in  uniform,  the  West  Point 
gray  being  adopted,  and  were  instructed  in  military  tactics,  which  be- 
came distinguishing-  features  in  the  life  of  the  school,  and  added  to 
its  reputation.  There  were  half  a  dozen  efficient  instructors  and  the 
school  had  a  large  degree  of  prosperity  until  Mr.  Everest  was  so  much 
enfeebled  by  age  that  he  could  no  longer  give  it  his  individual  atten- 
tion. 

Not  the  least  result  connected  with  the  school  was  the  creation  of 
the  fine  grounds,  buildings,  etc.,  of  the  institution,  which  were  attrac- 
tive, and  to  this  day  form  one  of  the  pleasantest  objects  of  the  village 
of  CenterviUe.  This  beautifying  influence  extended  beyond  his  own 
grounds,  and  to  his  taste  and  zeal  the  people  of  Hamden  are  indebted 
for  many  of  the  fine  trees  in  this  localit}'. 

After  being  closed  a  number  of  years  against  use  for  school  pur- 
poses, the  two  sons  of  the  honored  former  principal  re-opened  the 
building  as  a  boys'  boarding  school,  in  September,  1885,  and  have  since 
been  conducting  it  with  fair  promise  of  restoring  it  to  its  former  high 
position. 

Most  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  present  town,  living  south  of 
Mt.  Carmel,  first  attended  church  at  New  Haven.  In  1718  the  parish 
of  North  Haven  was  formed,  composed  of  forty  families,  twelve  of 
which  lived  in  Hamden.  Those  living  in  the  northern  part  attended 
the  church  in  Cheshire.  In  the  cour.se  of  forty  years  the  population 
of  this  section  had  so  much  increased  that  separate  parish  privileges 
were  demanded.     They  were  afforded  by  the  act  of  1757,  which  con- 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  1^13 

stituted  the  parish  of  Mt.  Carmel,  within  which  the  first  ecclesiastical 
society  was  organized,  January  81st,  1758.  Daniel  Bradley  moderated, 
Samuel  Atwater  was  chosen  clerk,  and  Andrew  Goodyear,  Samuel 
Dickerman  and  Ithamar  Todd  were  chosen  the  first  society  committee. 
Provision  was  made  for  winter  preaching  that  year,  and  steps  taken 
to  secure  a  permanent  place  of  worship. 

In  1760-1  the  meeting  house  was  built.  Originally  it  was  to  be  a 
plain  frame,  but  it  was  afterward  voted  to  add  a  turret,  certain  men 
of  the  society  having  agreed  to  bear  the  expense  of  that  addition. 
The  interior  was  after  the  manner  of  the  better  meeting  houses  of 
that  period — there  being  square  pews,  "dignified  seats,"  for  the  aged 
and  those  in  authority,  and  a  massive  sounding  board  over  the  pulpit. 
Near  by  were  the  customary  "Sabba-day"  houses  in  which  those  com- 
ing from  a  distance  could  refresh  and  warm  themselves  while  waiting 
for  the  second  service  of  the  day.  In  the  church  building  there  were 
no  means  for  heating  other  than  foot  .stoves  until  ISH'i,  when  the  stove 
still  in  use  in  the  basement  was  procured. 

After  serving  its  purpose  about  eighty  years,  the  old  meeting  house 
was  displaced  by  the  present  edifice,  which  is  near  the  site  of  the 
old  one.  and  which  was  selected  only  after  several  years  agitation  and 
warm  discussion.  The  present  edifice  is  also  a  frame  and  rests  on  a 
basement  in  which  are  vestry  and  other  rooms.  It  was  dedicated  June 
10th,  1840,  and  has  since  been  repaired  and  improved.  In  1860  a  heat- 
ing furnace  was  supplied.  Ten  years  later  the  house  was  remodelled 
at  a  cost  of  $2,000  ;  and  in  1872  a  pipe  organ,  costing  $1,200,  was  pro- 
cured. The  last  improvements  were  made  in  1888,  when  the  building 
was  painted  and  attractively  frescoed.  The  par.sonage  was  built  in 
1854  and  has  also  been  materially  improved. 

Although  they  began  to  worship  by  themselves  in  1760  the  people 
of  the  parish  were  not  gathered  into  a  regular  church  organization 
until  January  26th,  1764,  when  "The  Church  in  Mount  Carmel"  was 
duly  constituted  by  a  council  at  which  were  pre.sent  the  pastors  of  the 
Cheshire  church,  Reverend  Samuel  Hall,  and  of  the  North  Haven 
church,  Reverend  Benjamin  Trumbull.  Of  the  latter  church 
eighteen  members  now  connected  with  the  new  body.  The  46  persons 
who  covenanted  together  to  form  the  Mt.  Carmel  church  were  the 
following:  Daniel  Sperry,  Andrew  Goodyear,  Daniel  Bradley,  Wait 
Chatterton,  Jesse  Blacksly,  Amos  Bradley,  Amos  Peck,  Solomon  Doo- 
little,  Jonathan  Ailing,  Caleb  Andrews,  Benjamin  Pardee,  Jonathan 
Dickerman,  Daniel  Bradley,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Hotchkiss,  Nathan  Ailing, 
Elisha  Bradley,  Jabez  Bradley,  Jo.seph  Ives,  Joel  Bradley.  Abraham 
Chatterton,  John  Munson,  Isaac  Dickerman,  David  Sperry,  Abigail 
Bradley,  Mary  Bradley,  Mary  Dickerman  Anna  Ailing,  Mary  Bellamy, 
Martha  Hitchcock,  Mabel  Bassett,  Hannah  Pardee,  Elizabeth  Peck, 
Mary  Sperry,  Jerusha  Doolittle,  Martha  Brooks,  Mary  Granniss,  Joanna 
Chatterton,   Esther    Bradley,   Mary   Ailing,    Mary    Bradley,    Hannah 


314  HISTDKV    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Goodyear,  Abigail    Bradley,   Lydia    Munson,    Dinah    Sperry,    Esther 
Sparry,  Anna  Sperry. 

After  the  church  was  formed,  and  prior  to  1780,  90  more  members 
were  added  to  the  rolls,  the  males  being:  Bazel  Munson,  Simeon 
Bristol,  Phineas  Castle,  Abraham  Todd,  Samuel  Atwater,  vStephen 
Goodyear,  Asa  Goodyear,  Gamaliel  Bradley,  Daniel  Rexford.  Jr.,  James 
Ives,  Samuel  Hitchcock,  Elisha  Mallory,  Abiah  Warner,  Theophilus 
Goodyear,  Joel  Todd,  Job  Todd,  Timothy  Goodyear,  Samuel  Lee, 
Thomas  Ives,  Benjamin  Ford,  Daniel  Goodyear,  Jared  Bassett,  Chaun- 
cey  Dickerman,  Hezekiah  Bas.sett,  Abraham  Norton,  Eliakim  Mallory, 
Samuel  Hitchcock,  Jason  Bradley,  Titus  Goodyear,  Jesse  Dickerman, 
Hezekiah  Warner,  Enos  Atwater,  Caleb  Doolittle,  Usal  Mansfield,  John 
Goodyear,  Jereiniah  Ives,  Enos  Dickerman  and  Caleb  Andrews,  Jr. 

The  church  has  had  an  aggregate  membership  of  nearly  800,  and 
in  1890  the  number  belonging  was  140,  which  was  a  good  percentage 
of  the  population  of  the  Mt.  Carmel  region. 

The  deacons  of  the  church,  with  dates  of  their  appointments,  have 
been  :  Daniel  Bradley,  1708;  Amos  Peck,  17rj8;  Stephen  Goodyear, 
1773;  Daniel  Bradley,  1783;  Asa  Goodyear,  1803;  Aaron  Bradley,  1808; 
Lyman  Goodyear,  1828;  Ezra  Dickerman,  1828;  Marcus  Goodyear, 
1840;  Elihu  Dickerman,  1840;  Willis  Goodyear,  1861;  Joshua  Carpenter, 
1869;  Andrew  H.  Smith,  1871;  George  H.  Allen,  1880;  E.  P.  McLane, 
1882,  and  reelected  in  1886  and  1889. 

The  church  did  not  have  a  regular  pastor  until  five  years  after  it 
was  organized,  and  there  have  been  many  changes  in  the  ministerial 
office.  The  regular  and  acting  pastor's  have  been  the  following:  Rev- 
erend Nathaniel  Sherman,  ordained  May  ISth,  17G9,  dismissed  August, 
1772;  Joseph  Perry,  ordained  October  loth,  1783,  dismissed  in  the 
year  1790;  Asa  Lyman,  ordained  September '.)th,  1800,  dismissed  April 
26th,  1803;  John  Hyde,  ordained  May  2(»th,  180G,  dismissed  in  Janu- 
ary, 1811:  Eliphalet  B.  Coleman,  ordained  February  5th.  1812,  dismiss- 
ed November  9th,  1825;  Stephen  Hubbell,  ordained  May  19th,  1830, 
dismissed  in  May,  1830;  James  Birney,  ordained  June  14th,  1842,  dis- 
missed March  29th,  1846;  Israel  P.  Warren,  D.  D.,  installed  July  8th, 
1846,  dismissed  September  23d,  1851;  D.  H.  Thayer,  ordained  January 
5th,  1853,  dismissed  May  20th,  1860;  John  Hyde  DeFore.st,  ordained 
May  24tb,  1871,  dismissed  August  7th,  1874;  George  C.  Miln,  installed 
December  29th,  1874,  dismissed  January  10th,  1877;  Robert  C.  Bell, 
installed  April  10th,  1879,  to  August  7th,  1881;  L.  H.  Higgins  was  the 
acting  pastor  from  October  23d,  1881,  till  June,  1888.  Since  October 
13th,  1888,  the  acting  pa.stor  has  been  Reverend  Clarence  Greeley,  who 
graduated  from  Yale  in  1886  and  since  that  time  has  taken  post  gradu. 
ate  courses  at  Yale  and  Harvard. 

Usually  the  ministers  of  the  church  have  also  performed  the  duties 
of  chirrch  clerk,  but  from  1870  until  1889  the  clerk  was  L.  A.  Dicker- 
man.     He  was  succeeded  by  the  pre.sent  (1890)  clerk,  Arthur  E.  Wood- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  815 

ruff.  The  society  clerks  have  been:  17n8, vSamuel  Atwater;  ]773,  Dan- 
iel Bradley:  1786,  Samuel  Bellamy:  1789,  Elisha  Chapman:  179;"), 
Josiah  Root:  1804,  Hezekiah  Bas.sett,  Jr.:  ISKS,  Jason  Dickerman:  181S, 
Lyman  Goodyear;  IS-Sf),  Ambrose  Tuttle:  1827,  Ezra  Dickerman;  18:^2, 
Parsons  Ives;  1840,  Hobart  Ives;  1847,  Lucius  Ives;  1856,  Amos  B. 
Peck:  18.58,  L.  A.  Dickerman;  1868,  D.  H.  Cooper:  1871,  J.  B.  Jacobs; 
1888,  Elam  J.  Dickerman.  The  last  named.  Homer  Tuttle  and  Jes.se 
Jacobs,  constituted  the  standing  committee  in  1800.  Wilbur  Ives  was 
the  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school,  which  has  about  one  hun- 
dred members.  Reverend  George  A.  Dickerman  has  been  raised  up 
as  a  Congregational  minister,  and  a  former  pastor,  Reverend  J.  H. 
De  Forest,  became  a  missionary  to  Japan. 

A  ministerial  fund  or  fund  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel,  was 
raised  by  .subscription  of  the  members  in  1800.  Originally  it  was 
$8,000,  but  it  has  become  somewhat  reduced.  Revenues  from  the  sale 
of  pews  have  been  derived  and  used  since  June.  1849. 

Soon  after  the  revolutionary  war  .some  of  the  inhabitants  living- 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  town  who  belonged  to  the  Fair  Haven 
and  other  churches  in  the  city  of  New  Haven,  desired  a  society 
in  their  midst,  or  at  least  a  place  of  worship  in  their  locality.  The 
former  object  appearing  at  that  time  impracticable,  they  contented 
themselves  with  establishing  a  place  of  worship  in  the  southwest  dis- 
trict. After  a  time,  with  a  view  of  accommodating  the  people  living 
still  more  remote  from  the  New  Haven  meeting  houses,  this  place  of 
worship  was  moved  to  the  house  of  Captain  Mix,  who  lived  on  the 
Hamden  East  Plain.  This  move  dissatisfied  Caleb  Ailing  and  others, 
who  first  met  with  them,  and  who  now  set  up  separate  meetings  at 
his  house,  which  were  continued  a  number  of  years.  In  spite  of  this 
division  of  interest  and  strength,  the  meetings  at  Captain  J^Iix's  were 
continued,  and  some  time  about  1793  it  was  proposed  and  carried  out 
by  those  who  were  wont  to  assemble  there  that  a  meeting  house  be 
built  in  the  same  locality.  "  It  stood  precisely  where  the  Methodist 
church  now  stands.  It  was  a  cheap  and  unsightly  building,  having 
but  few  attractions,  and  for  many  years  at  least  there  never  was  any 
fire  in  it.  The  people  a.ssembled  there  in  the  coldest  weather  without 
a  spark  of  fire,  and  it  stood  in  a  very  cold,  bleak  place.  If  the  wind 
blows  anywhere  it  is  sure  to  blow  on  Hamden  Plain."*  It  is  probable 
that  the  meeting  hou.se  was  not  wholly  completed  until  after  the 
regular  organization  of  the  church  in  Hamden  East  Plain.  This  took 
place  August  18th,  1795,  the  work  of  constituting  being  done  by  a 
council  composed  of  delegates  and  ministers  from  the  neighboring 
churches.  The  constituent  members  were  three  males:  Charles 
Ailing,  Abraham  Ailing  and  Asa  Gilbert;  and  nine  females,  namely: 
Hannah  Ailing,  Abigail  Ailing.  Mary  Gilbert,  Eleanor  Carrington, 
Hannah  Bassett,  Sybil  Andrews,  Desire  Humislon,  Sarah  Turner  and 

*From  Reverend  Austin  Putnam's  discciurse. 


'.iW  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Rebecca  Mix.  On  the  same  day  the  church  was  formed,  Moses  Ford, 
Jabez  Turner  and  Timothy  Andrews  joined  by  a  profession  of  their 
faith,  and  these  fifteen  persons  were  the  nucleus  of  a  body  which  has 
become  strong  and  vigorous,  and  whose  aggregate  membership 
approximates  600.     In  1890  the  number  belonging  was  more  than  200. 

For  more  than  two  years  the  church  was  without  a  pastor,  and 
often  there  was  no  minister,  when  Abraham  Ailing  usually  led  the 
meetings,  exhorting  or  reading  printed  sermons  to  his  fellow  mem- 
bers. He  was  also  gifted  in  prayer,  and  was  well  fitted  to  be  the  leader 
of  this  small  band  of  Christians,  who  extended  him  a  unanimous  call 
to  become  their  first  pastor.  He  accepted  and  was  ordained  October 
19th,  1797,  and  after  a  pastorate  of  25  years  was  dismissed,  at  his  own 
request,  October  22d,  1822.  He  continued  to  reside  on  his  farm,  three 
miles  northwest  of  the  meeting  hou.se,  until  his  death,  July  22d,  1837, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  83  years.  In  his  ministry  81  persons  were 
added  to  the  church,  all  but  ten  by  profession  of  their  faith. 

"After  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Ailing  the  church  was  destitute  of  a 
pastor  for  sixteen  years,  and  it  is  a  singular  fact  that  during  that 
period  about  240  different  preachers  officiated.  In  this  time  of  no 
pastor  and  of  many  preachers  the  church  was  reduced  to  a  state  of 
extreme  feebleness,  discouragement  and  depression,  insomuch  that  it 
even  despaired  of  life."*  Some  of  these  supplies,  however,  were  men 
of  great  ability,  among  them  being  Reverend  N.  W.  Taylor,  D.D.,  of 
New  Haven,  who  was  the  minister  about  eighteen  months.  In  May, 
1833,  George  E.  Delevan  began  his  labors  with  the  church,  being 
ordained  as  an  evangelist  June  19th  the  same  year  in  the  old  meeting 
house,  and  .soon  thereafter  began  the  work  of  building  a  new  hou.se 
of  worship  at  Whitneyville.  In  this  he  had  the  active  .support  and 
a.ssistance  of  Deacon  Eli  Dickerman,  but  others  of  the  members 
strongly  opposed  the  removal  of  the  church,  and  refused  to  co-operate. 
After  much  effort,  and  aided  by  outside  parties,  a  part  of  the  present 
edifice  was  built  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1834,  the  lecture  room 
being  first  occupied  May  25th,  1834.  In  much  that  condition  the  hou.se 
was  used  more  than  thirty  years  when,  in  1860,  it  was  rebuilt  and 
greatly  enlarged.  It  is  now  a  spacious  frame  building,  with  a  stone 
basement,  fitted  up  for  a  lecture  room.  The  main  room  has  a  gallery 
on  three  sides  and  has  a  large  seating  capacity.  In  1889  a  very  fine 
parsonage,  costing  $4,000,  was  built  on  the  hill  east  of  the  old  church 
residence,  and  all  the  property  is  in  good  condition. 

The  second  pastor  of  the  church  was  Reverend  Austin  Putnam. 
He  first  preached  here  as  an  evangelist  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  was 
installed  to  the  pastorate  October  31st,  1838,  having  been  mduced  to 
accept  a  call  while  on  a  second  visit  to  Whitneyville.  He  remained 
continuously  in  the  pastorate  until  his  death,  September  26th,  1886,  at 
the  age  of  77^  years.  "  For  forty-eight  years  he  filled  this  place  with 
*Chiirch  Manual,  p.  ~>. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  '.M7 

faithful  service,  and  made  it  beautiful  by  deeds  of  kindness  and  sym- 
pathy. Love  was  the  central  element  of  his  ministry,  and  it  not  only 
made  his  own  life  tender  and  attractive,  but  molded  the  feelings  of 
the  church  .so  that  he  left  it  harmonious  and  united,  permeated  by  his 
.spirit,  which  was  that  of  the  Master.  As  a  preacher  the  substance  of 
his  sermons  was  Biblical.  He  delivered  them  extemporaneously  and 
with  great  energy  and  earnestness.  As  a  pastor  he  was  tirele.ss  in  his 
visitations  and  care.  The  church  was  the  center  of  his  thoughts — the 
focus  that  united  every  energy— and  it  will  always  hold  his  name  in 
profoundest  reverence  and  warmest  love."* 

In  December,  1886,  Reverend  Charles  A.  Dinsmore  began  his 
labors  with  the  church  as  a  supply,  and  so  continued  until  February 
19th,  1890,  when  he  was  installed  as  the  pastor  by  a  council  called  for 
that  purpose.  In  the  summer  of  1890  the  affairs  of  the  church  were 
in  a  most  prosperous  condition,  and  the  Sabbath  school  was  also  very 
flourishing.  Eli  G.  Dickerman  was  the  superintendent.  In  the  past 
fifty  years  much  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  music  of  the  church, 
the  choir  usually  being  large,  and  has  in  that  period  been  led  by 
Lyman  Ford,  Horace  Lord,  James  M.  Payne  and  Charles  P.  Augur. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  church  the  deacons  were  chosen  as 
follows:  1795,  Moses  Ford;  1795,  Joseph  Benham;  1828,  Lyman  Ford; 
1828,  Eli  Dickerman;  1834,  Eaton  Bassett;  1838,  Elias  Bassett:  1860. 
Darius  Webb;  1862,  James  M.  Payne;+  1869,  Oliver  W.  Treadwell; 
1878,  James  G.  Baldwin;  1878,  Harmon  Humiston;  1881,  Oliver  F. 
Treadwell;  1882,  Elias  Dickerman;t  1884,  Henry  W.  Munson.f 

Grace  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal);*;  was  organized  in  1790.  The 
parish  was  at  first  confined  to  the  Mt.  Carmel  region,  and  m  that  part 
of  the  town  the  religious  services  were  established.  The  first  meet- 
ings were  held  in  private  houses  of  members  until  about  1795.  when 
a  church,  34  by  44  feet,  was  built  at  Mt.  Carmel.  But  several  years 
more  elapsed  before  suitable  furniture  and  a  pulpit  could  be  supplied. 
The  church  was  occasionally  visited  by  clergymen  from  neighboring 
parishes,  but  inore  frequently  the  services  were  conducted  by  lay 
readers,  Amasa  Bradley,  Ezra  Bradley  and  others  officiating  in  that 
capacity.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  the  meetings  were  held  with 
greater  frequency,  and  for  a  time  clergymen  were  secured  to  officiate 
every  two  weeks.  In  this  way  Episcopal  ministers  from  the  Cheshire 
church  and  the  academy  served  Grace  church  a  number  of  years. 

In  June,  1818,  legal  measures  were  taken  to  make  the  bounds  of 
the  parish  co-extensive  with,  those  of  the  town.  A  more  central  site 
for  a  church  was  now  demanded,  and  accordingly,  in  January,  1819,  a 
new  church  edifice  was  commenced  at  Centerville,  which  was  com- 
pleted in  the  course  of  the  next  two  years.  It  was  consecrated  by 
Bishop  Brownell,  October  14th,  1821.     The  church  building  at   Mt. 

*Church  Manual,  1888.  +  Present  deacons.  *  From  data  by  Reverend  H.  L. 
Everest. 


318  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTV. 

Carmel  was  sold  and  the  proceeds  applied  toward  the  new  church. 
In  1847  the  church  at  Centerville  was  thoroughly  repaired  and 
improved,  the  work  involving  an  outlay  of  $1 ,()()().  Other  repairs  on 
the  building  have  been  made,  the  most  noteworthy  being  those  in 
1874,  when  the  interior  was  refitted.  In  1890  the  house  afforded  com- 
fortable sittings  for  2.50  persons.  The  corporation  controlling  the 
property  had  as  its  wardens:  George  W.  Bradley,  senior,  and  Jesse 
Cooper,  junior;  vestrymen,  Ira  W.  Beers.  John  CoUett,  Henry  W. 
Austin  and  George  L.  Clark. 

For  fourteen  years  the  enlarged  parish  had  no  resident  rector,  the 
clergy  of  New  Haven,  Cheshire  and  other  parishes  ministering  here, 
and  it  was  not  until  183o  that  Reverend  John  H.  Rouse  was  called  to 
take  full  charge  of  the  parish  and  become  the  first  resident  minister. 
After  two  years  he  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  Henry  Fitch,  who  was 
the  rector  six  years,  resigning  on  Easter,  1843.  In  the  same  year 
Reverend  Charles  W.  Everest  was  elected  rector,  and  had  full  charge 
of  the  parish  until  April,  1874,  with  the  exception  of  one  j-ear  (1846-7). 
when  he  officiated  in  a  Xew  Haven  church.  To  help  eke  out  the 
small  salary  which  the  parish  felt  able  to  pay.  he  opened  the  rectory 
school,  and  with  the  consent  of  his  parishioners,  conducted  it  31  years, 
in  connection  with  his  church  work.  This  was  the  largest  and  most 
successful  rectorship  in  the  history  of  the  parish. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Everest  a  number  of  clergymen  had 
■charge  of  Grace  church,  among  them  being  the  Reverends  E.  Whit- 
combe,  Joseph  Brewster,  Heraan  R.  Timlow,  J.  E.  Walton,  Henry 
Tarrant,  William  B.  Walker,  A.  B.  Nichols  and'  H.  L.  Everest.  The 
service  of  the  latter  as  rector  was  terminated  in  1887,  and  in  Decem- 
ber of  that  year  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Reverend  H.  W.  R.  Stafford, 
who  was  rector  until  November,  1888.  Since  June,  1889,  the  rector 
has  been  Reverend  Walter  Downes  Humphrey. 

In  the  past  few  years  some  of  the  friends  of  the  parish  have  con- 
tributed a  fund  for  church  purposes  which  amounted  to  more  than 
$4,000  in  1886:  and  the  amount  yearly  raised  for  all  purposes  is  about 
.$800. 

In  1890  there  were  in  the  parish  of  Grace  church  35  families,  which 
furnished  48  communicant  members.  The  Sunday  school  had  25 
members.  A  large  and  increasing  foreign  element  in  this  part  of  the 
town  has  limited  the  scope  of  the  parish  work,  but  the  church  appears 
to  be  firmly  established  and  has  been  a  useful  factor  in  the  com- 
munity. 

Saint  Mary's  Church  i  Roman  Catholic)  is  on  the  highway  between 
Centerville  and  Mt.  Carmel,  and  is  the  finest  church  edifice  in  the 
town.  The  first  public  ma.ss  in  Hamden  was  celebrated  in  September, 
1852,  by  Father  Matthew  Hart  in  a  dwelling  belonging  to  Parsons 
Ives.  At  that  time  there  were  in  the  town  five  Catholic  families,  and 
about  thirty  members.     These  were  visited  once  a  month  by  priests 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COINTY.  319 

from  neighboring  parishes,  who  said  mass  at  private  houses.  In  1856 
Father  E.  J.  O'Brien,  of  St.  Mary's,  New  Haven,  purchased  a  lot  on 
which  to  build  a  church  to  accommodate  the  increased  membership 
of  the  mission.  Upon  this  site  a  building  used  by  the  old  axle  works 
was  moved  and  properly  fitted  up  as  a  place  of  worship.  In  1867  it 
was  enlarged,  and  with  other  improvements  has  been  used  84  years. 
After  being  served  by  the  priests  of  the  churches  in  Wallingford  and 
Cheshire  (connected  with  Southington)  St.  Mary's  became  a  perma- 
nent mission  of  the  Wallingford  church,  and  August  11th,  1S67, 
Father  Hugh  Mallon  assumed  care  of  it.  The  Catholics  at  that  time 
numbered  2"2.t.  Until  1878  Father  Mallon  labored  alone  in  Hamden 
in  connection  with  his  church  at  Wallingford,  but  afterward  had  the 
service  of  assistant  priests  and  with  little  exception  mass  has  been 
•said  once  per  week.  The  membership  has  also  been  largely  increased, 
there  being,  in  18i)().  more  than  ."wO  Catholics  in  the  parish.  Accord- 
inglv.  a  new  and  larger  church  was  needed  for  their  better  accommo- 
dation,  and  Father  Mallon  set  about  to  erect  it.  A  lot  south  of  the 
old  building  was  purchased,  on  which  the  foundation  walls  for  a  large 
and  fine  brick  edifice  were  laid  in  1888.  The  superstructure,  in  the 
Gothic  style  of  architecture,  has  since  been  carried  to  completion,  the 
new  house  being  in  the  summer  of  1890  completed  for  use.  It  is  a 
very  handsome  building,  and  when  it  is  completely  furnished  will  cost 
about  $2i>.0(i().  making  it  superior  to  any  country  church  of  that 
denomination  in  the  county.  About  half  a  mile  from  the  church  a 
burial  ground  of  half  an  acre  has  been  consecrated  for  the  use  of 
Catholics  in  Hamden,  and  a  number  of  interments  have  there  been 
made.  St.  Mary's  was  set  off  from  Wallingford  as  a  separate  parish 
April  22d.  1891,  and  Reverend  John  T.  Winters  was  appointed  resi- 
dent priest. 

The  Hamden  Plains  M.  E.  Church-^  was  built  in  1884.  The  first 
class  of  Methodists  in  the  town  was  formed  December  ■i7th,  1813. 
and  Eli  Barnett  was  the  leader.  Its  members  were  Sybil  Tuttle, 
Amos  Benham,  Ruth  Benham,  Timothy  Andrews,  Rebecca  Dorman, 
Sybil  Andrews  and  Isaac  Benham.  Of  these  it  appears  that  vSybil. 
the  wife  of  Amasa  Tuttle,  was  the  first  to  profess  that  faith.  In 
about  1810  they  moved  from  Derby  to  Hamden,  and  there  being  no 
other  Methodists  in  the  town  at  that  time,  she  united  with  the 
newly  organized  church  in  New  Haven,  and  through  that  body  preach- 
ing was  first  held  in  the  town.  Mr.  Tuttle  at  that  time  made  no 
profession  of  religion,  but  encouraged  the  purposes  of  his  wife  to 
secure  regular  services,  and  fitted  up  a  room  in  his  house  for  the 
meetings. 

As  a  result  of  the  services,  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1814  there 
was  a  revnval  and  forty  conversions,  which  increased  the  member- 
ship to  such  an  extent  that  a  larger  place  of  worship  was  demanded, 

*From  data  bv  David  MacMullen. 


320  HISTORY    OF    NKW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

\vhich  was  found  in  another  dwelling  of  Amasa  Tuttle.  This  was 
iised  until  a  meeting  house  proper  was  provided,  about  six  years  later. 
It  was  erected  upon  land  deeded  vSeptember  11th,  1S19,  by  Ruth  Ben- 
ham  to  the  trustees  of  the  society:  Abner  Wooding,  Timothy  Andrews, 
Isaac  Benham,  Amos  Benham  and  Timothy  Andrews,  Jr.  Several 
years  elapsed  before  it  was  fully  completed,  and  it  was,  at  its  best, 
but  a  very  plain  building.     It  was  used  about  fifteen  years. 

In  the  meantime,  by  the  removal  of  the  Congregational  church 
to  Whitney ville,  in  1884,  a  more  central  site  was  made  available,  and 
it  was  determined  to  build  a  new  church  on  the  lot  which  had  been 
abandoned  on  Hamden  Plains.  In  March,  1834,  Merritt  Ailing, 
Charles  Wooding,  Rufus  Dorman,  Ezra  Ailing,  2d,  and  Je.sse  Ailing 
were  appointed  a  building  committee,  who  erected  a  house,  which  was 
dedicated  December  2.")th,  1834.  Its  cost  was  about  $2,300.  The  old 
meeting  house  was  now  sold  and  converted  into  a  dwelling.  The  new- 
church  edifice  was  remodelled  into  its  present  tabernacle  form  in  1876, 
and  a  chapel  added,  which  made  the  property  valuable  and  convenient 
for  every  use.  In  1890  it  was  reported  worth  $10,000  and  free  from 
debt.  It  is  one  of  the  best  country  Methodist  churches  in  this 
county. 

The  church  in  Hamden  has  sustained  a  number  of  circuit  relations, 
but  since  1834  has  practically  been  a  separate  appointment  and  having 
its  own  ministers.  In  1838  the  first  parsonage  was  built  and  wasu.sed 
until  1868,  when  the  present  property  was  purchased.  It  is  valued  at 
$3,000. 

In  addition  to  the  class  at  the  church,  Methodist  members  have 
been  gathered  into  classes  in  other  parts  of  the  town  and  preaching 
places  established  at  Centerville,  Warnertown  and  other  outlying 
localities.  These,  in  most  instances,  were  of  short  duration,  as  the 
membership  was  too  small  to  keep  up  a  permanent  organization.  At 
one  time  the  Methodists  of  Hamden  were  stronger,  numerically,  than 
at  present,  but  at  no  other  period  was  the  church  in  better  financial 
condition  than  at  this  time.  The  Millerite  excitement  m  1843  drew 
off  some  of  the  members,  and  there  have  been  .some  losses  by 
removals,  the  members  being  obliged  to  seek  employment  elsewhere 
in  consequence  of  the  suspension  of  some  manufacturing  interests. 
In  1889  there  were  193  full  and  40  probationary  members.  A  well- 
ordered  wSabbath  school  had  nearly  200  attendants. 

Among  the  ministers  of  the  church  have  been  the  following:  1829. 
Reverend  W.  Kellogg;  1833,  A.  Bushnell;  1834-5,  Thomas  Bainbridge; 
1836-7,  Abraham  S.  Francis:  1837-8,  Orlando  Starr;  1839,  Daniel  Right; 
1840,  Ira  Abbott;  1841-2,  William  S.  Stillwell;  1843,  A.S.  Hill;  1844-5, 
Charles  Stearns;  1846-7,  Joseph  Frost;  1848-9,  George  L.  Fuller;  ISHO-l, 
Charles  Bartlett;  1851-2,  F.  A.  Lovejoy;  1853-4,  B.  Redford;  1855-6,  B. 
Leffingwell;  1857-8,  W.  H.  Russell;  1859-60,  D.W' .  Lounsbury;  1861-2, 
W.  P.  Estes;  1863,   Frederick   Brown;  1864-5,  J.  Field;  1866-7,  C.  W. 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  321 

Powell:  1868-9,  Edwin  Warriner:  1870,  George  P.  Mains;  1871-2,  Sam- 
uel M.  Hammond;  1878,  Lemuel  Richardson;  1874,  Henry  A.  Van 
Dalsem;  1875,  John  Rippere:  1876-7,  J.  S.  Haugh;  1878-80,  J.  B.  Mer- 
win:  1881-3.  Nelson  L.  Porter;  1884-6,  David  MacMullen;  1887,  J. 
Parker;  1888-9,  N.  Hubbell. 

The  New  Lebanon  Mission  of  the  First  Congregational  church  of 
New  Haven,  near  the  south  line  of  the  town,  was  founded  in  1868. 
Its  services  were  first  held  in  the  school  house,  on  Morse  street.  In 
Ma3^  1873,  its  own  chapel,  just  completed,  was  occupied,  and  in  it  one 
preaching  service  per  Sabbath  and  a  Sunday  .school  have  been  regu- 
larh'  held  under  direction  of  the  parent  societj-. 

The  town  is  well  provided  with  cemetery  privileges,  there  being 
half  a  dozen  places  of  burial,  located  at  Mt.  Carmel,  on  the  Plains,  in 
the  West  Woods,  at  Centerville  and  at  Whitneyville.  The  latter  was 
first  laid  out  in  183.'),  and  was  last  enlarged  in  1890,  when  3^  acres 
were  added  to  the  area.  Since  1870  it  has  been  controlled  by  the 
Whitneyville  Cemetery  Association.  The  grounds  appear  attractive 
and  are  well  enclosed.  Among  other  graves  are  those  of  Chauncey 
Goodyear,  born  in  1764,  and  died  in  184.'5,  and  Chauncey  Goodyear, 
Jr.,  born  in  1804,  and  died  in  1884.  However,  the  most  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Goodyear  family  are  interred  in  the  Goodyear  Cemeter}^ 
north  of  the  main  cemetery,  at  Centerville.  This  is  in  charge  of  the 
Goodyear  Cemetery  Company  (incorporated  in  1875),  and  contains  a 
fine  monument,  erected  by  William  B.  Goodyear,  on  which  are 
inscribed  many  family  epitaphs. 

The  Centerville  Cemetery  is  on  the  old  turnpike,  a  little  north  of 
the  village,  and  embraces  about  four  acres  of  well  selected  land.  It  is 
mostly  enclosed,  and  there  are  some  fine  monuments.  The  managing 
body  is  the  Central  Burying  Association,  organized  in  1873.  The  Mt. 
Carmel  ground  is  one  of  the  oldest,  and  contains  many  graves.  The 
association  which  has  charge  of  it  was  organized  in  1870.  A  little 
south  of  the  village  a  small  lot  of  land  has  been  consecrated  for  Catho- 
lic burials. 

The  Plains  Cemetery  is  large,  there  being  half  a  dozen  acres,  but 
is  only  partially  improved.  It  contains  many  old  tombstones.  The 
burial  plot  in  the  West  Woods  is  used  almost  solely  by  the  people 
of  that  locality.  In  nearly  all  of  these  grounds  may  be  seen  many 
evidences  of  the  care  and  esteem  in  which  the  living  hold  the  memory 
of  the  dead. 

The  nearness  of  New  Haven  to  Hamden,  with  its  abundance  of 
pure  water,  has  caused  the  town  to  be  selected  by  that  municipality  as 
the  source  from  which  to  derive  its  main  supply  of  water.  Its  greatest 
storage  reservoir  is  Whitney  lake  or  pond,  which  extends  along  the  Mill 
river  for  about  two  miles.  Into  it  flow  the  waters  of  that  stream, 
draining  56  square  miles  of  land  and  having  a  daily  j-ield  of  120,000.000 
20 


322  iiisTORV  OK  N?:\v  haven  county. 

gallons  of  water.     About  one-tenth  of  that  amount  only  is  taken  as 
the  supply  of  the  water  works  proper. 

The  New  Haven  Water  Company  was  incorporated  in  1849,  but 
falling  to  construct  the  works  the  charter  was  assigned  to  Eli  Whit- 
ney, who  organized  the  company,  and  in  1S6()  the  construction  of  the 
■works  was  commenced.  The  dam  at  Whitney ville  was  raised  to  the 
height  of  3.'i  feet,  with  a  total  leng-th  of  ,'')00  feet,  and  built  in  the  most 
substantial  manner.  On  Sachem's  hill,  a  distributing  reservoir,  with 
a  capacity  for  10,()0(),()()0  gallons  was  constructed,  with  which  18  miles 
of  distributing  mains  were  connected.  On  the  second  of  December, 
1861,  the  pumps  of  the  company,  at  the  dam,  which  have  a  capacity 
for  6,000,000  gallons  daily,  were  set  to  work,  and  January  1st,  1862, 
the  water  was  introduced  into  the  distributing  mains.  vSince  that 
time  these  water  works  have  been  much  improved. 

On  the  northeast  slope  of  the  West  Rock  hills  is  a  small  sheet 
of  water  called  Wintergreen  lake,  which  lies  240  feet  above  tide 
water.  In  1863  John  Osborn  gathered  these  waters  into  a  reservoir 
of  60  acres,  and  they  have  been  utilized  as  another  source  of  New 
Haven's  supply.  In  1877  the  property  passed  to  the  New  Haven 
Water  Company,  which  has  since  managed  it  in  the  interest  of  the 
city. 

East  Rock  Park,  New  Haven's  new  and  most  attractive  public 
breathing  spot,  is  partly  in  the  town  of  Hamden,  along  Whitney  lake 
and  on  the  East  Rock  range.  It  was  laid  out  after  plans  pre- 
pared by  Donald  G.  Mitchell,  LL.D.,  and  when  once  fully  completed 
will  be  one  of  the  most  attractive  spots  in  the  county. 

At  Centerville  the  grounds  of  the  Rectory  school  have  been 
improved  to  a  park  like  appearance,  and  are  used  by  the  patrons  of 
that  institution.  In  1864  the  proprietor.  Reverend  Charles  W.  Everest, 
aLso  obtained  a  charter  for  water  works,  but  they  were  not  constructed 
after  that  plan. 

The  Mt.  Carmel  Water  Company  was  chartered  in  1878,  with  a 
capital  of  $5,000,  and  commenced  the  construction  of  works  at  that 
place  the  same  year.  The  first  supply  has  been  from  springs  on  the 
surrounding  hills,  which  have  been  pumped  into  a  distributing  reser- 
voir near  the  old  Ives  station.  For  future  use  the  company  holds 
claims  upon  Wolcott's  falls,  a  mill  seat  in  the  western  part  of  the  town, 
which  is  elevated  far  above  any  territory  the  company  may  be  called 
on  to  supply.  The  affairs  of  the  company  are  in  charge  of  a  board 
of  local  managers. 

BIOGRAI'IIICAL   SKETCHES. 

John  B.  Andrews,  born  in  Cheshire,  Conn.,  in  1831,  is  a  son  of 
Silas  and  grandson  of  Samuel,  who  was  a  printer.  In  1832  Mr. 
Andrews'  parents  removed  to  Hamden,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
His  mother  was  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Jotham  Ives  and  Lillis  Fisk 


HISTOKV    OF    NEW    HAVEN    CorXTV.  323 

Ives,  who  came  from  Vermont  and  settled  in  Cheshire.  Mr.  Ives  was 
a  revolutionary  soldier.  Mr.  Andrews  is  a  mechanic,  but  since  1801 
has  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade.  He  was  first  selectman  of 
his  town  from  1886  to  189(>.  He  was  married  in  1857  to  Celia  Kenny. 
They  have  one  son,  George  L.,  who  is  in  business  with  his  father,  and 
is  now  postmaster  at  Mt.  Carmel  Centre.  They  deal  in  coal,  wood, 
flour  and  feed.  Mrs.  Andrews  died  in  1864,  and  in  1867  Mr.  Andrews 
was  married  to  Hannah  E.  Manross,  of  Bristol,  Conn. 

Benjamin  B.  Broadbent,  born  in  New  Haven  in  1863.  is  a  .son  of 
James  R.  and  Sarah  B.  Broadbent.  James  B.  was  engaged  in  manu- 
facturing for  several  years  in  New  Haven,  and  also  conducted  a  gro- 
cery business  there.  In  1866  he  settled  in  Hamden,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  farming.  Benjamin  B.  engaged  in  the  grocery,  coal  and 
feed  business,  at  Hamden  Plain  in  1884.  In  1886  he  was  married  to 
Hattie  E.,  daughter  of  ex-Representative  Hubert  E.  Warner,  of  Ham- 
den.    They  have  two  children:  Marjorie  W.  and  Ericsson  R. 

Cecil  A.  Burleigh  was  born  in  Richford,  N.  Y.,  June  30th,  1833. 
Mr.  Burleigh  is  one  of  the  commissioners  of  New  Haven  county. 
He  "vas  chosen  to  the  position  by  the  general  assembly  in  188o.  His 
term  of  office  continues  three  years,  but  in  1888,  in  recognition  of  his 
excellent  administration  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  he  was  chosen 
again.  In  that  choice  occurred  the  sharpest  test  oi  popular  favor 
which  his  party  could  give.  A  ballot  was  taken  by  his  party  in  caucus 
assembled,  and  everv  ballot  was  cast  for  him  to  be  his  own  successor 
in  office.  The  .second  term  of  his  incumbency  expired  in  1891,  and 
again  a  new  test  proved  that  he  had  not  lost  a  whit  of  the  confidence 
of  his  political  allies.  A  ballot  was  not  regarded  as  needful  to  express 
the  party  preferences.  He  was  nominated  by  acclamation,  and  the 
nomination  was  speedily  confirmed  by  the  governor  of  the  state.  It 
is  not  always  the  fact  that  merit  wins  the  crown  which  it  deserves, 
and  Mr.  Burleigh  is  not  one  of  those  exceptions. 

His  immediate  ancestry  resided  in  the  state  of  New  York.  There 
he  obtained  the  schooling  of  his  boyhood.  It  was  not  so  extended 
as  is  now  offered  the  majority  of  boys  by  the  better  days  on  which  we 
of  the  latest  decade  of  the  19th  century  have  come.  It  may  be  that  a 
family  event  of  note  somewhat  shortened  the  school  term.  He  was  one 
of  thirteen  children.  The  home  nest  may  have  seemed  to  be  some- 
what crowded.  At  any  rate,  Cecil  went  early  to  work.  He  was  only 
thirteen  years  of  age  when  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of 
blacksmith.  The  conditions  of  work  were  not  severe,  and  for  two 
years  he  was  sent  to  school,  and  during  a  part  of  the  time  to  the 
academy  in  Homer,  N.  Y. 

At  twenty  years  of  age  Mr.  Burleigh  became  known  to  Mr.  Edward 
Dickerman,  of  Hamden,  Conn.  Mr.  Dickerman  invited  the  young 
blacksmith  to  employment  in  bis  shop  and  to  a  home  in  his  family. 
It  was  the  second  real  home  of  the  young  man,  where  the  love  and 


324  HISTOR\'   OF   NEW    H.WEN   COUNTY. 

freedom  of  the  parental  home  were  renewed  to  him;  and  here  in  Ham- 
den  he  now  began  to  show  the  qualities  of  workmanship  and  of  man- 
hood which  have  since  distinguished  him,  and  which  hitherto  had 
developed  only  as  a  plant  in  the  shade.  He  became,  in  1855,  the 
superintendent  of  a  department  in  the  factory  of  Ives  &  Pardee, 
manufacturers  of  brass  and  iron  harness  and  carriage  trimmings 
and  hardware.  But  the  financial  crisis  of  1857  closed  the  doors  of  the 
factory,  and  the  capital  employed  took  other  channels  of  usefulness. 

Mr.  Burleigh  was  now  chosen  master  of  the  district  school,  and 
while  not  personally  deficient  in  the  qualities,  of  the  pedagogue,  he 
preferred  mechanism  and  manufacturing  to  teaching  school.  He  en- 
tered the  employment  of  Mr.  Dickerman  again. 

But  when  the  war  broke  out  the  patriotism  of  Mr.  Burleigh 
awakened.  Governor  Buckingham  sent  him  the  authority  of  a  recruit- 
ing officer.  The  line  of  work  to  which  he  was  appointed  accorded 
with  his  patriotic  feelings,  and  he  worked  heartily.  But  later,  on  June 
13th,  18G2,  when  the  2Uth  Connecticut  Volunteer  Infantry  was  recruit- 
ing, he  enlisted  as  a  private,  refusing  an  officer's  commission.  Hence- 
forth the  fortunes  of  that  regiment  became  his  own.  It  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  September  6th,  and  started  for  Wash- 
ington September  8th.  Mr.  Burleigh  shared  in  all  the  sharpness  of 
conflict  and  the  peril  of  Chancellorsville;  in  the  experiences  of  Libby 
prison,  to  which  he  was  marched  a  prisoner,  though  before  the  later 
date  when  it  became  the  awful  holocaust  of  Union  soldiers;  in  the 
western  cam'paigns  under  General  Hooper,  and  still  farther  to  Chat- 
tanooga for  the  opening  of  communication  with  General  Rosecrans, 
and  then  in  the  southern  campaigns  of  General  Sherman  in  his  march 
to  the  sea,  a  record  so  voluminous  with  incident  and  peril  as  that  only 
a  little  of  it  will  ever  be  told. 

In  these  campaigns  Mr.  Burleigh's  valor  never  failed.  From  the 
position  of  private  he  rose  to  that  of  command,  and  yet  he  never 
grasped  at  positions  above  in  rivalry  with  his  comrades.  His  ambition 
for  the  moment  was  to  do  well  the  work  of  the  present,  then  if  merit 
was  perceived  in  him  and  he  was  called  up  higher  for  merit's  sake, 
it  was  well.  In  this  way  he  rose  to  be  lieutenant,  and  finally,  just  as 
the  war  was  drawing  to  its  close,  he  was  commissioned  captain,  only  a 
little  too  late  for  action  in  the  field. 

In  all  of  these  years  of  army  service,  so  often  fraught  "with  extreme 
peril,  a  favoring  Providence  watched  over  him  and  saved  him  from 
afflicting  injury.  Only  once  was  he  wounded,  and  then  only  slightly, 
and  yet  the  "  musical  hornets  "  whizzed  through  his  hat,  grazing  his 
scalp,  or  passed  just  under  his  shoulder  trimmings,  leaving  their  fiery 
mark  near  by,  and  elsewhere  left  the  signs  of  their  perilous  proximity 
in  his  clothing.  But  he  escaped  sound  of  body  as  when  he  entered 
the  service  of  his  country  in  the  army.     He  himself  has  written  briefly 


"V 


-i-^ 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTV.  325 

the  story  of  the  2()th  Reg-iment  for  the  noble  volume  of  nobler  deeds, 
the  "Record  of  Connecticut  Men  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion." 

At  the  close  of  his  army  life  Mr.  Burleigh  became  the  citizen 
soldier,  entering  once  more  the  ranks  of  the  artisan  and  the  manu- 
facturer. But  his  army  experience  is  evermore  turned  to  as  the 
proudest  period  of  his  civil  life:  for  the  soul  of  the  conflict  was  the 
purchase  of  freedom  for  a  downtrodden  race,  and  the  result  is  a 
country  unbroken  in  territory,  freedom  and  equality  for  all  men  before 
the  law  of  the  land,  and  institutions  under  which  a  thrifty  and  happy 
people  may  forever  live.  Did  the  great  victory  cost  so  much  in  treasure 
and  blood  and  tears,  it  is  yet  worth  all  it  cost  for  the  present  and  for 
generations  yet  unborn.  Hence  Mr.  Burleigh's  republicanism,  always 
brisk,  was  only  intensified  by  the  martial  struggle,  and  in  the  town  of 
Hamden  he  has  stood  in  all  the  years  since,  the  unobtrusive,  but  yet 
ardent  and  faithful  exponent  of  the  principles  of  the  republican 
party. 

Mr.  Burleigh  has  made  an  excellent  record  of  preferment  in  his 
own  town.  He  has  been  chosen  selectman  of  Hamden  in  1872,  "77, 
'78  and  '84.  And  though  his  political  opponents  are  more  numerous 
than  his  political  allies  in  Hamden,  yet  by  a  large  majority  he  was 
chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  the  general  assembly  of  1880.  In 
that  session  the  bill  for  removing  the  track  of  the  New  Haven  & 
Northampton  railroad,  back  out  of  the  highway  of  Mt.  Carmel  was 
successfully  carried  through  the  assembly,  and  thus  the  beauty  of  the 
main  street  of  ]Mt.  Carmel  and  the  value  of  property  were  greatly  added 
to.  Mr.  Burleigh  was  certainly  the  principal  factor  in  this  achieve- 
ment so  highly  prized  by  Mt.  Carmel  citizens.  As  already  narrated  he 
was  made  county  commissioner  in  1885,  and  by  reelection  has  since 
held  the  responsible  office. 

Mr.  Burleigh  is  not  a  church  member,  but  for  many  years  has 
been  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  Mt.  Carmel  parish  church,  serving 
in  its  ecclesiastical  oflfices  and  on  its  committees,  and  contributing  to 
its  treasury. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1855,  he  married  Miss  Caroline  A.  Dick- 
erman  of  Hamden.  One  daughter  has  been  born  in  the  family.  Miss 
Lotiise  N.  Burleigh. 

Mr.  Burleigh's  residence  is  situated  on  the  main  street  of  Mt.  Car- 
mel. An  air  of  quiet  restfulness  pervades  it,  while  the  surroundings 
invite  the  attention  of  the  passer-by.  Here  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burleigh 
enjoy  the  respect  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances. 

John  "F.  Callahan,  born  in  Hamden,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Ellen 
(Colbert)  Callahan.  He  came  from  Ireland  about  1849,  and  settled  in 
Hamden.  They  had  eight  children:  Hannah,  John  F.,  Mary,  Maggie, 
Patrick,  Robert,  Ellen  and  Katie.  John  F.  Callahan  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  in  1888.  He  was  married  in  1886  to  Ellen  Kehough 
of  Xew  Haven.  They  have  one  son,  John  J.,  and  one  daughter, 
Mary  E. 


326  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Samuel  P.  Crafts,  president  of  the  Quinnipiac  Brick  Company,  was 
born  in  Woodbur}-,  Conn..  March  30th,  1824.  He  is  a  son  of  General 
Chauncy  Crafts,  and  grandson  of  Doctor  Edward  Crafts,  of  Derby. 
His  mother  was  Maria,  daughter  of  Daniel  Bacon,  of  Woodbury. 
Samuel  P.  went  to  sea  in  1848,  and  was  in  command  of  a  ship  when 
the  civil  war  broke  out.  He  sold  out  his  share  in  the  ship  and  went 
into  the  navy,  as  acting  ensign.  He  was  promoted  to  master  and  lieu- 
tenant. He  got  a  war  risk  on  his  life  and  lost  every  cent  of  it.  He  has 
held  the  offices  of  grand  juror  and  justice  of  the  peace.  At  present 
he  is  president  of  the  Law  and  Order  League  of  Hamden,  and  vice- 
president  of  the  National  Association  of  Brick  Manufacturers.  He 
married  Sarah  A.  Thomson  July  13th,  18r)9.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Deacon  Isaac  Thomson  of  New  Haven,  Conn.  They  had  one  child, 
Cornelia  Maria,  born  July  23d,  1860,  died  July  9th,  1862.  In  politics 
Mr.  Crafts  is  a  republican  and  in  religion  a  Congregationali.st.  He 
was  a  California  '49er. 

John  Creswell  was  born  in  Little  Eaton,  Derbyshire,  England,  in 
1846.  His  father  and  grandfather  were  both  named  Samuel  and  were 
natives  of  Little  Eaton.  He  came  to  America  in  1866  and  settled  in 
Philadelphia,  where  he  resided  until  1884,  working  at  his  business 
(boss  dyer).  In  1884  he  came  to  Hamden  and  since  that  time  has 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  New  Haven  Web  Company  as  boss  dyer. 
He  was  married  in  1870  to  Miss  Jennie  Moore  of  Philadelphia.  They 
have  five  children:  Harry  M.,  George  G.,  Jennie  J.,  Anna  and  Violet. 

Edward  Davis,  born  in  vStafford,  Conn.,  in  1818,  is  a  son  of  Avery, 
and  grandson  of  Avery  Davis.  Mr.  Davis  settled  in  Hamden  in  1837. 
He  is  extensively  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  held  the  offices  of 
selectman  and  assessor.  He  was  married  in  1841  to  Betsy  M.  Aug- 
ur. They  have  six  children:  James  A.,  born  1844;  Betsy  Maria,  born 
1846:  William  E.,  born  1848;  Carrie  B.,  born  I860;  Burton  A.,  Ijorn 
1862;  and  Myra,  born  1865,  married  William  Burton,  and  has  one  son, 
John  E.  Burton  A.  married  Mattie  Augur,  and  has  one  daughter, 
Margery.  Betsy  Maria  married  George  W.  Ives,  and  has  two  child- 
ren: Alfred  and  Lucy.  William  E.  married  Sophia  Tamblingson, 
and  has  two  sons  and  one  daughter:  Edward,  Harold  and  Jessie. 
James  A.  married  Emma  Parks  in  1874,  and  they  have  two  daugh- 
ters. Emma  and  Helen,  and  one  son,  Howard.  James  A.  and  William 
E.  Davis  carried  on  business  in  New  Haven  several  years,  as  contract- 
ors on  the  public  works  of  the  city.  Later  they  organized  the  New 
Haven  Concrete  Company,  conducting  that  business  until  1883,  at 
which  time  they  engaged  in  brick  manufacturing  in  Hamden.  The 
business  has  increased,  until  at  the  present  time  they  are  turning  out 
from  seven  to  ten  million  brick  annually,  employing  from  75  to  90 
men.  From  1877  to  1887  James  A.  leased  and  ran  the  Whitney  Av- 
enue Horse  Railroad. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    H.W  EN   COUNTY.  327 

Leverett  A.  Dickerman,  born  in  Hamden  in  1821,  is  a  son  of  Allen, 
ofrandson  of  Isaac,  and  grreat-gfrandson  of  Samuel  Dickerman,  who 
was  a  son  of  Isaac,  and  grandson  of  Thomas  Dickerman,  who  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  in  1635.  He  died 
June  11th,  1057.  His  sons,  Alman  and  Isaac, settled  in  New  Haven. 
Isaac  had  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Jonathan.  They  settled  in  Hamden. 
Tliis  Samuel  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Leverett  A.  The  first 
Isaac  Dickerman  married  Mary  Atwater.  Samuel  married  Mary 
Allen,  and  Isaac,  his  son,  married  Sybil  vSperry.  Allen  Dickerman 
married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Ives.  Their  six  children  lived 
to  maturity:  Albert  I.,  Saritta,  Julia,  Eliza,  Leverett  A.  and  Lavinia. 
Albert  died  unmarried.  Saritta  married  Mark  Ives.  Julia  is  un- 
married. Eliza  married  Franklin  Andrews.  Lavinia  married  John 
Osborn,  and  Leverett  A.  married  Abigail  A.,  daughter  of  Uriah  Foote. 
They  have  three  daughters  living:  Alice  A.  (who  married  William 
D.  Cook  of  Cheshire),  Emma  E.  and  Laura  L.  Their  other  children 
were:  Allen  F.,- Francis  L.  and  Abbie  A.  Mr.  Dickerman  has  held 
the  office  of  selectman  several  years,  and  was  elected  representative 
in  1880.     He  is  a  member  of  Mt.  Carmel  Congregational  church. 

Samuel  D.  Doolittle,  born  in  Hamden  ]\Iarch  12th,  1835,  is  a  son 
of  Heman  and  Julia  (Allen)  Doolittle,  and  grandson  of  Daniel  Doolittle. 
Mr.  Doolittle  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming.  In  1888  he  engaged 
in  the  bakery  business.  He  was  married  in  1861  to  Cornelia  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Almeron  Sanford.  She  was  born  October  5th,  1837.  They  had 
three  sons:  Frederick  E.,  born  June  21st,  1863;  Elford  F..  born  October 
1st,  1872,  and  Maurice  H.,  born  March  12th  1880.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Alta  I.,  born  April  25th,  1870.  She  is  a  stenographer  in 
New  Haven.  Frederick  E.  is  a  resident  of  Torrington,  Conn.  He 
was  married  in  1889,  to  Harriet  Breen  of  Waterbury.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Doolittle  are  members  of  IMt.  Carmel  Congregational  church. 

George  W.  Dudley,  born  in  New  Haven  in  1827,  is  a  son  of  Isaac 
and  Cynthia  (Bradley)  Dudley,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Hamden 
for  about  21  years.  He  is  engaged  in  farming  and  keeping  a  board- 
ing stable,  having  a  large  number  of  horses  from  New  Haven  and 
New  York  parties.  Previous  to  coming  to  Hamden,  he  resided  in 
New  Haven  and  was  in  the  liver}'  business.  He  was  married  Sep- 
tember 2d,  1850,  to  Cornelia,  daughter  of  Lewis  Todd.  Mrs.  Todd 
was  a  daughter  of  Horace  Bradley,  he  a  son  of  Amasa  and  he  a  .son 
of  Joel  Bradley,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town.  Mr.  Dudley 
has  two  sons:  Wilbur  S.,  born  March  3C)th,  1857.  and  George  H.,  born 
May  10th,  1868. 

Samuel  A.  Flight,  born  in  New  Fairfield,  Conn.,  in  1859,  is  a  son 
of  Samuel  J.  and  grandson  of  James  Flight,  who  came  from  England 
and  was  a  carriage  manufacturer  in  New  Haven.  Samuel  J.  was  a 
blacksmith.  He  married  Sarah  Jane  Smith,  of  Granby,  Mass.  He 
enlisted  in  the  1st  cavalry  and  served  three   years  and   three  months 


328  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

as  bugler.  Samuel  A.  Flight  .settled  in  Hamden  about  1879  and  en- 
gaged in  market  gardening  and  the  milk  business.  He  is  a  member 
of  Day  Spring  Lodge,  No.  30,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Hamden.  He  was 
elected  asse.ssor  in  1888  and  reelected  in  1889.  He  was  married  in  1881 
to  Esther,  daughter  of  Alfred  Dorman,  of  Hamden,  whose  father  was 
al.so  named  Alfred  and  was  a  resident  of  Hamden. 

William  N.  Gesner,  born  in  Orangetown,  Rockland  county,  New 
York,  February  19th,  1817,  is  a  son  of  William  H.  and  Mary  Ann 
(Mann)  Gesner,  grandson  of  Nicholas  and  Gracie  (Post)  Gesner,  great- 
grandson  of  John  Hendrik  Gesner  and  Femiche  (Brower)  Gesner, 
and  great-great-grandson  of  John  Hendrik  and  Elizabeth  (Smith) 
Gesner,  who  were  married  in  Germany,  from  whence  they  were 
driven  by  the  French  war  to  England.  After  months  of  hardship, 
they  sailed  with  many  other  German  families  in  the  ship  "Lion."  and 
landed  at  New  York  in  June,  1710.  They  settled  at  Yonkers,  N.  Y., 
and  built  mills  on  the  Bron.x  river,  and  later  removed  to  Scralenburg, 
N.  J.  William  N.  Gesner  married  at  New  York,  in  1840,  Margaret  T., 
daughter  of  George  and  Mary  (McLean)  Paton.  In  1845  he  removed 
from  New  York,  settled  in  Fair  Haven,  Conn.,  and  engaged  in  his 
usual  business — ship-building.  After  building  many  vessels  noted  for 
their  speed  and  sea-going  qualities,  in  1862,  when  our  government 
needed  transports  and  cruisers,  he  sold  out  his  stock  and  business  to 
C.  S.  Bushnell,  who  had  contracts  with  the  government,  and  for  two 
years  superintended  the  business  for  the  latter.  He  then  engaged  in 
ship-building  at  West  Haven,  conducting  business  there  under  the 
firm  name  of  Gesner  &  Mar,  where  he  still  continues.  He  is  proba- 
bly the  oldest  ship-builder  in  active  service,  having  built,  modeled, 
planned  and  superintended  more  than  150  vessels  of  every  size,  rig 
and  description.  In  1867  he  .settled  in  Hamden,  where  he  now  lives, 
and  in  December,  1890,  he  and  his  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding with  numerous  friends  and  children  around  them.  They  have 
seven  children  living:  Mary  J.,  Helen  L.,  Matilda  A.,  N.  Zemira,  E. 
Harrison,  Alice  F.  and  George  P.  Margaret  T.  and  Celina  F.  deceased. 
Mr.  Gesner  is  a  member  of  Adelphi  Lodge,  No.  63,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Pu- 
laski Chapter,  Crawford  Council  and  New  Haven  Encampment,  K.  T. 

Thomas  P.  Hoey,  born  in  Hamden  in  1863,  is  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Ann  (McGrail)  Hoey,  and  grandson  of  Michael  Hoey.  For  .several 
years  he  was  employed  in  the  silk  factory  of  R.  S.  Clark  of  Mt.  Car- 
mel,  and  since  188.5  has  been  employed  by  the  New  Haven  Web  Com- 
pany as  foreman  of  the  warping  and  winding  department.  He  was 
married  in  1883  to  Margaret  Conroy.  They  have  one  son,  Charles  \\'., 
and  a  daughter,  Margaret  A. 

George  H.  Gorham,  born  in  Hamden  in  1839,  is  a  son  of  Jared  D. 
and  Jane  J.  (Potter)  Gorham.  His  grandfather  was  Captain  Levi  Gor- 
ham.  In  Jared  Gorham's  family  there  were  three  children:  George  H., 
Forbes  J.  and  Ellen  J.     George  H.  married  Eunice,  daughter  of  Henry 


IIISTOKV    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  329 

Miinson,  of  Hamden,  in  1861.  They  have  one  son,  Henry  J.  Gorham. 
Forbes  Gorham  married  Emily  Hitchcock,  and  Ellen  married  Fred- 
eric F.  Bishop. 

William  Gorham,  born  in  Hamden  in  1815,  died  1858,  was  a  son  of 
John,  and  he  a  son  of  John  Gorham,  who  married  Phebe  Downes. 
John  Gorham,  the  son,  married  Nancy  Downes.  William  married 
Lucretia  Dorman,  daughter  of  Merritt  and  Easter  Dorman.  Their 
children  were:  Emily,  Sarah,  Caroline,  Lucy,  Ella,  Nancy,  Francis  and 
William  E.  Sarah,  Ella  and  William  E.  are  dead.  Emily  married 
William  Thomas;  Caroline  married  John  Malone;  Lucy  married  John 
Peckham  and  for  her  second  husband  Charles  Ailing;  Francis  married 
Sarah  Doolittle.  Nancy  Gorham  married  John  P.  Phelps  in  18.")4. 
There  were  born  to  them  two  children:  Charles  J.,  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  Cora  E.  The  latter  was  married  in  1876,  to  Luther  C  Phelps. 
They  had  one  daughter,  Emma  Phelps.  Luther  Phelps  died  in  1890. 
John  P.  Phelps  was  born  in  Winchester,  Conn.,  and  is  a  son  of  Ral- 
zemon  and  grandson  of  John  Phelps. 

William  Ives,  the  first  known  of  that  name,  resided  in  New  Haven 
as  early  as  1639.  He  is  supposed  to  have  died  in  1648.  He  had  two 
.sons:  John,  who  died  young,  and  Joseph,  who  married  Mary  (born 
1650),  daughter  of  Thomas  Yale.  Their  children  were:  vSamuel,  Mary, 
Martha,  Lazarus,  Thomas,  Abigail  and  Ebenezer.  Joseph  died  in 
1694.  Samuel  Ives,  born  1677,  married  Ruth  Atwater.  Their  children 
were:  Mary,  Lydia,  Samuel  (who  died  young),  Ruth,  Jonathan, 
Damaris,  John  and  .Samuel.  Jonathan  Ives,  born  1716,  was  one  of  the 
■early  settlers  of  Hamden.  He  married  Thankful  Cooper.  Their 
■children  were:  Jeremiah,  Ruth,  Mary,  Thankful,  Joel,  Jonathan  and 
Phoebe.  Jonathan  married  Sarah  Bassett,  and  they  had  two  children: 
Leverett,  who  died  young,  and  Sarah,  who  married  Allen  Dickerman. 
•Samuel  Ives,  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Ruth  Atwater  Ives,  was  the  father 
of  Levi,  who  was  the  father  of  Eli,  who  was  the  father  of  Levi  Ives, 
the  noted  physician  of  New  Haven. 

Lewis  E.  Joyce,  born  in  Oxford,  Conn.,  in  1835,  is  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Eliza  (Hitchcock)  Joyce  and  grandson  of  Joseph  L.  Joyce.  His 
maternal  grandfather  was  Stephen  Hitchcock,  a  joiner  by  trade  and 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  father  was  John  Hitchcock.  Both 
were  residents  of  Hamden.  Lewis  E.  Joyce  is  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 
He  settled  in  Hamden  in  1853  and  in  1860  was  married  to  Julia  A., 
daughter  of  Heman  Doolittle  of  Hamden.  They  have  had  three 
children:  Lewis  E.,  born  December  25th,  1862;  Burton  A.,  born  Sep- 
tember 25th,  1869;  and  Carrie  L.,  born  December  22d,  1864,  died 
August,  1883. 

Bela  A.  Mann,  born  in  Naugatuck,  Conn.,  in  1835,  is  a  son  of  Em- 
ory D.  and  grandson  of  Eliel  Mann,  who  was  a  manufacturer  at 
Naugatuck.  Bela  A.  Mann  first  came  to  Hamden  at  the  age  of  17  as 
an  employee  of  the  Goodyear  Spoke  Company.     He  afterward  went 


330  1IIST(JRY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

to  Waterbury  and  was  foreman  of  the  American  Suspender  Company 
for  about  four  years.  From,  there  he  went  to  Meriden  and  was  there 
about  the  same  length  of  time  as  foreman  for  J.  Wilcox  &  Co.  In- 
1863  he  came  to  Hamden  and  was  the  organizer  of  what  is  now  known 
as  the  New  Haven  Web  Company,  manufacturers  of  .suspenders  and 
elastic  webbing.  The  capital  .stock  of  the  company  is  $00,000  and 
they  do  an  annual  business  of  $300,000,  employing  from  140  to  loO 
hands.3  Mr.  Mann  has  been  superintendent  and  manager  of  the  com- 
pany since  its  organization.  He  has  held  the  office  of  selectman  sever- 
al years,  and  in  1882  and  1883  was  elected  to  the  assembly.  He  was 
married  in  1860  to  Prusie  C.  Spencer,  of  Haddam,  Conn.  They  have 
one  son,  Bela  H.  Mann,  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Parrish  &  Mann  of 
New  Haven,  suspender  manufacturers. 

Willard  Mathews,  born  in  Bristol,  Conn.,  in  1837,  is  a  son  of  Jus- 
tus W.  and  Mehitabel  (Sanford)  Mathews,  and  grandson  of  Joel 
Mathews,  all  of  Bristol.  Justus  Mathews  removed  with  his  family  to 
Hamden  in  1846.  He  was  a  mechanic,  which  was  also  Willard  Math- 
ews' business.  In  1874  he  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  town 
farm  of  Hamden,  which  office  he  has  since  held,  with  the  exception 
of  three  years,  from  1880  to  1884.  May  1st,  1890,  Mr.  Mathews  wa.s. 
appointed  superintendent  of  the  New  Haven  County  Home,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  He  is  a  member  of  Day  vSpring  Lodge,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  of  Hamden,  and  of  L.  A.  Thomas  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Chesh- 
ire. He  was  married  in  1859  to  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of  Sydney  and 
Betsy  (Judson)  Merwin  of  Woodbridge,  Conn.  Her  grandfather 
was  Fletcher  Merwin.  They  have  two  children  :  Willard  M.,  born 
1860,  and  Gertrude  L.,  born  18G9.  Willard  M.  Mathews  is  a  machinist. 
He  is  a  member  of  Day  Spring  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  was  married 
in  1882  to  Mary  Cook.  They  have  one  daughter,  Elsie  Mathews,  born 
in  1885.  Mr.  Mathews'  mother,  Mehitabel  Sanford,  was  a  daughter  of 
Truman  and  Betsy  (Warner)  Sanford  of  Hamden. 

Dwight  W.  Mix,  born  in  Hamden  in  1834,  is  a  .son  of  Benjamin  and 
Betsy  (Potter)  Mix.  He  was  married  in  1858  to  Elizabeth  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Edmund  D.  and  Laura  A.  Bradley.  They  have  five  children: 
George  B.,  Ella  L.,  Augusta  L.,  .Sarah  B.  and  Eva  F.  For  20  years 
previous  to  1887  Mr.  Mix  was  in  the  ice  business  with  his  brother, 
Norris  B.  He  is  a  member  of  Day  Spring  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Ham- 
den, and  of  Montowese  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  New  Haven. 

Henry  Mix,  born  in  Hamden  July  8th,  1821,  is  a  son  of  Benjamm^ 
and  grandson  of  Thomas.  Mr.  Mix  manufactured  brick  for  over  30 
vears.  He  is  now  engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Louisa  Warner 
in  1842.  Their  children  were:  Henry,  Frederick,  Julia  and  Maria. 
Frederick  married  Betsy  A.  Warner.     Julia  married  Albert  Howard. 

NORRis  Bennett  Mix. — The  immediate  ancestors  of  the  Mix  family,. 
atpre.sent  in  Hamden,  removed  from  New  Haven  before  the  incorpora- 
tion of  this  town.*     They  were  a  branch  of  the  family  of  Thomas 

*  See  Blake's  History  of  Hamden,  203. 


Jty  .»»,.?■  ajienu^njrr 


^^-^^^^  y/3  c/^^^ 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  331 

Mix,  Mixx  or  Meeks,  which  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  New 
Haven.  Thomas  Mix,  the  founder  of  the  Hamden  family,  born  1765, 
died  September  1st,  1810,  leaving  three  sons:  Benjamin,  Zina,  died 
June  ISth,  1823,  aged  43  years,  and  Stephen,  died  June  28th,  1823, 
aged  39  years.  The  first  son,  Benjamin,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  born  in  Hamden  August  lOth,  1782,  married  Betsy  Potter, 
also  of  Hamden,  April  12th,  1810.  He  died  on  the  homestead,  which 
had  been  improved  by  his  father,  Thomas,  and  which  is  now  the 
home  of  the  youngest  son,  Dwight  W.,  August  30th,  1862.  His  widow 
died  January  30th,  1871,  aged  79  years.  They  reared  ten  children, 
namely:  Rebecca  E.,  married  Walter  Nichols,  of  Westport,  Conn.; 
Ethiel  Potter,  the  oldest  son,  removed  to  Wisconsin;  Grace,  married 
Alfred  Howarth,  of  New  Haven;  Eliza,  married  George  W.  Bradley, 
of  Hamden;  Benjamin,  removed  to  California;  Henry,  resides  in  Ham- 
den; James  Perry,  deceased;  Norris  Bennett;  Frances  Betsy,  married 
William  Potter,  of  Hamden;  Dwight  Walter,  living  on  the  old  Mix 
homestead. 

Norris  Bennett,  the  eighth  child,  whose  life  is  here  sketched,  was 
born  in  Hamden  February  3d,  1826,  and  on  the  13th  of  September, 
1849,  married  Maria  N.,  daughter  of  Joel  D.  and  Maria  (McDuel)  Hen- 
drick,  of  New  Haven.  Of  six  children  born  to  them,  three  died  in  in- 
fancy and  youth,  and  they  reared:  Arthur  H.,  who  married  Amelia 
Rawling,  and  lives  in  New  Haven;  Mary  C,  married  William  H.  Terell, 
of  Hamden;  Anna  M.,  married  J.  Clarence  Englehart,  of  New  Haven. 
Mr.  Mix  spent  four  years  of  his  boyhood  days  in  the  home  of  Judge 
Dyer  White,  of  New  Haven,  where  he  had  opportunity  of  attending 
the  celebrated  John  E.  Lovell  school,  thus  well  laying  the  foundation 
of  his  future  education,  which  has  been  largely  self-acquired.  Sub- 
sequently he  engaged  in  mechanic  trades,  and  for  twelve  years  worked 
in  the  New  Haven  shops  of  the  New  York  &  New  Haven  Railroad 
Companj'.  W^hile  residing  in  that  city,  he  was  elected  street  com- 
missioner in  1861,  and  as  a  member  of  the  common  council  in  1862, 
he  was  one  of  the  committee  to  sign  the  first  contract  between  the  city 
and  the  water  company  for  a  supply  of  water  for  the  use  of  the  city. 
Since  1864  he  has  resided  in  Hamden,  where  he  has  been  .successfully 
engaged  in  the  ice  business,  having  his  son  as  an  associate  in  New 
Haven. 

Since  being  a  citizen  of  this  town,  Mr.  Mix  has  been  honored 
with  a  number  of  important  public  offices  and  trusts.  In  1878  lie 
was  elected  as  a  representative  of  Hamden  in  the  state  legislature,  and 
was  reelected  in  1876,  serving  his  last  term  when  the  new  capitol  was 
first  occupied.  He  served  six  years  as  first  selectman  and  town  agent, 
and  in  that  capacity  was  instrumental  in  securing  the  removal  of  the 
track  of  the  New  Haven  &  Northampton  railroad  from  the  side  of 
the  old  Cheshire  road  and  the  turnpike  to  the  route  now  occupied. 
Although   the   town    had    almost   unanimously    voted    to   contribute 


•^32  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY. 

$14,000  to  the  company  toward  the  cost  of  the  removal,  the  action 
was  opposed  and  Mr.  Mi.x  was  enjoined  and  placed  under  a  bond  of 
$20,000  not  to  make  an\'  contract  with  the  company  or  to  pay  over 
the  money.  Through  his  efforts  the  legislature  passed  an  act  favor- 
ing the  change  and  healing  the  matter;  but  he  was  again  enjoined 
and  placed  under  $10,000  bonds  not  to  pay  over  the  money  the  town 
had  properly  appropriated.  The  superior  court  dissolved  this 
injunction  and  the  money  was  paid  to  the  company  to  make  the 
desired  change  in  its  roadbed,  which  is  now  acknowledged  as  having 
been  a  most  desirable  improvement,  and  one  which  reflects  credit 
upon  the  foresight  of  those  favoring  it.  Mr.  Mix  is  an  active  demo- 
crat, in  the  principles  of  which  party  he  has  always  believed,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Hamden  Plains  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  an  earn- 
est Odd  Fellow  and  Mason.  He  joined  the  former  order  in  1847,  and 
is  now  a  member  of  City  Lodge,  No.  36,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  New  Haven. 
In  1853  he  became  a  member  of  Wooster  Lodge,  No.  9,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
New  Haven.  In  1870,  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Mix,  the  charter  of 
Day  Spring  Lodge,  No.  30,  F.  &  A.  M.,  in  Hamden,  which  had  been 
granted  in  1794  and  surrendered  in  1838,  was  restored,  and  he  is  now  a 
member  of  that  Lodge.  He  has  seen  its  members  increase  from  six  to 
more  than  a  hundred,  and  he  has  three  times  been  master  of  the 
-Lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of  higher  Masonic  bodies  in  New  Haven 
— of  Franklin  Chapter,  Harmony  Council,  and  Commandery  No.  2, 
Knights  Templar. 

Harvey  T.  Moulton,  3d,  born  in  Plymouth,  Litchfield  county, 
Conn.,  in  1827,  was  a  son  of  Harvey  T.,  and  he  a  son  of  Harvey  T. 
Moulton.  Mr.  Moulton  settled  in  Hamden  about  1850,  and  was  in  the 
■employ  of  the  Whitney  Arms  Company  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
machinist  and  model  maker.  He  afterward  engaged  in  market  gar- 
dening. He  was  married  in  1850  to  Esther  H.  Hartley.  They  had 
■three  children  :  Ellsworth  H.,  Estella  J.  and  Harvey  T.  Ellsworth 
married  Carrie  Wellman,  Estella  married  John  Parmalee,  Harvey  T, 
married  Minnie  C  Payne,  of  New  Haven,  and  has  two  sons,  Harold 
P.  and  J.  Irving.  Harvey  T.  Moulton,  3d,  died  in  1887.  His  two  sons 
are  extensively  engaged  in  market  gardening. 

Jerome  C.  Alunson.born  in  Hamden  in  1845,  is  a  son  of  Basil  ]\Iun- 
son,  born  in  1814,  he  a  son  of  Job  L..  and  he  a  son  of  Basil  Mun.son. 
Job  L.  married  Sally  Moss,  of  Cheshire.  Basil,  his  son,  married 
Jenette  L.,  daughter  of  Amos  Peck.  Amos  Peck  married  Lovica 
Todd,  daughter  of  Ela  Todd.  Amos  Peck,  his  father,  married  Lois 
Chatterton.  Jerome  C.  Munson  married,  in  1864,  Sarah  J.,  daughter 
of  Heman  Doolittle,  of  Hamden.  They  have  three  sons :  George  W., 
born  1866;  Bennett  P.,  born  1870  ;  Willis  B.,born  1880. 

William  I.  Munson,  born  in  Hamden  in  1843,  is  a  son  of  Alva  and 
Melinda(Dorman)  Munson  and  grandson  of  Isaac  Munson.  Mr.  Mun- 
son was  elected  selectman  in  1886,  '87,  '88  and  '89.     He  is  a  member 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEX   COUNTY.  3'S'S 

of  Hamden  Plains  M.  E.  church,  and  Hamden  Grange  ;  also  Harmon}' 
Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  New  Haven.  He  married,  in  1871,  Fannie  M., 
daughter  of  Andrew  J.  Doolittle.  They  have  two  children  :  Edgar 
W.,  born  1875,  and  Ruby  A.,  born  1882. 

John  Osborn,  born  in  Woodbridge,  Conn.,  in  1824,  was  a  son  of 
William  M.  and  grandson  of  Elisha  O.sborn.  He  settled  in  Hamden 
about  1846.  He  was  a  civil  engineer.  He  planned  the  Fair  Haven 
Water  Works  (since  con.solidated  with  the  Xew  Haven  Water  Works} 
and  superintended  their  construction.  The  water  works  of  Granby 
and  Simsbury,  Ansonia,  Xew  Britain  and  Waterbury,  Conn  ,  and 
Cohoes  and  Millerton,  X.  Y.,  were  constructed  under  his  supervision. 
He  also  laid  out  Maltby  Park.  He  married,  in  1849,  Lavinia,  daughter 
of  Allen  Dickerman,  of  Hamden,  and  had  five  children :  Julia  A., 
John  I.  (who  died  young),  Mar\'  L.,  John  I.  and  Allen.  John  I.  is  a 
civil  engineer  and  surveyor,  and  for  several  years  has  been  in  the 
government  service,  engaged  in  coast  survey.  John  Osborn  died  in 
1884. 

Frederick  A.  Peck,  born  in  Hamden,  January  9th,  1862,  is  a  son  of 
Lorenzo  and  Sarah  (Talmadge)  Peck,  grandson  of  Zeri,  great-grand- 
son of  Joseph,  and  great-great-grandson  of  Amos  Peck.  Lorenzo 
Peck  is  a  farmer,  also  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  wood  business. 
He  had  two  children  :  Frederick  A.  and  George.  Frederick  A.  Peck 
was  married  in  1888  to  Elizabeth  C,  daughter  of  Wales  C.  Dicker- 
man,  of  Hamden.  In  1889  he  engaged  in  the  meat  business  in  '^It. 
Carmel. 

Edward  Rice,  born  in  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  in  1861,  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  grandson  of  John  Rice.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1874  and 
settled  in  Hamden.  Since  1876  he  has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Xew 
Haven  Web  Company,  and  for  six  years  has  been  foreman  of  the 
weaving  department.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  of  H.  of  Hamden. 
He  was  married,  in  1886,  to  Annie  Burke,  and  has  two  sons,  William 
and  Edward,  and  one  daughter,  Maggie. 

Charles  Roberts,  born  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  in  1824,  is  a  son  of 
Ephraim  and  Susan  (Ellis)  Roberts.  vShe  was  a  sister  of  William  Ellis. 
who  was  collector  of  the  port  of  Xew  Haven  under  Jackson's  admin- 
istration. Ephraim  Roberts  had  by  his  first  wife  three  sons:  Horatio. 
Ralph  R.  and  Charles.  Horatio  had  one  son,  Frank  Roberts,  who  is 
principal  of  the  military  school  at  Xorvvalk,  Conn.  Ephraim  had  six 
daughters:  Amanda,  Harriet,  Louise,  Xancy,  Emily  and  Susan.  Har- 
riet, Emily  and  Susan  are  living.  Ephraim  married  for  his  second 
wife  Polly  Dunham.  Their  children  were  John  D.  and  James  M 
Charles  Roberts  left  Connecticut  at  an  early  age  and  until  1872  resided 
in  Xew  York  and  the  Western  states,  living  in  California,  Texas, 
Mexico  and  Central  America.  In  1872  he  settled  in  Centerville,  town 
of  Hamden,  and  opened  a  sale  stable.  He  does  an  extensive  business, 
buying  and  shipping  a  large  number  of  horses  from  the  Western 
states  every  year. 


384 


IIISTORV    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 


William  Rosenthal,  son  of  Henry  Rosenthal,  was  born  in  Rhein 
Province,  Germany,  in  1844,  came  to  America  in  1879,  and  settled  in 
New  York,  where  he  resided  until  1SS3,  when  he  removed  to  Hamden 
and  entered  the  employ  of  the  New  Haven  Web  Company  as  designer. 
He  was  married  in  1883  to  Philomena  Burkhardt.  They  had  two 
daughters.  Lillie  and  Philomena,  and  one  son,  Harrison  W.  Mr. 
Rosenthal  died  in  1890. 

Edward  D.  Sanford,  born  in  Hamden  in  18ii8,  is  a  son  of  Dennis  vS., 
born  in  1827,  grandson  of  Amos  W.  and  great-grandson  of  Stephen 
Sanford.  Amos  W.  married  Obedience  Atwater.  Their  children 
were:  Goodyear  A.,  Albert,  Cynthia,  Robert  A.,  Dennis  S.,  Catherine 
O.  and  John  W.  Dennis  S.  married  Mary  E.  Rogers  in  1851.  Their 
children  are:  Emily,  born  in  1853,  married  F.  J.  Colvin:  Amos  A.,  born 
in  1855,  married  Jennie  Benham;  and  Edward  D.,  born  in  1858.  The 
latter  was  married  in  1879  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  James  R.  Broadbent. 
They  have  two  children,  Ralph  B.  and  Mabel  E.  Since  1883  llv.  San- 
ford  has  been  in  the  ice  business  in  New  Haven.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Hamden  Plains  M.  E.  church,  and  assistant  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school. 

Howard  Sherman  was  born  in  New  York  in  1822,  and  settled  in 
Hamden  in  1860.  He  is  a  son  of  Thaddeus  and  Eliza  (Taylor)  Sher- 
man, and  grandson  of  Reverend  Nathaniel  Sherman,  who  was  pastor 
■of  the  Mt.  Carmel  Congregational  church  for  several  years. 

Edwin  D.  Swift,  born  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  May  8th,  1825,  is  a  son  of 
Augustus  B.  and  Rebecca  (Munson)  Swift,  grandson  of  Philo  and 
great-grandson  of  Heenan  Swift,  who  was  a  colonel  in  the  revolution- 
ary war.  Doctor  Swift  was  educated  at  the  University  of  New  York, 
receiving  his  diploma  in  1849.  He  immediately  settled  in  Hamden 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  is  a  member  of  the  New 
Haven  Medical  Society  and  the  Connecticut  State  Medical  Society. 
He  was  married  in  1851  to  Sarah  L.  Punderson,  of  New  Haven.  They 
had  one  son,  Edwin  E.  Swift.  Mrs.  Swift  died  in  1865,  and  in  1868 
Doctor  Swift  was  married  to  Julia  M.  Swift.  He  is  a  member  of  Mt. 
Carmel  Congregational  church. 

John  W.  Talmadge,  born  in  Prospect,  Conn.,  in  1842,  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Annie  Talmadge.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  K, 
10th  Connecticut  Regiment,  and  served  three  years.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  for  a  short  time,  then  en- 
gaged in  the  meat  business,  continuing  it  until  the  present  time.  He 
settled  in  Hamden  in  1865,  and  was  married  the  same  year  to  Ange- 
line,  daughter  of  Alvah  Munson,  of  Hamden.  They  are  members  of 
the  Hamden iPlains  M.  E.  church. 

Lambert  W.  Talmadge,  born  in  Prospect,  Conn.,  in  1829,  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Annie  (Sperry)  Talmadge.  Mr.  Talmadge  is  one  of  a 
family  of  ten  children:  three  sons — Lambert  W.,  John  and  Stephen — 
and  seven  daughters — Mary,  Sarah,  Nancy,  Eliza,  Esther,  Clarissa  and 


^'-.rVr;/4...-.;'> 


^^ 


7  -/^^, 


HISTKRV    OK    Xi:\V    HAVEN    COUNTV.  333 

Julia.  Lambert  W.  Talmadge  is  a  farmer.  He  was  married  in  1851 
to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Zeri  Peck,  of  Hamden,  and  they  have  four 
children  :  Frank  P.,  born  1852.  lives  in  Dakota;  Oscar  J.,  born  1854. 
resides  in  New  Haven,  where  for  eight  years  he  has  been  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  N.  Y.,  X.  H.  &  H.  R.  R.  Co. :  Alden  O.,  born  1859, 
resides  in  Hamden,  and  Ellsworth  A.,  born  1862,  residing  in  Bristol, 
Conn. 

Oliver  F.  Treadwell,  M.  D.,  born  in  Baltimore.  Md.,  June  25th,  1841, 
is  a  son  of  Oliver  W.  Treadwell  and  Anna  H.  Kramer.  The  latter 
was  of  German  descent.  Doctor  Treadwell's  grandfather  was  John 
P.,  and  his  great-grandfather,  John  Treadwell,  the  first  president  of 
the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  one  of  the  early  gover- 
nors of  Connecticut.  Doctor  Treadwell  was  educated  at  Yale  College 
and  Medical  School,  receiving  his  diploma  in  1865.  He  practiced  for 
about  three  years  in  Xew  Haven,  then  removed  to  Hamden,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  was  town  physician  for  three  years.  He  is 
also  extensively  engaged  in  market  gardening.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Connecticut  State  Medical  Society.  He  was  married  in  1872  to 
Sarah  J.  Barraclough. 

Frederic  E.  Ti:ttle,  born  in  North  Haven  in  1839,  is  a  son  of  Elias 
and  Abigail  (Ingham)  Tuttle  and  grandson  of  Manning  Tuttle.  From 
1859  to  1867  he  was  engaged  in  mining  in  Australia  and  Xew  Zealand. 
He  settled  in  Hamden  about  1868.  For  seven  years  he  ran  a  meat 
market  at  Centerville.  Since  1883  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
and  has  earned  on  a  milk  business.  He  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
in  1884.  He  was  married  in  1868  to  Juliette,  daughter  of  Ezra  Ailing 
of  Hamden. 

Henry  Tuttle  was  born  where  he  now  lives  October  23d,  182it.  His 
family  name  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  annals  of  X*ew  Haven  county. 
So  early  as  1635  William  and  Elizabeth  Tuttle  came  from  England  to 
the  colonies,  and  in  1639  settled  in  New  Haven.  A  numerous  posterity 
traces  the  family  pedigree  to  the.se  ancestors,  and  the  name  is  common 
in  the  history  of  the  original  colony,  and  of  the  towns  since  formed 
from  the  original  grant  to  the  colony.  One  branch  of  the  family 
found  a  .settlement  within  what  was  afterward  the  limits  of  the  town 
of  Hamden,  and  ever  since  the  name  has  figured  prominently  in  the 
government  and  society  of  the  town. 

Close  under  the  northwestern  side  of  picturesque  and  sightly  Mt. 
Carmel,  in  Hamden,  lies  a  valley.  To  the  northeast  and  southwest 
for  a  considerable  distance  this  valley  extends,  sloping  up  on  its  north- 
western side  to  hills  which  skirt  its  boundary  there.  Into  this  valley 
from  the  Mt.  Carmel  range  and  from  the  northwestern  hills  have 
washed  for  ages,  since  the  glaciers  melted  away  from  the  surface  of 
the  country,  rich  deposits  for  farming,  making  the  tract  of  land  lying 
-here  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  portions  of  the  town.  It  is  a 
somewhat  secluded  portion.     A  single  highway  runs  through  it,  but 


386  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

the  volume  of  travel  to  and  from  the  New  Haven  turnpike  seeks 
other  avenues,  while  yet  this  valley  is  by  no  means  lonesome  from  any 
infrequency  of  passers  b}'. 

Here,  in  this  somewhat  retired  but  beautiful  valley,  Henry  Tuttle 
was  born.  His  father  was  Leverett  Tuttle,  and  his  mother  Electa 
Kimberly.  The  family  residence  was  located  on  the  northwest  side  of 
the  street,  nearly  opposite  to  the  present  residence  of  Henry  Tuttle. 
Leverett  Tuttle's  children  numbered  five:  Horace,  Lewi.s,  Julia,  Henry 
and  Dennis.  And  now  being  old  and  well  stricken  in  years  the  father 
divided  a  part  of  his  estate  lying  in  this  valley  among  his  three  sons 
who  were  living:  Horace.  Henry  and  Dennis.  But  the  changes  which 
have  followed  the  division  of  the  paternal  estate  have  brought  Henry 
Tuttle  into  possession  of  nearly  all  of  the  old  homestead.  At  the 
same  time  he  has  enlarged  it  by  purchase,  until  his  farm,  embracing 
several  hundreds  of  acres,  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  town. 

Henry  Tuttle  was  a  dutiful  son,  recognizing  his  filial  obligations 
to  his  father,  and  worked  with  him  on  the  homestead  farm  until  he 
was  twenty  years  of  age.  The  spirit  of  independent  business  life  was 
now  stirring  forcibly  in  the  young  man.  The  father  perceived  the 
son's  business  ambition,  and  gave  him  w^hat  remained  of  his  "  time  " 
to  his  majority.  Tw-o  years  passed  by  in  efforts  somewhat  desultory. 
Then  a  close  friend  and  relative  by  marriage  offered  to  furnish  capital 
for  the  cattle  drover  business.  It  was  the  opportunity  Henry  Tuttle 
was  then  waiting  for,  and  was  by  a  certain  gift  of  calculation  fitted  for. 
He  now  travelled  by  railroad  to  vSpringfield,  Mass.,  and  then  on  foot 
through  the  state  northward  and  into  Vermont,  purchasing  stock,  and 
then  driving  his  cattle  homeward  to  be  sold  in  New  Haven  markets. 
As  his  own  capital  increased  he  went  westward  into  the  state  of  New 
York,  and  farther  still  into  Ohio  to  make  purchases  of  cattle,  not 
always  driving  them  home  to  Connecticut,  but  often  to  the  New  York 
city  and  Albany  markets.  The  early  spring  and  the  season  following 
haying  were  occupied  in  the  cattle  drover"s  trade  for  about  twenty- 
eight  years — a  long  period — and  even  now  his  early  passion  has  not 
wholly  subsided,  and  crops  out  in  the  large  stock  of  nearly  forty  head 
of  cattle  kept  continually  on  his  farm. 

Those  parts  of  the  year  not  occupied  in  the  purchasing  and  selling 
of  cattle  Mr.  Tuttle  spent  on  his  farm  and  in  the  service  of  the  town 
of  Hamden.  From  early  manhood  he  has  taken  great  interest  in  the 
management  of  town  affairs.  It  has  been  his  life-long  ambition  that 
the  town  of  Hamden  shall  have  the  most  thrifty  and  at  the  same  time 
the  most  economical  administration  of  public  affairs,  and  nothing  is 
hazarded  in  the  assertion  that  the  town  has  had  no  more  zealous  and 
faithful  son  than  Henry  Tuttle. 

Two  qualities  of  J^Ir.  Tuttle  have  won  and  preserved,  through  a 
long  series  of  years,  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  townsmen — his  ability 
of  administration  and   his  uprightness  and  trustworthiness  of  char- 


/W  £.-^U^X^ 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  337 

acter.  Whenever  entrusted  with  responsibility  he  has  been  ambitious 
to  discharge  it  well,  whatever  the  trust  might  be.  Hence,  to  his 
natural  endowment  of  good  sense,  he  has  added  the  ability  which 
comes  from  studious,  thoughtful  habits,  from  a  wide  reading  of  the 
daily  and  weekly  literature,  and  from  association  with  leading  minds 
in  the  active  affairs  of  the  state.  And  whether  he  was  chosen  select- 
man or  assessor  or  justice  of  the  peace  or  prosecuting  grand  juror 
or  representative  to  either  house  of  the  general  assembly,  he  has 
sought  to  honor  the  position  by  the  highest  quality  of  administrative 
service.  In  all  these  relations  to  his  townsmen  his  watch  and  care 
of  their  interests  have  won  him  an  excellent  reputation  as  a  public 
official. 

One  of  the  developments  of  his  public  life  has  been  as  interesting 
as  it  is  noteworthy.  Appointed  years  ago  the  prosecuting  grand  juror 
of  the  town,  he  began  the  study  of  the  simpler  phases  of  law  and  of  the 
statutes  of  Connecticut.  His  brother,  Dennis,  a  lawyer,  upon  moving 
to  Iowa,  left  his  law  library  in  charge  of  Henry,  and  Henry  indulged 
his  legal  propensity  at  will.  The  result  was  that  as  prosecuting 
grand  juror  he  knew  when  a  complainant  had  a  "  case,"  was  himself 
able  to  work  it  up  for  trial  in  the  best  manner,  and  conduct  it  in 
court  with  marked  ability,  even  to  the  making  of  the  technical  plea. 
The  town  of  Hamdeu  was  fortunate  in  its  officer,  and  its  treasury 
saved  from  the  careless  drafts  made  by  many  state  or  city  attorneys 
upon  the  constituencies  they  serve.  The  courts  have  also  recognized 
his  ability  by  appointing  him  on  committees  to  tr}'  questions  of  fact 
in  civil  suits. 

The  opinion  held  of  him  by  his  townsmen  may  be  inferred  from 
a  general  trust  reposed  in  him  in  the  matter  of  the  settlement  of 
estates.  Not  infrequently  has  he  been  applied  to  to  draft  wills,  and 
then  be  the  custodian  of  them,  also  to  act  as  executor  or  administrator. 
Through  a  long  succession  of  years  he  has  not  been  without  much 
responsibility  of  this  kind.  And  to  him  the  widow  and  the  orphan, 
as  well  as  the  neighbor,  have  appealed  for  such  counsel  and  help  as 
only  a  trustworthy  and  competent  citizen  can  give.  Expense  has 
been  often  saved  by  his  kindly  services  to  the  large  class  weighted 
with  grief  or  troubled  concerning  the  disposal  or  inheritance  of 
property. 

Mr.  Tuttle  is  nominalW  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  on  all  the  great 
lines  of  party  policy  is  true  to  his  political  lineage.  But  after  all 
he  places  men  above  party  allegiance.  If  his  own  party  should  not 
offer  him  a  capable  candidate  he  may  be  found  working  for  the  election 
of  a  political  opponent,  and  upon  the  principle  that  the  town  and  the 
state  should  ha\-e  the  best  and  most  efficient  public  servants.  He  him- 
self has  been  chosen  to  state  honors:  as  to  the  house  of  representa- 
tives in  1S.">8  and  1864,  and  to  the  state  senate  in  1871.  Several 
important  mea.sures  or  amendments  in  behalf  of  his  town  or  district 
21 


338  HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

were  carried  through  the  legislature  under  his  leadership,  as  making 
free  the  Cheshire  turnpike,  the  street  location  of  the  Whitney  avenue 
horse  railroad,  the  cleansing  of  the  reservoir  of  the  New  Haven  Water 
Company,  and  the  securing  of  the  original  rights  to  the  town  once 
belonging  to  the  New  Haven  colony,  along  the  shores  where  moUusks 
thrive. 

The  centennial  of  the  town  of  Hamden  occurred  in  the  year  1886. 
Mr.  Tuttle  was  an  enthusiastic  promoter  of  the  celebration,  and  both 
for  the  pride  of  the  town  in  himself,  and  for  his  long  family  history 
in  the  town,  the  committee  in  charge  called  him  out  as  one  of  the  few 
whose  voices  should  be  publicly  heard  on  that  occasion. 

On  August  17th,  1858,  he  married  Miss  Delia  A.  Francis,  daughter 
of  Joseph  S.  Francis,  of  Durham.  One  son  has  been  born  to  them. 
Homer  Tuttle,  a  prosperous  merchant  of  Mt.  Carmel.  And  now  his 
parents  in  affluence,  and  yet  in  the  simple  manners  and  tastes  of  the 
typical  Connecticut  farmer,  are  passing  the  afternoon  of  life  in  hap- 
piness in  the  beautiful  valley  beside  Mt.  Carmel,  enjoying  their  own 
peaceful  self-respect  and  the  esteem  of  their  townsfolk. 

Hubert  E.  Warner,  born  in  Hamden,  September  12th,  1839,  is  a  son 
of  Elias,  he  a  son  of  Samuel,  and  he  a  son  of  Benjamin  Warner,  all 
natives  of  Hamden.  Elias  Warner  was  born  in  1807.  learned  the 
mason  trade  and  followed  that  business  for  over  40  years.  For  his 
first  wife  he  married  Nancy  Short.  They  had  one  son,  Charles  War- 
ner. For  his  second  wife  he  married  Sybil  M.,  daughter  of  Amasa 
Tuttle.  She  was  born  in  1809.  Their  children  were  :,  Elizur,  Huldah, 
Hubert  E.  and  Amasa  T.  Huldah  and  Hubert  E.  are  living.  Elias 
Warner  was  elected  representative  from  Hamden  in  1863  and  re- 
elected in  1864.  His  wife  died  April  r2th,  1891.  Hubert  E.  Warner 
early  learned  the  mason's  trade,  and  has  always  been  engaged  in  that 
business,  .since  1872  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  doing  business  in  New 
Haven.  He  was  elected  state  representative  in  1886.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  1,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  New  Haven  ;  Montowese 
Lodge,  No.  15,  L  O.  O.  F.;  Golden  Rule  Encampment  and  Hammon- 
a.s.sett  Tribe  of  Red  Men.  In  1861  he  was  married  to  Charlotte  A. 
Rogers,  of  Hamden.  Their  children  are  :  Charles  W.,  Hattie  E., 
Minnie  R.,  Frank  A.,  Hubert  E.,  Lottie  J.,  Harry  M.  and  Ray- 
mond E. 

John  E.  Warner,  born  in  Hamden  in  1842,  is  a  son  of  Horace  and 
Elizabeth  (Keep)  Warner  and  grandson  of  Elara,  who  was  a  son  of 
Hezekiah  Warner.  Elam  Warner  was  representative  from  Hamden 
in  1833.  John  E.  Warner  is  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  married 
in  1868  to  Isabel  Pardee.  They  have  three  children :  Grace  I.,  Ella 
P.  and  Ida  M. 

Benjamin  C.  Woodin,  born  in  Hamden  in  1828,  is  a  son  of  Charles 
and  grandson  of  Benjamin.  His  great-grandfather  was  also  named 
Benjamin.     He  built  the  house  where  Benjamin  C.  now  resides,  it 


HISTORY    OF    XKW    HAVEN   COUNTV.  339 

being  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  town.  Charles  Woodin  married  Betsy, 
daughter  of  Abraham  Cooper  (he  served  in  the  revolutionary  war). 
Their  children  were :  Eunice  R.,  who  married  John  L.  Sperry  ;  Rhoda 
M.,  married  Jared  Benham  ;  William  H.,  married  for  his  first  wife 
Juliet  Munson,  and  for  his  second  Mary  Downs;  and  Benjamin  C,  who 
married  for  his  first  wife  Ann  R.  Beckwith,  October  1st,  1852.  vShe 
died  in  November,  1861.  Their  children  were  :  Hattie,  died  at  the  age 
of  five,  and  Bessie  H.,  who  married  Frank  Gorham,  and  has  one  child, 
Freddie  S.,  aged  eight  years.  Mr.  Woodin  married,  in  1868,  Julia 
Shipman.  He  enlisted  in  September,  1861,  in  the  7th  Connecticut 
Regiment,  and  was  discharged  November  23d,  1864.  He  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Deep  Run,  August  16th,  1864.  He  is  a  member  of 
Admiral  Foote  Post.  No.  17,  G.  A.  R.  He  was  elected  representative 
in  1886. 

Vinus  Wooding,  born  in  Hamden  in  1805,  died  in  1891,  was  a  sou  of 
Abner  and  Lydia  (Ailing)  Wooding  and  grandson  of  Samuel  Wooding, 
a  revolutionary  soldier,  who  was  killed  by  the  British  when  they 
landed  at  New  Haven.  Abner  Wooding  was  a  carpenter,  and  Vinus 
in  his  earlier  years  worked  at  that  trade.  Farming,  however,  was  his 
principal  business.  He  was  married  in  1840  to  Jane  Tuttle.  They 
had  three  daughters :  Vestina,  Hettie  and  Janie.  Abner  Wooding 
framed  the  building  now  known  as  the  Old  Tontine  in  New  Haven, 
his  sons  Eneas  and  Vinus  working  as  helpers. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  TOWN  OF  WALLINGFORD. 


Location  and  Description. — Earl}'  Settlers. — Orowth  of  the  Town.— Second  Centen- 
nial.— Organization  of  Town  and  Early  Records. — Town  Clerks  and  Prol»ate 
Judges. — Public  Highways. — Manufacturing. — Wallingford  Borough. — Incorpora- 
tion and  Officers, — Sewerage. — Street  Improvement. — Water  Department. — Fire 
Department. — The  Wallingford  Disaster. — Gas  Light  Company. — Banks. — Building 
and  Loan  Association. — Business  Places. — Post  Office. — Public  Buildings. — The 
Press. — Libraries. — Yalesville. — Tracy. — East  Wallingford. — Physicians  and  Attor- 
neys.— Societies. 


AS  at  present  constituted,  the  town  of  Wallingford  is  bounded 
north  by  Meriden,  west  by  Cheshire,  east  by  Durham  and 
Middlefield,  and  south  by  North  Branford  and  North  Haven. 
In  extent  it  is  seven  miles  from  east  to  west  and  about  six  miles  from 
north  to  south.  Its  central  part  is  near  thirteen  miles  from  New 
Haven.  The  general  surface  is  diversified  by  hills  and  dales,  except 
in  the  eastern  part,  where  are  some  mountainous  lands,  the  Totoket 
range  extending  into  the  town.  An  elevated  section  west  of  Pista- 
paug  lake,  near  the  east  line,  bears  the  name  of  Whirlwind.  Other 
elevations  also  bear  local  nam.es,  as  Pond  hill,  which  is  on  the  line 
between  Wallingford  and  North  Haven  ;  Sugar  Loaf  hill,  which  is 
southwest  of  the  borough  ;  Mt.  Tom,  west  of  the  village  ;  and  Long 
hill,  applied  to  the  range  of  hills  east  of  the  borough.  In  that  part  of 
the  town  are  also  some  swamp  lands,  the  largest  bodies  being  called 
Muddy  River  and  Tamerack  swamps.  The  principal  stream  in  that 
section  is  Wharton's  brook,  which  flows  .southwest  into  the  Quin- 
nipiac.  The  latter  stream  drains  the  main  valley  of  the  town  and  has 
several  good  water  powei's.  Community  lake  or  pond,  near  Walling- 
ford village,  covers  150  acres.  Along  the  east  bank,  for  about  four 
miles  long  and  nearly  a  mile  in  width,  is  the  great  Sandy  or  Walling- 
ford plain,  the  largest  level  belt  and  the  most  extensive  barren  lands 
in  the  state.  Aside  from  this  and  the  extreme  eastern  section,  the 
lands  are  fairly  productive,  and  the  town  has  some  good  farms  on  the 
smaller  hills  and  in  the  larger  vales. 

What  is  now  the  town  of  Wallingford  was  included  in  the  second 
purchase  of  Indian  lands,  made  by  the  New  Haven  colony,  December 
11th,  1038.  At  that  time  was  deeded  a  tract  thirteen  miles  long  and 
ten  miles  wide,  lying  along  the  Quinnipiac,  several  miles  north  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  341 

first  tract  purchased  by  Messrs.  Davenport  and  Eaton.  The  colony 
thus  had  the  right  to  the  lands  as  far  north  from  the  sound  as  West 
Meriden.  The  consideration  for  the  last  purchase  was  an  English 
coat  for  each  ten  square  miles  of  land,  the  right  to  hunt  and  fish 
thereon  being  conceded  to  the  Indians. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Indians  were  undisturbed  in  the  enjoyment 
of  these  privileges  a  long  time,  for  it  was  not  until  about  thirty  years 
later  that  the  settlement  of  the  lands  by  the  whites  was  considered  by 
the  New  Haven  colony.  In  IGCiT  that  town  voted  to  set  off  a  village 
in  the  new  territory,  which  purpose  was  confirmed  by  the  general 
assembly  at  the  October  court  the  same  year.  In  the  next  two  years 
the  territory  was  prospected  for  an  eligible  site  for  a  village  by  John 
Moss,  John  Brockett,  Abraham  Doolittle  and  others,  who  suggested 
the  locality  which  was  later  chosen. 

In  order  that  the  affairs  of  the  projected  village  of  New  Haven 
might  be  prudently  managed  and  only  proper  persons  be  admitted  as 
planters,  certain  rules  were  prescribed  by  the  town  of  New  Haven, 
November  31st,  1669,  and  Samuel  Street,  John  Moss,  John  Brockett 
and  Abraham  Doolittle  were  empowered  as  a  committee  to  see  that 
the  rules  of  the  town  in  relation  to  the  village  were  carried  out.  Those 
purposing  to  become  members  of  the  new  village  now  covenanted 
with  one  another  by  signing  an  agreement  to  do  certain  things  in  har- 
mony with  the  town's  articles,  which  would  have  the  effect  of  estab- 
lishing- a  church  and  maintaining  a  minister,  etc.;  "  and  lastlv  we  doe 
engage  personally  to  settle  upon  the  place  by  May  next,  come  twelve 
month,  if  God's  providence  inevitably  hinder  not.  and  to  observe  and 
perform  all  and  every  other  article  agreed  upon." 

This  agreement  was  signed  by  38  persons,  not  all  of  whom  settled 
in  the  new  village.  The  committee  now  proceeded  to  locate  the  vil- 
lage site,  "  upon  the  hill,  on  the  east  side  of  the  great  plain,  commonly 
called  New  Haven  plain,"  now  the  borough  of  Wallingford.  They 
laid  out  the  south  part  of  the  village,  "  beginning  at  the  southeast  of 
said  hill;"  and,  then,  "  Next  to  the  aforesaid  house  lots  it  is  ordered 
that  there  shall  be  a  highway  crosse  the  hill,  from  east  to  west  of  six 
rods  broade*,  and  from  thence  a  long  highway  of  six  rods  broade  on 
the  top  of  the  hill  torunnorthwardf,  and  on  each  side  of  itt  to  ranges 
of  hous  lotts  of  six  acres  to  a  lott;  and  these  lotts  to  be  distributed." 

The  settlement  of  New  Haven  village  was  thus  begun,'in  the  spring 
of  1670,  the  first  assignment  of  lots  being  made  on  the  east  slope  of 
what  is  now  South  Main  street  and  continuing  northward  until  all 
those  admitted  as  villagers  were  supplied  with  lots,  which  each 
embraced  six  acres,  and  jutted  on  streets  six  rods  wide.  ]\Iost  of  the 
early  settlers  had  previously  lived  in  New  Haven;  others  came  from 
adjoining  towns  in  the  colony,  and  the  following  year  a  number  more 
came  direct  from  Boston,  where  they  had  landed  as  emigrants  from 

*Now  Centre  street.       fNow  Main  street. 


342  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

England.     But  all   were  settled  on  the  approval  of  the  New  Haven 
village  committee. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1670,  the  court  of  elections,  held  at  Hartford, 
sanctioned  the  action  of  New  Haven  in  forming  this  settlement,  and 
'■  having  been  moved  to  state  the  bounds  of  the  new  village  that  is 
settled  upon  the  playne,  as  you  goe  to  New  Haven,"  it  described 
bounds  five  miles  wide  on  each  side  of  the  Ouinnipiac  river,  extend- 
ing from  Branford  bounds  northward  "  to  where  the  old  road  to  New 
Haven  goeth  over  Pilgrim's  Harbour,"  with  a  provision  that  no  planta- 
tion or  previous  grant  would  be  prejudiced  by  these  village  bounds. 
This  court  also  ordered  "  that  the  plantation  on  the  playne,  in  the 
road  to  New  Haven  be  called  Wallingford."* 

The  Branford  bounds  being  disputed,  a  joint  committee,  composed 
of  John  Moss  and  Nathaniel  Merriman  for  Wallingford,  and  John 
Wilford,  Thomas  Harri.son  and  Samuel  Ward  for  Branford,  acted  on 
it,  September  22d,  1670,  but  their  recommendation  does  not  appear  to 
have  settled  the  matter.  In  January,  1673,  another  committee  passed 
on  it,  agreeing  in  effect,  "  that  the  Meadow  between  the  Mill  River 
and  the  East  River  northward  above  the  blue  Hills  shall  be  Walling- 
ford, as  to  the  Bulk  of  it,  and  Liberty  of  draweing  the  line  as  they 
shall  see  cause,  and  though  the  line  agreed  too  should  cut  through  it." 

The  following  year  John  Wilford  and  Nathaniel  White  ran  the 
lines  of  the  survey  according  to  the  grant  of  the  general  court, 
namely:  "We  did  Runn  from  the  East  River,  comonly  called  New 
Haven  River,  upon  an  east  and  south  line  five  miles;  very  nere  pish- 
atipague  ponds,  and  from  there  upon  a  North  and  by  east  line 
until  it  meets  with  Middletown  South  bounds;  and  on  East  and  by 
South  line,  till  it  meets  with  Middletown  west  bounds;  and  on  the  west 
side  New  Haven  river  upon  a  west  and  by  north  line  seven  miles." 

"  The  original  proprietors  of  the  country  thus  set  apart  as  Walling- 
ford were:  Samuel  Street,  Samuel  Whittlesey,  Thomas  Yale,  John 
Moss,  John  Brockett,  Nathaniel  Merriman,  Samuel  Thorp,  Jeremiah 
How,  Isaac  Curtis,  John  Atwater,  Edward  Peck,  John  Parker,  sen., 
Joshua  Culver,  John  Hitchcock,  Roger  Tyler,  Samuel  Cook,  Henry 
Cook,  Daniel  Mix,  Samuel  Brockett,  Mercy  Moss,  John  Hall,  Eliasaph 
Preston,  Jehiel  Preston,  John  Merriman,  John  Beach,  Samuel  Munson, 
Joseph  Thompson,  Benjamin  Holt,  John  Peck,  John  Lathrop,  Thomas 
Curtis,  Nathaniel  Royce,  Doctor  Hall,  David  Hall,  John  Austen,  Zach- 
ariah  How,  Nathaniel  How,  Joseph  Benham,  sen.,  Robert  Roice,  Will- 
iam Ebenatha,  Ebenezer  Clark,  Samuel  Hough,  Joseph  Benham,  Jr., 
John  Doolittle,  Joseph  Andrus,  Thomas  Beach,  Abraham  Doolittle."f 

In  addition  to  the  assignment  of  home  lots  in  the  village,  each 
planter  received  an  allotment  of  meadow  or  woodland,  at  a  convenient 

*Named  for  the  town  of  Wallingford  in  England,  the  term  meaning,  literally, 
an  "  old  fortification,"  or  a  walled  town  by  a  bridge  or  ford. 
jDoctor  Davis,  pp.  8.5-6. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  343 

distance  from  the  village.  What  was  deemed  most  desirable  for  such 
purposes  was  described  as  being  "  Lotts  on  the  river  called  New 
Haven  east  river,  that  are  layed  out  to  severall  of  the  inhabitants  as 
meddow  land.  They  are  to  begin  at  the  end  of  the  hill  called  Blew 
hill,  where  it  comes  to  the  river,  and  so  to  run  upward  the  river." 
Thirty-eight  lots  of  eight  or  twelve  acres  each  were  thus  assigned  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  according  to  the  judgment  of  the  surveyors, 
acting  on  the  orders  of  the  committee. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that,  at  this  time,  nothing  was  more 
abundant  than  land,  and  that  it  was  comparatively  worthless  until  it 
was  cleared.  In  all  these  transfers  from  New  Haven  to  the  commit- 
tee, thence  from  them  to  the  associated  planters,  as  the  original  pro- 
prietors, there  was  no  consideration  of  money.  But  there  was  a 
distinction  made,  based  on  the  rank  or  relative  importance  of  the 
planter.  Hence,  when  it  was  proposed  a  year  or  so  later,  that  other 
allotments  be  made,  the  matter  was  referred  to  a  special  committee, 
the  results  of  whose  labors  are  thus  set  forth  in  the  records  of  Walline- 
ford : 

"  Whereas  at  a  towne  meeting  held  July  29,  1672,  the  towne 
apoynted  a  comitee  of  9  persons  viz.  Mr.  John  Moss  Sen.  Mr.  John 
Brockett,  Senior  Nathanliell  Merriman  Sen.  Abraham  Dowlittle,  Sen. 
Samll  Andrews,  Nathan  Andrews,  John  Hall,  Jun  Samell  Mon.son  & 
Thos.  Yale,  for  th§  Distribution  of  Lands,  Respecting  quantity  to  every 
planter,  the  above  named  comitee  have  had  several  Debates  &  Seri- 
ous Considerations,  after  which  upon  the  3rd  of  January  1673  they 
came  to  a  conclusion  of  this  matter  Respecting  every  planter  now  in 
being  &  the  conclusion  is  as  foloeth.  first  that  there  shall  be  3  sorts 
of  Divisions  according  to  the  proportion  of  2.  3.  4.  that  is  to  say,  the 
lowest  Ranks  of  allotments  shall  have  halfe  so  much  as  the  highest, 
the  middle  Ranke,  of  alottments  three  quarters  so  much  &  to  every 
particular  person  as  followeth. 

The  highest  rank  to  The  Middle  rank  to  be 

John  Moss:  Sen  Samuel  Roise 

John  Brockett:  Sen  Nehemia  Roise 

Nathll.  Merriman:  Sen  Thomas  Hall 

John  Beach  Samuel  Thorpe 

Abraham  Dowlittle  Sen  John  Hall  Sen 

Mr.  Samuel  vStreet  Jeremiah  How 

Joseph  Eives 

Samuell  Potter 
John  Hall  Jun 
Samuel  Hall 
Abraham  Dowlittle  Jr 
Eliaseph  Preston 
Nathaniel  Merriman  Jr 
Samuel  Monson 
Ephriam*  How 


344  HISTORY   OK   NEW    H.W'KX   COUNTY. 

John  J\Ioss  Jun  The  lowest  Ranks  to 

Nathan  Andrews  Richard  Beach 

Samuell  Andrews  Elieazur  Hoht 

William  Holtt  Daniell  Hopper 

John  Peck  Zachrias  How 

John  Eives  Eliazur  Peck 

Thomas  Curtice  Joseph  Benham 

Thomas  Yaile  Samnell  Cook 

Nathaniell  Roise  Isaac  Roise 

Benjamin  Lewes  William  Ebnatha 

George  Pardy,  Sen  "  • 


In  June,  1673,  the  planters  voted  "That  there  shall  be  alowed  for 
the  first  division  of  lands  to  each  planter,  taking  in  hotise  lotts,  river 
lotts  and  all  sorts  of  land,  to  the  loest  ranke.  40  acres;  to  the  middle 
ranke  60  acres  and  to  the  hiest  ranke,  80  acres  and  so  to  keep  for  the 
present."  Taxes  were  laid  in  the  same  proportion,  the  highest  rank 
paying  dotible  that  of  the  lowest  rank,  etc.  After  this,  allotments  of 
lands  were  made  from  time  to  time  to  new  settlers,  to  the  original 
settlers  as  their  families  grew  larger,  or  to  meet  the  wants  of  special 
demands,  until  the  whole  territory  was  occupied. 

Those  having  lands  allotted  them  were  permitted  to  dispose  of 
them  after  a  three  years'  residence,  provided  they  were  alienated  or 
sold  to  such  persons  as  were  approved  by  the  town-  one  of  the  essen- 
tials of  approbation  being  •'  sufficient  testimony  of  their  good  conver- 
sation in  the  place  where  they  formerly  lived  ;"  and  none  were  per- 
mitted to  dwell  in  the  town  as  planters,  by  purchase  or  otherwise, 
unless  the  full  consent  of  the  town  was  first  obtained.*  Even  those 
sojourning  within  the  town  limits  could  do  so  only  with  proper  per- 
mission.+  As  a  natural  consequence  the  character  of  ihe  inhabitants 
was  better  than  if  an  indiscriminate  population  had  been  invited,  and 
although  some  of  the  action  taken  appears  to  us  like  an  interference 
with  private  rights,  yet  they  were  doubtless  warranted  by  the  exigen- 
cies of  the  times,  which  prompted  a  desire  to  have  none  but  good 
citizens  in  the  body  corporate.  To  this  care  in  laying  the  foundations 
of  society  may  be  attributed  much  of  the  stability  which  characterized 
the  citizenship  in  later  years. 

The  progress  of  Wallingford  in  population  and  property,  for  a 
number  of  years  after  its  settlement,  was  as  follows: 

No.  of  planters,  1680,  50;  1685,  63;  1691,  76;  1695,  95;  1700,  120; 
value  of  estates,  1680,  ^2,466;  1685,  ^^3,072;  1691,  .^^3,959;  1695,  .£:4,298; 
1700,  ^5,492. 

In  1701  the  grand  list  of  the  town  of  Wallingford  embraced  the 
following  persons  and  values  of  estates  (in  pounds): 

John  Ives,  ^^74;  Widow  Merriam,  14;  Thomas  Matthews,  28;  Joseph 
Ives,  40;  Samuel  How,  27;  Zachariah  How,  33;  Mathew  How;  32;  John 

*Town  Records,  February  12th,  1671.      fRecords,  September,  1078. 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN"    COUNTV.  '  '-i-iS 

Brocket.  87:  Z.  How,  sen.,  fiH;  Gideon  Ives,  B6;  Walter  Johnson,  46; 
Nicholas  Street,  43;  Nathaniel  Hall,  29;  Samuel  Royce,  48;  Joshua 
Culver.  120;  Mathew  Bellamy,  22;  Henry  Cook,  118;  Thomas  Hall,  Jr., 
23;  Jonathan  Hall,  22:  E.  Royce  and  servant,  121:  Mill,  10;  Francis 
Kendrick,  32;  R.  Royce.  Jr..  43;  Sergeant  Thorp  and  ap.,  102;  David 
Hall,  6(1:  John  Austen.  33;  Nathaniel  Ives,  26;  Captain  Thomas  Yale. 
168;  Ebenezer  Lewis.  .'52;  Nathaniel  How.  66;  Simon  Tuttle.  79;  John 
Peck,  69;  Samuel  Munson,  69:  Eben  Clark.  90;  J.  Hitchcock.  98; 
Lieutenant  Hall.  99;  Doctor  John  Hull.  11. "i:  Deacon  Hall,  74:  Thomas 
Hall,  112:  Theodore  Doolittle,  4.5;  Samuel  Street,  59;  John  Beach,  .)0; 
Daniel  Doolittle.  34:  J.  Merriman,  137;  William  Hendrick,  49:  Eleazer 
Peck,  101;  Ensign  Andrews.  64;  David  Hall,  41;  John  Moss.  l.vS: 
Nathaniel  Curtiss,  24;  John  Cook,  39;  Deacon  Preston,  96;  William 
Andrews,  48;  Edward  Fenn,  60:  John  Tyler,  .51;  John  Hull,  79;  John 
Parker,  27;  Isaac  Curtiss,  93;  Samuel  Ro3^ce,  102;  J.  West  wood,  28: 
Joseph  Cook,  30;  Daniel  How,  40;  Jacob  Johnson,  46;  John  Peck.  40; 
Robert  Roys,  60;  William  Tyler,  57;  Samuel  Cook,  Jr.,  64;  Samuel 
Cook,  Sen.,  Ill;  Nathaniel  Andrews,  25;  Josiah  Doolittle,  40:  Thomas 
Richardson,  27;  James  Ailing,  28;  J.  Royce  and  1  ap.,  78:  William 
Abernatha,  28;  Joseph  Parker,  24;  Benjamin  Hall,  50:  Richard  Wood, 
41;  Ebenezer  Hull,  25;  Thomas  Curtiss,  80;  John  Doolittle,  45;  Samuel 
Lathrop.  36:  Hugh  Chappel.  18:  John  Lathrop,  18;  Minor  Phillips.  18: 
Joseph  Thomp.son.  73;  James  Benham,  26;  J.  How,  Jr.,  34;  J.  Munson. 
50;  Widow  Merriman.  11;  Thomas  Beach,  79;  Benjamin  Beach.  32: 
Samuel  Brockett.  82:  Benjamin  Royce.  29;  William  Kendrick.  22;  C. 
Merriman,  75:  A.  Doolittle,  l(i9;  John  Atwater,  113;  Daniel  Mix.  116; 
N.  Royce.  100;  Elijah  How,  20;  Nathaniel  Tuttle.  28:  William  Aber- 
natha, 64:  E.  Doolittle,  39;  John  Parker,  74;  Roger  Tyler.  36:  Samuel 
Curtiss,  21;  J.  How,  Sen.,  47:  Widow  Holt,  33.     Total,  £6,261. 

In  1723  the  inhabitants  numbered  1,100.  In  1774  the  old  parish 
of  Wallingford  had  2.130  inhabitants;  Cheshire  parish  had  1.933;  and 
Meriden  parish,  852,  making  4,915  inhabitants  in  all.  In  1800  Walling- 
ford and  Meriden  had  3,214  inhabitants,  about  one-third  being  in 
Meriden.  In  1840  Wallingford  had  less  population  by  several  htindred 
than  in  1830.  but  increased  from  that  time.  In  1850  there  were  2.595 
inhabitants.  In  1880  the  population  of  the  town  was  4,686;  of  the 
borough  3,017;  in  1890  the  population  of  the  entire  town  was  6,.584. 

The  second  centennial  of  the  settlement  of  Wallingford  was  cele- 
brated in  the  fall  of  1869.  The  preliminary  steps  were  taken  at  a 
town  meeting,  held  October  5th,  1868,  when  the  following  committee 
of  representative  men  of  the  oldest  families  was  appointed  to  make 
provision  to  have  it  properly  observed,  namely:  Caleb  Atwater. 
Augustus  Hall.  Elisha  Whittlesey,  Randall  Cooke,  Samuel  Peck.  Ira 
Tuttle.  Harvey  vS.  Hall.  Street  Jones.  H.  L.  Hall,  Franklin  Johnson, 
Julius  Williams,  Elihu  Yale,  Aimer  I.  Hall,  Garry  I.  Mix.  Enos  Doo- 
little, Thaddeus  Cook,  Samuel  Simpson,  Joel   Hall.  1st.  Peter  Whittle- 


346  HISTORY   OK   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

se}-,  Orrin  Andrews,  Doctor  B.  F.  Harrison,  Doctor  Nehemiah  Banks, 
William  Francis,  George  W.  Whittlesey.  Joseph  F.  Noyes,  Rhoderick 
Corliss,  George  B.  Kirtland,  William  Carrington,  E.  H.  Ives,  Medad 
C.  Miinson,  Medad  W.  Munson,  John  Atwater,  S.  C.  Ford,  William  Y. 
Beach,  D.  Gaylord,William  Elton,  L.  Pomeroy,  Joel  Hall,  2d,  L.Lewis, 
Erastus  A.  Doolittle,  Jeremiah  A.  Hall,  George  R.  Dutton,  Alexander 
Hall,  Othniel  I.  Martin,  William  M.  Hall,  Elizur  Hall,  Walter  Ives, 
Hezekiah  Hall,  Silas  Blakeslee,  Horace  Austin,  Augustus  Bartholo- 
mew, Samuel  Miller,  Lyman  Humiston,  John  Allen,  Joel  Rice,  Joel 
Hough,  L.  M.  Monroe,  Hubbard  Jones,  Chauncey  Hough,  Chauncey 
Andrews  and  Charles  Ives. 

A  meeting  with  appropriate  exercises  was  held  on  the  green,  at 
the  old  Whittlesey  place,  which  was  largely  attended  and  was  a  pleas- 
ant re-union  of  those  who  had  been  instrumental  in  the  later  develop- 
ment of  the  town.  A  generous  collation  was  an  attractive  feature  of 
the  occasion,  giving  proof  of  the  abundance  to  be  found  in  the  homes 
of  these  descendants  of  the  first  settlers,  and  affording  a  sharp  con- 
trast of  the  two  periods,  separated  by  the  lapse  of  two  hundred  years, 
when  this  beautiful  town  was  first  located  in  the  wilderness. 

Although  the  town  was  named  by  the  general  court  in  May,  1670, 
no  meeting  was  held  until  April  6th,  167L  At  that  time  there  were 
probably  one  hundred  inhabitants  in  the  territory  designated  as  Wal- 
lingford,  but  as  they  lived  in  a  humble  way  in  a  compact  village,  but 
little  business  of  general  interest  was  transacted  for  several  years.  In 
fact,  nearly  all  the  affairs  remained  in  charge  of  the  New  Haven  com- 
mittee— Samuel  Street,  John  Moss,  John  Brockett  and  Abraham  Doo- 
little— until  April  2Sth,  1673,  when  Nathaniel  Merriman  was  elected 
town  clerk,  a  position  which  he  held  nine  years.  Since  that  time  the 
town's  transactions  are  quite  fully  recorded.  Previous  to  this  electio-n. 
May  9th,  1672,  the  general  court  had  appointed  John  Brockett  and 
John  Moss  commissioners  for  Wallingford,  and  the  former  and  Na- 
thaniel Merriman  were  the  first  deputies  to  the  general  court  several 
years  later.  The  other  civil  officers  were  elected  as  the  town  affairs 
developed,  the  first  chosen  being  the  selectmen,  clerk,  treasurer,  con- 
stable, tithing  men  and  surveyors  of  highways. 

Being  at  first  essentially  a  government  of  a  community,  limited  to 
a  single  place,  there  was  no  wide  scope  of  business  aside  from  the 
allotment  of  lands,  the  movement  to  establish  the  church  (which  was 
the  principal  factor  after  1672),  and  to  adopt  measures  for  protection 
against  Indian  attack.  Although  apprehended  to  such  an  extent  that 
small  forts  were  built  at  the  south  part  of  the  village,  at  Abraham 
Doolittle's  house,  in  1675,  and  later  at  the  meeting  house,  there  prob- 
ably was  no  real  cause  for  alarm,  except  the  fear  inspired  by  ihe 
restless  Indians  on  the  east  side  of  the  Connecticut  river.  In  1679' 
greater  confidence  prevailed,  and  the  town  voted  "  to  agree  to  lay 
down  ye  warding  on  ye  weeke  days  for  ye  present." 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY.  347' 

The  records  of  the  births,  marriages  and  deaths,  in  the  town  books, 
are  some  of  their  most  interesting  features.  The  first  born  was 
Samuel  Potter,  September  19th,  1671 ;  the  first  death  was  vSamuel,  son 
of  Eleazer  Peck,  March  12th,  1673  ;  and  on  the  5th  of  June,  the  same 
year,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Thomas  Hall,  which  was  the  first  in 
the  town.  The  later  records  of  these  matters  are  comprehen.sive  and 
voluminous. 

The  early  records  also  afford  an  interesting  insight  of  the  monetary 
matters  of  that  period.  The  volume  of  circulation  being  very  limited, 
when  payments  had  to  be  made  or  means  raised,  it  was  necessary  for 
the  town  to  authorize  some  product  as  a  means  of  exchange.  Hoops 
for  casks  and  barrels  were  among  the  chief  articles  of  commodity,  and 
the  town  received  them  in  payment  of  taxes.  Several  of  the  first 
rank  men  had  "  hoop  lands"  allotted  them,  so  that  they  might  secure 
therefrom  the  means  to  pay  their  proportion  of  the  taxes. 

Space  will  not  permit  more  extended  reference  to  the  records, 
which  indicate  that  in  the  support  of  the  church,  schools,  etc.,  the 
town  was  active  and  fully  as  zealous  as  any  other  community  in  the 
county. 

A  complete  list  of  the  town  clerks  of  Wallingford  embraces  the 
following  names  and  years  of  service:  New  Haven  Committee  to  1673; 
Nathaniel  Merriman  to  1682;  Eliasaph  Pre.ston  to  1687;  Joseph  Hoult 
to  1696;  Joseph  Royce  to  1697;  Thomas  Hall  to  1711;  Samuel  Alunson 
to  1740;  Thomas  Miles  to  1741;  James  Miles  to  1766;  Caleb  Hall  to 
1774;  Caleb  Cook  to  1775;  Caleb  Hall  to  1783;  Elisha  Whittlesey  to 
1800;  George  W.Stanley  to  1803;  Hunn  ]Munson  to  1834;  Friend  Cook 
to  1835;  James  Carrington  to  1836;  James  W.  Carrington  to  1836; 
Samuel  Cook  to  1840;  Delos  Ford  Cook  to  1840;  Henry  A.  Cook  to  1841; 
Lorenzo  Lewis  to  1856;  E.  S.  Ives  to  1860;  Lorenzo  Lewis  to  1861;  E. 
S.  Ives  to  1863;  J.  B.  Pomeroy  a.ssistant  T.  C.  to  1863;  Augustus  Hall 
to  1864;  E.  S.  Ives  to  1868;  George  W.  Bartholomew  to  1868;  Edward 
F.  Cook  to  1869;  Franklin  Piatt  to  1872;  Othniel  I.  Martin  to  1888; 
William  Burr  Hall  to  1889;  Othniel  I.  Martin  the  present  clerk. 

In  1776  the  Wallingford  Probate  District  was  erected  to  include  the 
original  town  and  also  part  of  what  is  now  Prospect.  Out  of  this  dis- 
trict were  subsequently  formed  the  Cheshire  and  the  Meriden  districts, 
the  latter  being  set  off  in  1836.  From  the  establishment  of  the  dis- 
trict until  the  present  the  following  became  judges  in  the  Walling- 
ford district  in  the  years  mentioned:  Caleb  Hall,  1776;  Oliver  Stanley, 
1784;  G.  W.  vStanley,  1809;  J.  P.  Kirtland,  1818;  R.  Hitchcock,  1819;  J. 

D.  Reynolds,  1829;'  E.  M.  Pomeroy,  1838;  Augu.stus  Hall,  1842;  E.  H. 
Ives,  1844;  J.  R.  Merriam,  1846;  E.  H.  Ives,  1847;  Augu.'itus  Hall,  1850; 

E.  H.  Ives,  1851:    E.  S.  Ives,  1852;    Ira  Tuttle,  1868;    Franklin   Piatt. 
1869;  Othniel  I.  :Martin,  1872  to  present  time. 

One  of  the  greatest  obstacles  the  early  settlers  encountered  was 
the  difficulty  of  communication,  the  reads  being  few  and  very  poorly 


348  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

improved.  From  New  Haven  to  Hartford  was  a  two  days'  journey, 
prior  to  1700,  and  the  usual  stopping  place  was  Belcher's  tavern,  in 
the  northern  part  of  what  is  now  Meriden — an  almost  midway  point 
on  the  old  colony  road.  The  course  of  that  highway,  through  Wal- 
lingford,  and  the  principal  streets  in  the  borough  were  described  in 
1670.  Other  streets  east  and  west  in  the  village,  and  Elm  street  north 
and  south  came  later.  At  first  so  little  attention  was  paid  the  old 
colony  road  that  at  the  session  of  the  general  court,  October,  1684,  it 
was  ordered  that  the  different  towns  through  which  it  passed  should 
"amend  it  from  such  defects  as  dirty  sloughs,  bushes,  trees  and  stones 
which  incumbered  it." 

In  1692  the  highway  over  the  river  was  ordered;  in  169H  the  road 
between  Daniel  Mix  and  Joshua  Culver:  in  1694  the  road  at  Broad 
Swamp,  in  Cheshire;  in  1697  the  road  at  Mill  River,  in  the  same  town- 
ship; also  the  same  time  the  road  from  South  Meriden  to  Stony  river; 
in  1693  the  road  to  Haddam.  through  the  northeastern  part  of  town, 
was  laid  out;  in  1700  the  road  through  Dog's  Misery  neighborhood 
was  located;  and  in  1702  two  highways  were  located  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river,  to  run  westward,  one  south  of  the  Broad  swamp,  theother 
north  of  it.  The  same  year  the  road  on  the  New  Haven  line  west- 
ward, terminating  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Prospect,  was  also 
located.  The  highway  from  the  Long  hill  to  the  New  Haven  line 
southward  was  located  in  1707.  In  many  places  the  Old  Colony  road 
was  originally  forty  rods  wide;  most  of  the  other  roads  were  twenty 
rods  wide;  and  very  few  of  the  early  roads  were  as  narrow  as  ten  rods. 

Little  work  was  done  on  these  roads  beyond  cutting  down  the 
brush,  and  when  one  track  was  full  of  ruts  another  was  made,  land 
being  more  plentiful  than  labor  to  repair  the  roads.  Again,  travel  on 
them  was  an  easy  matter,  as  the  mode  was  mainly  by  horseback  or 
two-wheeled  chaises,  and  but  few  of  the  latter  class  were  used.  "  It 
was  not  until  1789  that  the  first  wagon  was  brought  into  Meriden,  as 
the  propert}'  of  Ezra  Rice.  It  was  a  rude  affair,  beingsimply  a  square 
box  on  four  wheels,  drawn  bj^  two  horses,  with  ropes  for  traces  and 
cords  for  the  driving  lines. "'" 

Not  until  1802  were  the  roads  rounded  from  the  center  to  the  sides, 
after  the  manner  of  building  turnpikes.  No  doubt  the  completion  of 
the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  turnpike,  in  1800,  had  something  to  do  in 
setting  this  fashion.  When  that  highway  was  projected  it  was  opposed 
with  some  spirit,  but  after  it  was  in  use  a  good  patronage  was  given. 
Its  course  through  Wallingford  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
which  was  crossed  at  Yalesville.  At  that  place  one  of  the  first  good 
bridges  across  the  stream  was  erected  by  the  company.  For  fifty 
years  this  was  a  good  thoroughfare,  but  in  later  years  other  highways 
have  also  been  well  improved,  at  a  yearly  expenditure  of  about  $4,000. 

*Doctor  Davis. 


HISTORY   OF   XEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  349 

The  bridges  are  kept  in  repair  at  an  outlay  of  several  hundred  dollars 
per  year. 

Splendid  communication  is  afforded  the  town  and  the  borough  of 
Wallingford  by  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven  railroad,  which  estab- 
lished a  station  on  the  "  Plains,"  northwest  of  the  cemetery,  in  the 
fall  of  1839.  In  November  of  that  year  Orrin  Andrews  became  the 
station  agent,  and  acted  as  such  ten  years.  Gould  Andrews  succeeded 
him,  and  was  the  agent  five  years.  Since  January  1st,  1855,  the  present 
agent,  Silas  N.  Edmonds,  has  represented  the  company  at  Walling- 
ford, and  under  his  direction  most  of  the  station  improvements  have 
been  made.  The  old  station  was  a  frame  building,  standing  northeast 
of  the  present  station,  and  was  also  the  home  of  the  agent.  The 
present  station  was  built  in  1871,  and  is  very  commodious,  being  of 
brick,  85  by  155  feet.  In  1885  it  was  remodelled  m  the  inside  and: 
.supplied  with  modern  conveniences.  The  present  freight  house,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  tracks,  was  built  in  1875.  It  is  of  brick,  175 
feet  long,  and  is  built  substantially.  The  labor  of  the  station  is  per- 
formed by  Mr.  Edmonds  and  ten  assistants.  In  1855  the  station  had 
three  trains  per  day;  in  1889  the  number  was  eighteen,  and  the  yearly 
increase  of  traffic  was  about  ten  per  cent.  The  station  was  supplied 
with  telegraph  service  in  September,  1860,  and  ]SIrs.  S.  N.  Edmonds 
was  the  first  operator. 

The  station  is  supplied  with  two  sets  of  Hall's  Electric  Railway 
Signals,  2,500  feet  distant,  and  also  a  set  of  danger  signals.  The 
present  improved  system  has  been  in  use  since  1884.  The  original 
system  was  here  first  put  in  use  by  the  inventor  in  1871,  he  being  at 
that  time  a  resident  of  Wallingford.  Later  the  device  was  perfected 
and  manufactured  at  Meriden,  from  which  place  the  factory  was 
removed  to  Bridgeport. 

The  station  at  Yalesville  was  remodelled  in  the  summer  of  1889, 
and  made  more  attractive.  Ed.  Carrington  was  the  first  agent;  W.  E. 
Rice  .served  until  the  fall  of  1887,  and  since  that  time  the  present  agent, 
C.  W.  Cook.  A  considerable  volume  of  business  is  there  transacted. 
A  brief  review  of  the  industrial  life  of  the  town,  as  manifested  in 
her  manufacturing  interests,  affords  one  of  the  most  gratifying  fea- 
tures of  its  history.  The  manufactories  of  Wallingford  have  given 
the  town  wealth  and  prominence.  Not  long  after  the  settlement  of 
the  first  planters,  this  phase  of  business  life  was  brought  into  exist- 
ence by  the  urgent  needs  of  the  settlers,  and  a  mill  for  grinding  corn 
was  built  on  Wharton's  brook,  south  of  the  present  borough,  which 
was  ready  for  operation  in  December,  1(374.  This  mill  was  put  up  by 
Lieutenant  William  Fowler,  of  Milford,  for  the  town,  and  among  the 
first  millers  were  John  Fowler  and  John  Lothrop.  The  location  was 
not  favorable,  and  after  a  few  years  it  was  decided  to  move  the  mill. 
A  new  site  was  projected  in  1677,  the  natural  falls  above  the  great 
plain  on  the  Quinnipiac  being  .selected.     The  mill  was  removed,  and 


350  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

grinding  at  the  new  site  was  begun  in  May,  1678,  John  Lothrop  being 
the  miller.  At  the  end  of  half  a  dozen  years  it  was  decided  to  move 
the  mill  again,  further  down  the  stream,  where  a  better  site  was 
afforded,  and  to  make  it  sure  forever  for  that  purpose  the  town  voted, 
October  3d,  1687,  to  sequester  the  site,  which  was  done. 

As  the  mill  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  .stream,  and  mo.st  of  the 
planters  lived  on  the  east  side,  a  public  canoe  was  provided  early  in 
1688.  Six  years  later  the  town  built  a  bridge,  so  that  the  mill  could 
be  reached  on  horseback.  This  was  probably  put  up  on  the  site  of 
the  present  bridge  at  Yalesville,  and  is  thought  to  have  been  the  first 
bridge  in  the  county  across  the  Quinnipiac. 

The  maintenance  and  operation  of  the  mill  was  a  troublesome 
piece  of  bu.siness  for  the  town,  which  in  1707  made  an  arrangement 
with  William  Tyler,  whereby  he  became  the  sole  owner.  From  that 
time  on  the  Tyler  family  controlled  the  property  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years.  The  locality  became  known  as  Tyler's  Mills,  and  the 
grinding  of  grain  and  the  fulling  of  cloth  were  both  carried  on.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  present  century  Charles  Yale  became  the  owner 
of  the  Tyler  interests,  and  having  made  extensive  repairs  and  added 
other  lines  of  business,  which  augmented  the  population  of  the  ham- 
let, it  now  became  known  as  Yalesville. 

Charles  Yale  was  born  in  1790,  and  on  reaching  manhood  became 
a  manufacturer  of  japanned  and  tin  ware,  which  he  sold  in  the  South 
and  amassed  a  fortune.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
pewter  and  Britannia  goods,  being  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  latter 
interest.  He  here  associated  his  brother  Hiram  with  him,  and  with 
the  aid  of  skilled  artisans  from  England  they  not  only  made  flat 
wares  of  Britannia,  but  produced  hollow  ware,  such  as  tea  .sets  and 
communion  services,  which  had  a  beauty  of  finish  and  excellence  not 
before  attained  in  this  country.  Both  the  Yales  died  while  the  Bri- 
tannia industry  was  yet  in  its  infancy,  Charles  Yale  departing  this  life 
November  2d,  1835. 

In  the  meantime  Samuel  Simpson,  who  had  been  an  apprentice  of 
the  Yales  here,  became  interested  in  this  line  of  manufactures,  begin- 
ning January  1st,  lS3o,  and  carried  on  operations  twelve  years,  when 
he  sold  out  to  John  Munson,  who  had  been  associated  with  him  several 
years.  Prior  to  this  a  part  of  the  power  at  Yalesville  was  utilized 
by  J.  B.  Pomeroy  and  John  B.  Hall  in  the  manufacture  of  gimlets  and 
auger  bits,  which  industry  was  here  discontinued  about  1843  and  re- 
moved to  the  Quinnipiac,  two  miles  below  Wallingford.  About  this 
time  Bennet  Jeralds  began  using  a  part  of  the  Yale  works,  and  for 
three  years  manufactured  Britannia  spoons  for  Russell  Holt,  of  Meri- 
den.  Eli  Ives  became  the  owner  of  the  property  in  1843,  and  for  the 
last  time  put  the  grist  mill,  still  kept  up,  in  order,  but  which  was  per- 
manently discontinued  several  years  later.  In  1846  he  sold  out  to  a 
Mr.  Johnson,  of  Middletown,  who  manufactured  pins  at  this  place  a 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTV.  351 

short  time.  Soon  after  Charles  Parker  purchased  the  property  and 
continues  the  owner.  In  1848  he  and  Garry  I.  Mix  began  the  manufac- 
ture of  Britannia  and  German  silver  ware,  continuing  until  1854,  when 
Mix  retired  to  establish  himself  in  business  at  a  lower  power  at  Yales- 
ville.  Parker  and  the  Jeralds  (Thomas  and  Bennet)  continued  at  the 
old  place  as  the  Parker  ilanufacturing  Company.  In  1857  the  old 
mill  and  factory  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire,  when  the  present 
buildings  were  erected  and  occupied  in  February,  1858.  The  main 
factory  is  of  brick,  100  feet  long,  with  an  ell  60  feet  long,  both  being 
two  stories  high.     There  are  also  large  frame  buildings. 

In  1876  the  Parker  Manufacturing  Company  discontinued  the 
manufacture  of  German  silver  ware  at  this  point,  but  the  production  of 
Britannia  spoons  has  since  been  carried  on,  in  a  limited  way,  by 
Bennet  Jeralds.  When  these  industries  were  at  their  best  130  people 
v.-ere  employed.  In  later  years  the  greater  part  of  the  Parker  shops 
has  been  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  the  woodwork  for  coffee  and 
spice  mills,  piano  stools  and  packing  cases,  about  1,000,000  feet  of 
lumber  being  used  annually.  Fifty  bands  were  thus  employed,  in 
1S89,  by  the  Parker  Manufacturing  Company,  with  A.  G.  Brown  as 
superintendent.  An  excellent  dam  produces  a  motor  of  150  horse- 
power, but  since  these 'shops  are  auxiliary  to  the  works  at  Meriden 
they  have  lost  their  former  importance. 

G.  I.  Mix  &  Co.,  at  Yalesville,  are  extensive  manufacturers  of  Bri- 
tannia goods.  This  establishment  is  on  the  Quinnipiac,  at  the  lower 
end  of  Yalesville,  where  the  plant  embraces  about  twenty  acres  of 
land,  admirably  located  for  manufacturing  purposes.  There  is  an 
■easily  utilized  water  power  of  175  horse  capacity,  which  appears  to 
have  been  overlooked  until  1855,  when  Garry  I.  Mix  selected  it  and 
began  the  improvements  which  now  give  the  place  so  busy  an  appear- 
ance. There  are  in  all  ten  buildings,  the  main  factory  being  40  by 
100  feet  and  four  stories  high,  with  a  large  brick  wing.  In  1886 
steam  power — 50  horse — was  added  to  the  water  motor,  and  since  that 
time  the  capacity  for  production  has  been  increased.  In  1889  large 
turning  and  sawing  shops  were  added,  as  well  as  offices  and  store- 
rooms, in  an  attractive  brick  building,  32  by  72  feet.  One  hundred 
and  fifty  per.sons  are  employed,  mainly  in  the  manufacture  of  Bri- 
tannia goods,  but  carpenters'  tools  and  other  specialties  are  also  made. 
Garry  I.  Mix  continues  at  the  head  of  the  firm.  « 

The  Jennings  &  Griffin  Manufacturing  Company's  plant  is  located 
at  Yalesville  station.  The  power  on  the  Quinnipiac  at  this  point  was 
improved  by  Deacon  X.  C.  Sanford  and  others,  and  was  first  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  augers,  etc.  The  building  was  small,  forming  at 
•present  a  meager  part  of  the  establishment  of  the  above  company. 
Later  owners  were  Clark.  Nelson  &  Co.,  E.  H.  Tracy  being  the  man- 
ager and  subsequently  the  owner  of  the  works,  which  were  now  de- 
voted to  the  manufacture  of  ship  augers,  and  during  the  war  did  a 


352  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

large  business.  Associating  C.  E.  Jennings  and  others  with  him,  the 
Le  Homedeau  Manufacturing  Company  was  established  and  here  con- 
tinued until  1882.  In  1883  the  present  firm  succeeded  to  the  business, 
becoming  a  corporation  January  4th,  1884. 

The  plant  contains  about  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  the  water  priv- 
ilege has  been  improved  to  turn  two  wheels  of  80  and  100  horsepower 
respectively.  The  buildings  are  brick  and  frame,  and  there  are  forty 
small  forges.  One  hundred  hands  are  employed  on  carpenters'  tools, 
ship  augers,  edge  tools  and  table  cutlery.  After  the  death  of  E.  H. 
Tracy,  before  1882.  R.  E.Tracy  was  the  superintendent;  and  since  the 
date  given  R.  Aldrich  has  had  charge  of  the  works. 

In  this  establishment  A.  J.  Burghoff  has  also  carried  on  the  manu- 
facture of  Britannia  spoons,  employing  from  six  to  ten  hands. 

The  Miller  Brothers  Cutlery  Company  was  incorporated  Manh  1st, 
1870,  to  operate  at  Yalesville,  but  removed  to  Meriden  in  1872.  Their 
product  was  pocket  cutlery. 

In  1887  the  Turner  Rapid  Heat  Furnace  Company  was  incorpor- 
ated, and  later  began  the  manufacture  at  Yalesville  of  the  castings, 
etc.,  needed  in  their  apparatus.  L.  W.  Turner  is  the  manager  of  the 
concern,  which  has  a  growing  business. 

Ouinnipiac  is  a  very  small  hamlet  on  the  river,  two  miles  below 
Wallingford  borough.  The  power  was  first  improved  to  operate  a 
grist  mill,  and  the  land  contiguous  was  sequestered  for  that  purpose. 
After  1833  a  large  building  was  there  put  up  by  Aimer  Hall.  Walter 
Martin  and  others  for  the  manufacture  of  wood  screws,  which  was  not 
a  profitable  undertaking.  Some  time  about  1843  J.  B.  Pomeroy  used 
the  building  in  making  razor  strops  and  gimlets,  and  later  he  and 
Robert  Wallace  there  made  German  silver  spoons:  still  later  Hall, 
Elton  &  Co.  used  it  in  the  manufacture  of  Britannia  ware,  the  build- 
ing finally  becoming  the  property  of  Milo  Todd  and  others,  who  con- 
verted it  into  a  paper  mill  about  1870.  The  latter  industry  was  not 
long  continued,  and  in  later  years  the  grist  mill  was  the  only  interest 
maintained  at  that  place. 

One  of  the  first  industries  of  importance  in  the  borough  of  Wal- 
lingford was  the  manufacture  of  razor  strops,  which  was  begun  about 
1820  by  Elisha  "SI.  Pomeroy,  James  Carrington  and  Constance  Kirt- 
land,  in  a  shop  on  Centre  street,  east  of  Main.  Not  long  after  the 
building  on  the  corner  of  Centre  and  Fair  streets  was  erected  and 
occupied  by  them.  In  a  few  years  Pomeroy  became  the  sole  proprietor, 
and  also  had  a  store  where  v,-as  the  post  office,  kept  by  Carrington. 
The  strops  made  were  a  really  good  article,  and  were  sold  all  over  the 
country  by  peddlers  with  teams,  kept  by  Pomeroy  himself.  Later  he 
was  joined  by  hisson.Lucien,  and  Lyman  Humiston.and  the  Pomeroy 
Manufacturing  Company  was  formed.  Humiston  was  a  part  owner  of 
the  grist  mill  and  cloth  works  on  the  Ouinnipiac,  near  the  village^ 
which  he  and  Daniel  Humiston  had  operated,  but  which  was  now  takea 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  353 

for  the  uses  of  the  new  company,  which  had  several  lines  of  manu- 
factures, including  paper  buttons.  A  score  of  people  were  employed. 
After  operating  there  some  time  the  old  Humiston  site  became  the 
property  of  Samuel  Simpson,  and  the  Pomeroy  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany secured  a  new  plant  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  borough,  where 
its  business  was  continued  a  number  of  years.  In  1860  the  company 
was  duly  incorporated.  In  about  1806  the  company  consolidated  with 
Hall  &  Miller,  rival  button  makers,  Lucien  Pomeroy  becoming  the 
president,  and  Friend  Miller  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  new  com- 
pany. The  business  declined,  and  the  company  discontinued  many 
years  ago,  there  being  no  longer  a  demand  for  paper  buttons. 

Another  pioneer  enterprise  in  the  borough  was  the  factory  of 
Charles  and  Hiram  Yale,  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Centre 
streets,  where  they  began  making  pewter  and  Britannia  ware  prior  to 
their  removal  to  Tyler's  Mills,  later  Yalesville,  where  they  built  the 
largest  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  countr}-,  when  the  Walling- 
ford  plant  was  abandoned.  Charles  Yale  also  had  a  large  tin  shop  in 
the  village,  where  he  manufactured  goods  for  his  southern  trade,  sup- 
plying his  store  in  Richmond  therefrom.  He  employed  many  hands, 
and  his  shops  were  hives  of  industry  prior  to  182;"). 

Some  time  about  1826  J.  and  M.Carrington  began  the  manufacture 
of  coffee  mills,  on  Main  street,  but  built  a  shop  on  Wharton's  brook, 
east  of  the  village,  being  the  pioneers  in  that  locality.  They  discon- 
tinued about  1830.  Near  this  time  Deacon  Aimer  Hall  began  making 
block  tin  spoons,  in  a  shop  on  Main  street,  near  Centre,  having  at  first 
only  a  few  hands,  but  increasing  until  25  persons  were  employed. 
Later  he  moved  this  industry  to  Ouinnipiac,  where  he  and  others  made 
wood  screws  and  block  tin  spoons. 

The  business  of  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  silver  plated 
goods,  was  established  about  1830,  when  Jacob  Hall  and  William 
Elton  began  the  manufacture  of  Britannia  ware  on  the  site  of  the 
present  plant  of  Simpson,  Hall,  Miller  &  Co.,  and  a  year  later  Deacon 
Aimer  Hall  was  associated  with  them,  the  firm  taking  the  above 
name.  About  this  time  Robert  Wallace,  who  had  become  a  skillful 
workman  in  German  silver,  entered  the  employment  of  this  company, 
whose  business  soon  demanded  larger  quarters.  These  were  secured 
in  a  new  factory,  erected  on  the  river,  where  is  now  Community  lake, 
the  dam  being  higher  up  the  stream  than  the  present  one.  A  large 
number  of  hands  were  employed,  the  manufacture  of  German  silver 
table  cutlery  being  extensively  carried  on.  After  the  use  of  .steam 
power  became  more  general,  this  property  was  sold  to  the  commu- 
nity, and  that  society  vacated  the  old  site,  removing  the  buildings  to 
the  present  site,  below  the  large  dam,  constructed  opposite  the  com- 
munity residence.  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.  next  secured  still  more  com- 
modious quarters  on  Cherry  street,  near  the  railway  station,  where 
they  have  since  continued.  In  1882  the  company  leased  its  quarters, 
22 


354  HISTORY    OK    NEW    HAVEN"    COUNTY. 

for  ten  years,  to  the  ISIeriden  Britannia  Company,  but  maintains  its 
organization.  It  became  a  corporate  body  in  1850,  and  its  capital  has 
been  increased  to  $125,000.  In  1889  A.  S.  Chase  was  the  president  of 
the  company,  and  R.  H.  Cowles  the  secretary  and  trea.surer. 

At  this  place  the  veteran  manufacturers,  Samuel  Simpson  and 
Robert  Wallace,  must  be  noticed,*  as  their  united  and  separate  efforts, 
more  than  anything  else,  have  placed  the  most  important  industries 
of  the  borough  upon  a  permanent  basis.  Although  both  are  now  the 
heads  of  large  corporations,  they  have  attained  these  positions  only 
by  skillful  and  industrious  application  to  their  chosen  occupations, 
extending  over  a  period  of  time  covering  about  half  a  centurj'  of 
years,  in  which  they  have  learned  and  developed  the  details  of  their 
business  as  manufacturers  of  Britannia,  German  silver  and  plated 
wares. 

Samuel  Simpson  began  his  career  as  an  apprentice  to  the  Yales,  at 
Yalesville.  April  1st,  1820.  After  serving  a  number  of  years,  he  him- 
.self  manufactured  there  until  1847.  About  this  time  new  methods  of 
manufacturing  Britannia  were  introduced.  The  use  of  moulds  was 
discarded,  and  the  metal  was  spun  in  shape  by  means  of  a  lathe  and 
power  press,  after  having  been  cut  into  the  desired  patterns  from  the 
thin  sheets  by  dies  and  chucks.  This  left  it  in  good  shape  for 
electro-plating,  which  was  applied  to  this  class  of  goods  about  this 
time,  with  favorable  results,  and  permitted  a  finish  as  fine  and  almost 
as  durable  as  sterling  silver,  and  at  a  cost  of  not  more  than  one-fifth 
of  like  goods  in  standard  silver.  These  innovations  encountered 
deep-seated  prejudices,  but  the  beauty  and  durability  of  the  goods 
were  soon  established,  and  those  who  had  early  adopte"d  these  meth- 
ods were  on  the  high  tide  of  the  electro-plating  excitement  which  now 
swept  over  New  England.  After  leaving  Yalesville,  Samuel  Simpson 
secured  the  old  Humiston  mills  property,  and  in  1847  there  fitted  up 
a  factory  with  improved  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  silver- 
plated  ware  and  electro-plated  hollow  ware,  the  latter  being  the  first 
attempt  of  the  kind  in  America.  From  the  beginning  both  branches 
were  successful.  In  1854  he  stocked  his  business  with  the  Meriden 
Britannia  Companj-,  of  which  corporation  he  was  an  active  member 
eleven  years,  when  he  dissolved  his  connection,  thereafter  more  dis- 
tinctively devoting  himself  to  his  several  Wallingford  enterprises,  as 
shown  in  the  following  pages. 

Robert  Wallace,  the  contemporary  of  the  above,  fully  shares  with 
him  the  honor  of  bringing  up  this  class  of  goods  to  their  present  state 
of  excellence.  While  but  a  mere  boy  he  entered  the  employ  of  Deacon 
Aimer  Hall  and  learned  the  art  of  manufacturing  Britannia  and  pewter 
spoons,  in  which  he  took  great  interest.  This  led  him  to  endeavor  to 
improve  the  quality  and  to  experiment  with  other  metals.  To  this 
end  he  obtained  a  recipe  from  a  foreigner  for  the  composition  of  a 
*  See  also  biographical  sketches  in  following  chapter. 


HISTORY    OK    Ni:\V    HAVKN    COLNTV.  355 

metal  which  has  become  widely  known  as  German  or  nickel  silver; 
and  it  is  claimed  that  the  first  spoons  made  in  the  United  States  of  this 
compound  were  from  the  mixture  prepared  by  Robert  Wallace.  He 
obtained  the  nickel  and  other  ingredients  in  Xew  York  in  1836,  and 
after  having  melted  a  few  pounds  according  to  the  recipe,  he  had  it 
rolled  into  proper  sheets  at  a  mill  in  Waterbury.  He  now  had  a  sil- 
versmith work  up  some  of  it  into  spoons,  which  proved  to  look  nearly 
as  well  as  those  of  sterling  silver,  and  which  were,  if  anything,  more 
substantial.  The  utility  of  the  new  metal  was  speedily  recognized  by 
Deacon  Hall,  who  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Wallace,  who  continued 
with  him  and  wath  Hall.  Elton  &  Co.  until  1855,  since  which  time  his 
individuality  as  a  manufacturer  has  been  exhibited  in  his  own  busi- 
ne.ss.  In  that  year  he  associated  with  Samuel  Simpson  and  others 
interested  in  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company,  and  formed  a  copart- 
nership for  ten  years,  under  the  name  of  R.  Wallace  &  Co.  The 
Humiston  factory  was  occupied  and  a  large  business  transacted.  At 
the  expiration  of  ten  years  a  new  corporation  was  formed,  September 
9th,  1865,  under  the  general  laws  of  the  state,  with  the  name  of  Wal- 
lace. Simpson  &  Co. 

This  company  had  practically  the  same  members  as  the  old  firm, 
Robert  Wallace  being  at  the  head  of  both.  The  water  power  was 
improved  and  a  new  factory  was  built  farther  down  the  stream,  which, 
being  supplied  with  modern  machinery,  gave  greatly  enlarged  facili- 
ties and  increased  products.  Hundreds  of  doiens  of  forks,  spoons,  etc., 
were  turned  out  daily,  whose  quality  was  surpas.sed  b}-  no  other  factory. 
By  act  of  the  general  assembly  the  name  of  the  above  corporation  was 
on  the  17th  of  June,  1871,  changed  to  R.  Wallace  &  Sons'  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  under  which  title  business  has  since  been  carried  on. 
Beginning  with  table  wares,  one  branch  after  another  was  added  until 
the  company  makes  all  kinds  of  solid  silver,  nickel  silver  and  silver 
plated  goods.  The  descriptions  of  the  varied  products  of  the  factory 
fill  several  large  folio  volumes,  and  the  designs  shown  are  replete  with 
artistic  work.  The  goods  themselves  are  substantial  and  very 
thoroughly  finished. 

The  plant  of  the  corporation  is  complete  with  the  best  machinery, 
and  the  two  and  three  story  brick  buildings  occupied  cover  several 
acres  of  ground.  The  water  power  has  been  supplemented  by  steam, 
until  there  is  an  aggregate  of  250  horse  power.  From  2i  to  3  tons  of 
steel  and  about  li  tons  of  nickel  silver  are  consumed  daily,  and  425 
skilled  metal  workers  are  employed.  It  is  claimed  that  this  company 
produces  more  silver  plated  forks  and  spoons  than  any  other  factory 
in  the  world,  and  that  its  stamp  is  taken  as  evidence  of  the  standard 
value  of  the  goods.  Distributing  houses  are  maintained  in  New  York 
and  Chicago. 

The  capital  of  the  corporation  in  1890  was  S'^00,000,  and  the  officers 
were:  Robert  Wallace,  president:  F.  A.  Wallace,  secretary  and  super- 


356  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

intendent  of  the  works;  W.  J.  Leavenworth,  treasurer  and  general 
business  manager  of  the  corporation. 

The  old  and  honorable  corporation  of  Simpson,  Hall,  Miller  &  Co. 
was  formed  in  July,  1860,  by  Samuel  Simpson,  who  associated  with 
himself  a  number  of  practical  young  business  men  and  skilled  art- 
isans, among  them  being  Aimer  I.Hall  and  Friend  Miller.  The  latter 
had  occupied  the  plant,  now  taken  for  a  white  metal  factory,  for  shops 
for  the  manufacture  of  paper  buttons.  The  motor  was  water  power 
from  Wharton's  brook,  to  which  steam  was  added,  there  being  in 
1890,  150  horse  power.  To  this  place  Samuel  Simpson  brought  his 
large  experience  as  a  manufacturer  of  electro-plated  hollow  ware,  and 
he  has  here  built  up  an  establishment  which,  in  its  extent  and  arrange- 
ment, has  but  few  superiors  in  the  country.  The  grounds  embrace 
several  acres,  upon  which  have  been  erected  five  frame  and  two  brick 
buildings,  from  two  to  four  stories  high,  affording  a  floor  space  of 
26,000  square  feet.  The  latest  improved  and  labor  saving  machinery 
is  used,  and  more  than  300  skilled  operatives  are  employed.  The  prod- 
uct embraces  every  variety  of  electro-plated  ware  of  artistic  design 
and  finish,  for  household  use  and  decorative  purposes.  Show  rooms 
are  maintained  in  Xew  York,  Chicago  and  Montreal,  the  splendor  of 
the  goods  displayed  attracting  general  attention.  The  variety  and 
beauty  of  the  hollow  ware  produced  by  this  company  are  not  excelled, 
and  their  William  Rogers  flat  ware  is  the  peer  of  similar  goods. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  corporation  in  1890  was  $302,000.  Samuel 
Simpson  was  the  president;  Andrew  Andrews,  secretary;  C.  H.  Brown, 
treasurer;  and  Gurdon  W.  Hull,  general  superintendent. 

Closely  allied  with  the  foregoing,  and  having  the  same  manage- 
ment, is  the  Simpson  Nickel  Silver  Company,  which  was  incorporated 
in  1871  with  a  capital  of  $,"i(),000.  A  well  arranged  brick  factory  on 
Cherry  street  is  occupied,  the  motor  being  an  engine  of  175  horse 
power.  From  75  to  100  persons  are  employed,  under  the  management 
of  William  N.  Mix,  in  producing  spoons  and  other  flat  ware,  which 
have  a  well  earned  reputation.  The  mam  building  is  35  by  99  feet, 
three  stories  high,  and  spacious  wings  add  to  the  capacity  of  the 
works,  which  are  supplied  with  good  machinery. 

Some  time  about  1858  a  part  of  this  plant  was  occupied  by  the 
Fowler  Manufacturing  Company,  to  manufacture  heavy  metal  presses, 
evaporating  pans,  etc.,  out  of  solid  sheet  iron,  by  machinery  invented 
by  Degrosse  Fowler,  of  Northford.  This  industry  was  discontinued 
about  1860.  In  the  early  years  of  the  war  the  building  was  vacant, 
and  in  1868  parts  of  the  5th,  Sth  and  12th  Connecticut  Regiments  of 
Volunteers  were  quartered  in  this  and  the  lower  Hall  &  Elton  build- 
ing, the  troops  being  m  charge  of  Major-General  B.  F.  Butler. 

In  1864  the  ]Marvin  Signal  Company,  composed  of  Bishop  and 
others,  occupied   the  building,  but  removed  to  New  Haven  October 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    IIAVliN   COLNTY.  357 

17th,  18()7.  Thence,  later,  the  building  passed  to  Samuel  Simpson  and 
the  present  occupants. 

The  Maltby.  Stevens  &  Curtiss  Company,  electro-platers,  complete 
the  list  of  manufacturers  at  Wallingford  producing  that  line  of  goods. 
The  firm  of  Maltby  &  Stevens  was  organized  at  Shelton,  in  1880,  with 
a  capital  of  8-l().(tOO,  and  after  manufacturing  at  that  place  several 
years  was  partially  burned  out  in  1883.  In  November  of  that  year 
the  firm  came  to  Wallingford.  when  the  present  company  was  formed 
and  the  buildings  of  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.  occupied,  under  a  sub-lease 
from  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company.  In  February,  1887,  the  Pierre- 
pont  Silver  Company,  of  Seymour,  con.solidated  with  this  firm,  and  its 
machinery  for  making  German  silver  hollow  ware  was  transferred  to 
Wallingford  and  placed  in  the  Community  building,  on  the  Ouinnip- 
iac,  since  which  time  the  company  has  made  both  flat  and  hollow 
ware.  The  same  year  the  capital  was  increased  to  SSO.OOO.  E.  S. 
Stevens  is  the  superintendent  of  the  manufacturing  department,  which 
gives  employment  to  about  20()  persons.  D.  F.  Maltby  is  the  presi- 
dent of  the  corporation,  and  S.  J.  Bryant  the  secretary. 

The  lower  Hall,  Elton  &  Co  factory  was  built  about  1857  by  a  com- 
pany, having  among  its  members  Aimer  I.  Hall,  Wooster  iSlartin, 
Henry  Martin,  Jacob  Hall,  E.  H.  Ives  and  Samuel  Parmalee.  It  was 
occupied  for  the  manufacture  of  cutlery,  but  the  bu.siness  did  not 
prove  very  successful.  In  1866  the  Albata  Plate  Company  occupied 
the  building,  and  was  here  a  short  time  when  the  property  passed  to 
the  present  owners. 

The  H.  L.  Judd  Company,  manufacturers  of  stationers'  and  orna- 
mental hardware,  was  incorporated  in  1869  as  the  Judd  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  the  present  title  being  assumed  in  1887.  The  original 
business  was  established  in  Brooklyn,  X.  Y  ,  a  branch  factory  being 
located  at  Wallingford  in  buildings  which  form  a  part  of  the  present 
plant.  The  company  still  operates  at  both  places,  but  the  Walling- 
ford interest  has  assumed  large  proportions.  The  plant  on  vSouth 
Cherry  street  is  extensive  in  its  plans  and  embraces  a  main  building, 
one  story  high.  80  by  32o  feet,  with  a  wing  60  by  loO  feet.  The  part 
occupied  by  the  oifice  and  the  showrooms  is  three  stories  high. 
About  "200  persons  are  employed  in  the  production  of  plain  and  artis- 
tic goods  in  iron,  brass,  nickel  and  the  more  precious  metals.  H.  L. 
Judd,  the  head  of  the  corporation,  is  a  resident  of  Wallingford  and  is 
interested  in  its  material  development. 

The  Wilson  Sewing  Machine  Company  was  incorporated  Septem- 
ber 30th,  1882. and  when  the  organization  was  efiected.  W.  G.  Wilson 
was  elected  president:  R.  H.  Cowles,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  J. 
H.  Sheldon,  general  superintendent.  The  company  had  a  nominal 
capital  of  §300.000.  the  greater  part  of  which  was  represented  by  the 
machinery  of  Wilson  and  others  in  their  old  factory  at  Grand  Cross- 
ing, near  Chicago,  which  it  was  proposed  to  close  up  and  to  transfer 


358  HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  interest  to  this  place.  To  encourage  the  project  and  to  advance 
the  well-being  of  the  borough  (since  400  men  would  be  employed), 
liberal  subscriptions  to  the  stock  of  the  company  were  made  by  the 
citizens,  and  eight  of  them  donated  a  site  for  the  new  factory. 
Splendid  brick  buildings  were  erected  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
borough,  at  a  cost  of  §73,000.  They  embraced  a  main  building  four 
stories  high,  40  by  806  feet,  and  a  one  story  structure,  40  by  200  feet, 
for  use  as  annealing  and  engine  rooms.  In  this  was  placed  a  S.IO  horse 
power  Harris-Corliss  engine.  The  factory  was  formally  opened 
August  9th,  1883,  when  a  grand  public  reception  was  given  in  the 
building  in  honor  of  the  event.  An  address  of  welcome  was  made  by 
the  Hon.  L.  Al.  Hubbard, which  received  responses  by  Governor  Thomas 
Waller,  the  Hon.  L.  H.  Roots,  the  Hon.  Samuel  Simpson  and  others. 
About  2,000  people,  including  many  distinguished  guests  from  all 
parts  of  the  state,  were  present,  and  the  occasion  was  also  a  great  social 
event  as  well  as  signalizing  the  opening  of  one  of  the  finest  factories 
in  the  county. 

The  company  soon  after  began  operations  at  this  plant,  but  through 
mismanagement  and  other  causes  was  forced  to  suspend  before  many 
months,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  the  visions  of  the  prosperity 
which  the  new  enterprise  was  expected  to  bring  to  Wallingford  had 
entirely  faded  away.  The  machinery  of  the  Wilson  company  was 
removed,  and  after  the  building  had  been  vacant  some  time  it  was 
occupied  several  months,  in  1886,  by  the  R.  L.  Spencer  Company. 
This  was  also  a  foreign  interest,  and  having  but  a  limited  capital,  like 
the  former,  it  did  not  flourish  in  Wallingford. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1889  the  above  plant  was  occupied  by  two 
new  industries  whose  successful  maintenance  will  add  much  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  borough,  namely,  the  Metropolitan  Rubber  Company 
and  the  New  York  Insulated  Wire  Company.  The  former  was  estab- 
lished at  Reading,  Mass.,  in  1883,  and  in  1887  was  incorporated  with 
a  capital  of  $125,000.  It  is  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  fine  grades 
of  rubber  goods  for  men's  and  women's  wear,  a  specialty  being  made 
of  cloth  and  silk  Mackintoshes  of  fine  te.Ktures.  James  Hamilton  is 
the  superintendent  of  this  branch  of  manufactures,  and  about  300 
people  are  employed. 

The  New  York  Insulated  Wire  Company  was  incorporated  in  1884 
in  the  .state  of  New  York,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $500,000,  and  the 
factory  at  Wallingford  is  operated  as  a  branch  of  the  parent  business. 
The  insulation  of  wire  for  electrical  purposes  is  carried  on  according 
to  the  Grimshaw  process,  a  most  excellent  and  efficient  article  being 
produced.  About  fifteen  miles  of  wire  are  prepared  daily,  and  a  large 
number  of  men  are  employed  under  the  direction  of  W.  B.  Dowse. 
A.  J.  Tower  is  the  treasurer  of  the  two  companies,  C.  H.Wilcox  being 
the  president  of  the  latter  company  and  Charles  A.  Place  of  the  former, 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  359 

both  of  which  appear  to  have  entered  upon  a  prosperous  career  at  this 
place. 

The  Wallingford  Wheel  Company  is  a  prosperous  and  important 
concern.  A  pioneer  in  the  manufacture  of  wheels  at  Wallingford  is 
Elihu  Hall,  who  made  them  as  early  as  1835.  Three  years  later  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wooden  combs,  using  a  building  which 
stood  west  of  the  works  of  Simpson,  Hall,  Miller  &  Co.,  and  later  added 
the  making  of  paper  buttons.  In  1845  he  moved  to  a  power  higher  up 
the  stream,  but  again  returned  to  the  old  place,  where  he  carried  on  a 
general  turning  shop,  and  after  1855  manufactured  wheels  by  machin- 
ery. In  1864  the  firm  of  Elihu  Hall  &  Co.  was  incorporated,  with  a 
capital  of  $15. 000,  E.  H.  Ives  being  associated  with  Hall.  Two  years 
later  they  moved  into  the  old  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.'s  .shops  north  of  the 
railway  station,  which  were  fitted  up  to  manufacture  on  an  extensive 
scale,  and  40  men  were  employed. 

In  1873  the  Hall  &  Parmalee  Wheel  Company  succeeded  to  the 
business,  and  in  1879  the  present  company  took  charge  of  the  inter- 
ests. This  company  was  formed  of  the  old  company  and  the  Nauga- 
tuck  Wheel  Company,  organized  in  1878,  and  which  removed  to  Wal- 
lingford in  April,  1879,  to  consolidate  under  the  above  name.  In  1890 
the  capital  stock  was  $40,000.  Bryan  A.  Treat  was  the  president  and 
treasurer,  and  Charles  C.  Treat  the  secretary  of  the  company,  which 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Wheelmakers'  Association  since  June,  1888, 
and  is  producing  material  only.  Since  December,  1888,  C.  W.  Robin- 
son &  Co.  have  occupied  part  of  this  building  as  wheel  manufacturers, 
employing  fifteen  men. 

A  singular  fatality  appears  to  be  connected  with  the  shops  of  this 
company.  They  were  almost  wholly  destroyed  by  fire  March  19th, 
1880,  and  again  May  30th,  1888,  the  aggregate  losses  being  nearly 
$100,000.  Here  also  was  the  sad  killing  of  Horatio  Hall,  in  March, 
1874,  b}'  the  insane  or  crazedby-revenge  Swede,  John  Anderson, 
whose  timely  capture  no  doubt  prevented  a  still  greater  tragedy  than 
the  killing  of  one  man  and  the  wounding  of  others. 

The  works  of  the  Sweetland  ^Manufacturing  Company,  northeast  of 
the  railway  station,  were  also  destroyed  by  fire  in  May,  1884.  The 
main  building  was  a  two-story  frame,  30  by  125  feet,  and  was  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  chucks.  The  company  had  been  incorporated  in 
January,  1884,  and  being  burned  out  so  soon  after,  did  not  rebuild. 

The  Domestic  Manufacturing  Company,  incorporated  in  Jul)-,  1886, 
erected  a  large  frame  building  near  the  Wilson  .sewing  machine  plant, 
which  was  occupied  several  years,  when  the  interest  was  transferred 
to  New  York  city.  A  large  business  was  done  in  jobbing  in  no- 
tions, card  printing,  etc.  H.  O.  Rose  was  the  president  and  general 
manager. 

The  Sackett  Manufacturing  Company  was  incorporated  in  May, 
1884,  and  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Sackett  occupied  the  Com- 


360  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

munity  shops  in  the  manufacture  of  embroidery  fixtures  for  sewing 
machines,  etc.  The  company  removed  to  New  Haven  after  a  few 
years'  business  at  Wallingford. 

Prior  to  this  occupancy  the  community  had  a  printing  house  and 
buildings  at  the  river  used  for  silk  mills.  The  latter  industry  was 
established  in  1868,  and  was  carried  on  in  connection  with  the  silk 
mills  at  Oneida,  N.  Y.,  the  goods  being  here  only  partially  completed. 
About  thirty  hands  were  employed,  and  the  interest  was  carried  on 
successfully  a  number  of  years.  The  printing  interest  was  earlier 
established,  and  had  at  one  time  attained  considerable  proportions. 
Very  good  work  was  done  in  book  and  job  printing,  and  the  fame  of 
the  "  Mt.  Tom  Printing  House  "  was  not  confined  to  the  limits  of  the 
town,  much  work  being  done  for  outside  parties.  Previous  to  the 
starting  of  the  silk  mills  the  community  purchased  a  water  privilege 
of  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.,  and  improved  the  water  power  by  building  a 
larger  dam,  which  constitutes  the  present  Community  lake.  This  is 
about  one  mile  long  and  contains  a  larg^e  volume  of  water.  The  fac- 
tory  was  enlarged  at  the  same  time,  and  the  privilege,  as  improved, 
became  valuable.  After  the  removal  of  the  members  of  the  commu- 
nity the  plant  was  idle  until  1884. 

In  the  town  have  been  a  number  of  small  manufacturing  interests 
which  have  passed  away.  The  sites  on  the  brooks  east  of  the  borough 
were  improved,  and  the  small  powers  thus  afforded  were  active  factors 
in  the  town's  industries,  until  the  era  of  concentration  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  large  plants  caused  these  smaller  factories  to  be  unprofit- 
able. On  other  streams,  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  a  few  dams  are 
still  kept  up  to  afford  power  to  operate  small  feed  mills,  who.se  u.se- 
fulness  is  limited  to  the  neighborhood  in  which  they  are  located.  On 
the  former  streams,  on  the  site  of  Peck's  mills,  Ralph  Hill  started  a 
wooden  comb  factory  about  1884,  and  later  the  place  was  occupied  by 
William  Lewis,  in  making  paper  buttons,  and  Hiel  and  John  Munson 
to  manufacture  Britannia  ware.  On  this  stream  the  latter  afterward 
built  a  grist  mill,  which  for  more  than  twenty  years  has  been  the 
property  of  Father  Hugh  Mallon.  Lower  down  the  stream  David 
Cook  and  others  had  a  gimlet  factory.  In  this  part  of  the  town  J.  B. 
Pomeroy  made  razor  strops  as  late  as  1860. 

In  1864  the  Gaylord  Brothers  established  a  gimlet  and  boring  tool 
factory,  which  was  .successfully  carried  on  several  years,  giving  em- 
ployment to  more  than  a  dozen  of  men. 

Of  the  later  small  factories,  the  Wallingford  Creamery  has  become 
a  useful  industry.  It  began  business  in  the  fall  of  1887,  and  has  ex- 
tended its  scope  since  that  time. 

Wallingford  borough  is  the  seat  of  the  first  settlements  in  the  town 
in  1669-70.  For  many  years  it  occupied  an  unimportant  place  among 
the  towns  of  the  state,  but  in  later  years,  by  reason  of  its  manufactur- 
ing interests,  it  has  become  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  its  size  and 


HISTflRY    (ir    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  361 

is  rapidly  growing  in  population  and  wealth.  In  1887  its  directoiy 
contained  1,333  names  and  72  new  buildings  were  erected;  in  1889  67 
new  buildings  were  put  up  and  the  directory  contained  1,736  names, 
or  an  estimated  population  of  more  than  o,00(),  about  double  what  it 
was  15  years  ago. 

The  borough  is  most  beautifully  located  in  the  valley  of  the  Quin- 
nipiac  and  on  the  Hartford  railroad,  twelve  miles  from  the  city  of  New 
Haven.  Within  its  bounds  are  high  and  low  grounds,  affording  many 
advantages  for  manufacturing  and  residence  lots,  and  securing  good 
drainage.  The  center  proper  is  on  a  long,  sloping  hill,  on  the  top  of 
which  is  ^Nlain  street,  runnino;  in  a  straight  line  north  and  south  about 
tw(j  miles,  much  of  the  distance  being  arched  by  stately  elms  along 
its  sides.  Other  streets  run  parallel  with  it,  and  all  are  cut  at  right 
angles  by  numerous  cross  streets:  most  of  them  are  well  graded,  and 
there  are  many  miles  of  concrete  sidewalks.  There  are  a  system  of 
sewerage,  and  water  and  gas  works,  making  this  one  of  the  finest 
country  places  in  the  state,  which  fact  is  attested  by  the  number  of 
attractive  buildings  and  comfortable  homes  erected  in  the  past  twenty- 
years.  There  are  al.so  three  large  brick  and  one  brown  stone  churches, 
fine  .school  houses,  banks,  public  halls  and  all  the  accessories  of  a 
thriving  and  well  ordered  community.  The  surrounding  country  is 
also  very  attractive,  and  its  general  development  has  kept  pace  with 
the  growth  of  the  borough,  many  of  its  natural  advantages  now  for  the 
first  time  receiving  appreciative  attention.  The  varied  interests  of 
the  town  are  noted  in  the  following  pages. 

The  village  of  Wallingford  was  incorporated  as  a  borough  under 
an  act  of  the  general  assembly,  passed  in  May,  lS.-)3,  with  the  follow- 
ing bounds:  "Commencing  on  the  Hartford  and  New  Haven  Turnpike 
road,  at  a  point  west  of  the  sluice  across  the  highway,  near  the  top  of 
'Town  hill,'  and  near  the  dwelling  house  of  William  ^l.  Hall:  from 
thence  east,  in  a  straight  line,  so  as  to  intersect  said  sluice,  and  to  the 
highway  running  past  the  factory  of  John  Munson:  from  thence 
.southerly,  in  a  straight  line,  to  the  top  of  '  Long  hill,'  at  the  junc- 
tion of  '  Long  hill '  road  and  the  road  running  from  the  Town  street 
past  George  R.  Bartholomew's  dwelling  house  to  said  '  Long  hill:' 
from  thence  westerly,  in  a  straight  line,  to  Doctor  Rice  Hall's  barn; 
from  thence,  in  a  straight  line,  to  Joel  Camp's  dwelling  house,  on  the 
said  turnpike  road;  from  thence  along  the  turnpike  road  to  the  place 
of  besfinnine,  be,  and  the  same  are  hereby  ordained,  constituted,  and 
declared  to  be  from  time  to  time,  foreve'-  hereafter,  one  body  corpor- 
ate and  politic,  in  fact  and  m  name,  by  the  name  of  '  T/ir  JVanfr/i, 
Burgesses,  and  Freemen  of  the  Borough  of  ]Valli)igford.'  " 

Acting  under  the  provisions  of  this  charter  an  organization  was 
effected  July  4th,  18."i3,  Elisha  ]\L  Pomeroy  moderating  at  the  meeting. 
E.  S.  Ives  served  as  clerk.  The  first  officers  then  chosen  were:  War- 
den,  Abner  Hall;  burgesses.   Samuel  Simpson.    Jerome  B.  Pomeroy, 


362  HISTORY    (JF    XICW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Wooster  ]Martin,  Lorenzo  Lewis,  Ebenezer  H.  Ives,  Frederick  W. 
Bartholomew;  treasurer,  Augustus  Hall;  bailiff,  Othuiel  L  Martin. 
By-laws  were  adopted  June  12th,  1854.  Medad  Munson  was  elected 
warden  in  1854-5  and  E.  S.  Ives  continued  the  clerk. 

The  borough  election  in  1856  was  defaulted,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  the  charter  privileges  were  relinquished.  But  at  the  May,  1868, 
session  of  the  general  assembly  the  borough  was  re-established  iinder 
the  old  title,  and  Samuel  .Simpson,  one  of  the  selectmen  for  the 
restoration  of  the  charter,  was  authorized  to  call  the  meeting  for  reor- 
ganization. This  was  held  in  the  basement  of  the  Baptist  church, 
July  17th,  1868,  and  Franklin  Johnson  presided.  The  election  resulted 
in  the  choice  of  the  following:  Warden,  Samuel  Simpson;  clerk,  R.  H. 
Cowles;  burgesses,  E.  H.  Ives,  Roswell  Moss,  George  W.  Whittlesey, 
Phineas  T.  Ives,  Henry  Martin,  Aimer  I.  Hall;  treasurer,  J.  C.  Mans- 
field; bailiff,  O.  I.  Martin. 

Later,  under  the  new  by-laws  of  August,  1868,  the  following  were 
appointed:  Prosecutor,  Jonathan  M.  Andrews;  assessors,  Samuel  C. 
Ford,  O.  I.  Martin;  constables,  John  Ives,  S.  M.  Scranton,  S.  N.  Ed- 
wards, J.  M.  Hall,  G.  N.  Andrews. 

After  the  first  election,  in  1868,  and  until  1881  the  wardens  were: 
Samuel  Simpson,  two  years;  John  Munson,  four  years;  Ebenezer  H. 
Ives,  one  year:  Charles  D.  Yale,  two  years;  Robert  B.  Wallace,  one 
year;  and  B.  A.  Treat,  two  years.  In  the  same  period  the  clerks  were: 
R.  H.  Cowles,  Andrew  Andrews,  C.  H.  Brown,  Joseph  W.  Allen  and 
George  D.  Munson. 

At  the  January,  1881,  session  of  the  general  assembly,  the  charter 
of  the  borough  was  revised  and  amended.  New  limits  to  the  bounds 
were  set  and  the  corporate  privileges  and  powers  were  very  much  en- 
larged, to  permit  the  establishment  of  a  sewerage  system,  water 
works,  the  improvement  of  the  fire  department,  and  to  make  other 
improvements  commensurate  with  the  growth  of  the  place.  The 
power  of  local  legi-slation  was  vested  in  "The  Court  of  Burgesses,"  by 
which  title  the  warden  and  the  burgesses  were  now  styled. 

Und^r  the  amended  charter,  an  election  was  held  in  November, 
1881,  with  the  following  result :  Warden,  Bryan  A.  Treat;  burgesses, 
R.  H.  Cowles,  J.  C.  Mansfield,  W.  J.  Leavenworth,  P.  McKenna,  Albert 
D.Judd,  Martin  P.  O'Connell;  clerk,  C.  H.  Brown;  collector,  R.  S.  Aus- 
tin; treasurer,  Thomas  Pickford;  assessor,  Thomas  Kennedy,  2d;  aud- 
itor, Henry  L.  Hall,  1st;  bailiff,  L.  A.  Northrop.  L.  M.  Hubbard,  E.sq., 
was  appointed  borough  attorney,  and  Marcus  E.  Cook  road  commis- 
sioner. The  expenditures  of  the  borough  for  the  year  ending  No- 
vember, 1881,  were  $6,831.41,  and  the  net  debt  was  not  quite  $4,()()(>. 
The  following  year  the  borough  expenses  were  more  than  $10,400. 
In  1886,  the  by-laws  of  the  borough  were  amended. 

Bryan  A.  Treat  was  elected  to  the  office  of  warden  annually  until 
1885,  when  George  E.  Dickerman  succeeded  him.     In  1886  William 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  303 

M.  Whittaker  was  elected;  in  1887,  R.  C.  Morse;  in  1888,  Henry  F.  Hall; 
and  in  1889,  George  E.  Dickerman.  The  clerks  were:  1881-2,  C.  H. 
Brown;  1883-7,  Fraray  Hale;  1888-9,  George  T.  Jones.  In  1SS9  the 
treasurer  was  W.  I.  Todd;  the  collector,  R.  S.  Austin;  and  the  auditor, 
Henry  L.  Hall. 

By  act  of  the  general  assembly,  passed  February  23d,  1886,  the 
borough  court  of  the  village  and  town  of  Wallingford  was  established 
on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1886.  Of  this  court  Leverett  M.  Hub- 
bard was  appointed  judge  and  F.  C.  Bartholomew  deputy  judge. 
Upon  the  expiration  of  their  first  term  they  were  reappointed. 

The  matter  of  improving  the  drainage  of  the  borough  was  a  ques- 
tion for  the  consideration  of  a  special  meeting  of  the  freemen,  Sep- 
tember 28th,  1885,  and  the  court  of  burgesses  was  appointed  to  freely 
investigate  the  same.  As  a  result  of  their  labors  it  was  decided  to 
establish  a  system  af  sewerage,  and  ordinances  pertaining  to  the  same 
were  enacted  in  August,  1886.  In  the  same  month,  the  borough  con- 
tracted with  the  H.  Wales  Lines  Company  to  construct  about  2,000 
feet  of  sewers,  of  pipes  from  12  to  20  inches  in  diameter,  at  a  cost  of 
$3,345.  Since  that  time  the  work  of  laying  sewage  pipes  has  con- 
tinued, with  beneficial  results  to  the  community.  In  1888  over  one 
mile  of  sewers  was  built,  at  an  expense  of  $8,923.09,  a  little  more 
than  one-fourth  of  which  was  paid  out  of  the  general  treasurj*  of  the 
borough. 

The  improvement  of  the  streets  of  the  borough  in  a  more  sub- 
stantial manner  and  according  to  modern  methods  was  begun  the  fol- 
lowing 3'ear.  At  a  special  meeting,  October  5th,  1887,  the  court  of 
burgesses  was  instructed  to  purchase  a  large  steam  power  stone 
crusher,  which  was  set  in  operation  the  following  winter,  and  large 
quantities  of  crushed  stone  have  since  been  placed  upon  the  principal 
streets,  producing  a  hard  and  smooth  surface.  In  1890  most  of  the 
streets  were  in  an  improved  condition,  and  the  sidewalks  especial!)' 
commended  themselves  by  their  excellence.  There  were  nearly 
twenty  miles  constructed  of  smooth  concrete,  and  the  borough 
claimed  more  good  walks  than  any  other  town  of  its  size  in  New 
England. 

But  the  organization  of  the  water  department  has  made  more 
apparent  the  benefits  derived  from  the  new  charter,  which  have  been 
realized  in  the  construction  of  the  water  works  under  its  provisions. 
The  matter  of  a  system  of  supplying  pure  water  was  discussed  as 
early  as  1870,  and  periodically  thereafter  until  the  organization  of  the 
present  department.  Pending  this  the  general  assembly,  on  the  23d 
of  March,  1881,  authorized  the  formation  of  the  Wallingford  Water 
Company,  as  a  corporate  enterprise,  providing  the  borough  would  not 
avail  itself  of  the  provisions  of  its  charter  on  the  matter.  This,  how- 
ever, was  done  in  1881,  when  the  first  board  of  water  commissioners 
was  chosen,  viz.:  B.  F.  Harrison,  P.  T.  Ives  and  H.  B.  Todd,  with  John 


'-^64  HISTOKV    OK    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Atwater  as  treasurer  of  the  water  fund.  In  18S8  a  new  board  was 
elected,  consisting  of  W.  J.  l^eavenworth,  William  M.  Hall,  Jr.,  and  M. 
O'Callahan. 

A  fund  of  $7o,()0()  having  been  secured  by  the  sale  of  borough 
bonds,  the  construction  of  the  water  works  was  begun  in  1882.  The 
water  riglits  were  secured  in  July,  that  year,  upon  the  payment  of 
$>!).2oO.  The  supply  is  from  Lake  Pistapaugh,  in  the  Totoket  moun- 
tain range,  four  and  one-half  miles  from  the  borough.  This  lake  is 
fed  from  springs  only ,.and  is  held  in  a  narrow,  deep  basin,  having  bold 
rocky  shores,  a  mile  long.  The  water  it  contains  is  of  the  finest  qual- 
ity, and  its  natural  color  is  not  affected  by  time,  remaining  as  clear  as 
crystal.  By  improving  the  lake  the  storage  capacity  has  been  increased 
to  317,444,400  gallons,  or  nearly  three  times  the  amount  iised  by  the 
borough  in  1888.  The  lake  has  an  area  of  136  acres,  and  its  head  is  245 
feet  above  the  center  of  the  borough  (Main  street),  and  about  325  feet 
above  the  plains,  permitting  a  flow  by  gravitation,  which  yields  a  pres- 
sure of  100  pounds  to  the  square  inch.  The  water  is  taken  800  feet  from 
the  shore,  at  a  depth  of  eleven  feet,  through  18-inch  stone  ware  pipe  to 
the  gate  chamber,  from  which  place  iron  pipes  carry  it  to  the  town. 
One  thousand  feet  of  this  distance  is  through  a  tunnel  thirty  feet 
below  the  surface.  The  works  were  located  by  Engineer  D.  C.  San- 
ford,  and  the  construction  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Engineer  John 
Osborne.  Most  of  the  contract  work  was  done  by  William  C.  McCal- 
lan,  of  Chicopee,  Mass.,  and  part  of  the  system  was  ready  for  use  No- 
vember 1st,  1882. 

In  order  to  permit  the  extension  of  the  system  an  act  was  passed 
by  the  general  assembly  in  January,  1883,  to  authorize  the  borough  to 
issue  $30,000  more  bonds.  This  was  done,  and  the  works  were  com- 
pleted and  extended  in  a  most  thorough  manner.  In  the  fall  of  1889 
the  entire  amount  expended  for  construction  purposes  was  nearly 
$110,000,  which  was  reported  as  the  value  of  the  plant,  exclusive  of 
the  expense  connected  with  the  same.  Nearly  18  miles  of  mains  were 
maintained,  from  which  service  was  also  had  for  70  fire  hydrants.  The 
entire  income  from  rents  for  the  year  ending  November  1st,  1889,  was 
$7,227.95.  Since  1883  there  has  been  an  increase  of  rentals  of  about 
$500  per  year,  and  in  1889  the  department  accrued  a  net  gain  of  nearly 
$1,000. 

The  treasurers  of  the  water  fund  succeeding  John  Atwater  have 
been:  1885,  John  B.  Kendrick;  1886-7,  William  H.  Newton;  1888-9, 
William  I.  Todd.  William  M.  Hall,  Jr.,  was  superintendent  of  the 
water  works  until  January  1st,  1889,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  W.  J. 
Morse.  The  latter's  associate  members  on  the  board  of  commissioners, 
were  Michael  O'Callaghan,  chairman;  and  Doctor  George  Andrews, 
advisory  committeeman. 

Aside  from  the  piimitive  precautions  and  inethods  of  putting  out 
fires  common  to  all  well  regulated  New  England  towns,  no  organized 


HISTORY    OF    NKW    HAVKN    COUNTY.       •  .    365 

effort  in  that  direction  was  made  until  the  Wallingford  Fire  Engine 
Company  was  authorized  by  the  May,  1831.  session  of  the  general 
assembly.  On  the  oth  of  July,  that  year,  Hiram  Yale  called  a  meet- 
ing to  enlist  members,  whose  iiumber  was  not  to  exceed  17,  and 
whose  residences  were  to  be  within  one  mile  of  the  meeting  house. 
All  members  were  to  be  exempt  from  military  duty.  A  very  rude 
engine  was  puixhased  and  was  used  by  the  community  nearly  a  score 
of  years.  It  was  simply  a  long  box  on  wheels,  into  which  water  was 
poured  from  pails  and  then  churned  into  a  short  hose,  which  was 
directed  against  the  fire  by  a  man  holding  it,  standing  on  the  engine. 
Four  men  on  each  side  worked  the  brakes.  It  was  housed  in  a  small 
building  which  stood  m  the  rear  of  the  Congregational  church.  After 
being  used  a  number  of  years  and  the  company  having  disbanded,  it 
became  an  attractive  plaything  for  the  village  boys,  who  last  used  it 
at  a  fire  on  the  plains  and  added  it  to  the  burning  objects  by  running 
it  into  the  cellar  of  the  building  which  had  been  destroyed.  Indi- 
rectly this  had  a  bearing  on  the  incorporation  of  the  village,  .soon 
after,  as  that  measure  was  secured  mainly  to  provide  means  against 
fires. 

In  the  summer  of  1854  the  borough  appointed  Israel  Harrison, Will- 
iam M.  Hall  and  Augustus  Hall  to  purchase  a  new  fire  engine,  at  a 
cost  not  to  exceed  $850.  To  defray  the  expenses  of  the  new  depart- 
ment a  tax  of  six  cents  on  the  dollar  was  levied,  September  18th, 
1854.  The  machine  secured  was  a  hand  engine  which  was  called  the 
"  Accanant,"  and  a  company  was  formed  to  man  it.  In  1856  Ovid 
Warner,  Samuel  Simpson,  Aimer  I.  Hall,  George  W.  Elton,  John 
Mansfield  and  others,  as  members  of  the  Accanant  Fire  Engine  Com- 
pany, were  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  state  with  that  title. 
The  engine  was  hou.sed  in  a  small  building  in  the  rear  of  Union  Hall, 
but  in  the  great  fire  of  October  27th,  1867,  all  the  buildings  in  that 
locality,  including  the  Episcopal  church  and  Union  Hall,  were 
destroyed. 

In  1868,  J.  C.  Mansfield  was  the  chief  engineer  of  the  department, 
and  the  fire  wardens  were  Frank  Field  and  Othniel  I.  Martin.  In 
July  of  that  year  it  was  voted  to  build  a  new  engine  house  of  brick, 
on  part  of  the  town  lot  which  had  just  been  purchased,  and  Frank 
Field,  George  A.  Cook  and  W.  Elton  were  appointed  the  building- 
committee.  In  1879  80  this  engine  house  was  improved  and  enlarged 
to  properly  house  the  new  engine. 

The  growth  of  the  village  and  the  consequent  increased  danger 
from  a  general  conflagration  made  it  apparent  that  a  better  service 
must  be  provided.  Hence,  on  Januar}'  2d,  1880,  a  committee  of  citi- 
zens, appointed  to  secure  a  steam  fire  engine,  reported  that  they — 
R.  H.  Cowles,  G.  W.  Hull,  Samuel  Simp.son,  J.  C.  Mansfield  and  E.  F. 
Steele — had   purchased  a  Button  &  Son  engine,  costing  §2,165.30,  and 


366  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

that  the  old  "Accanant  "  engine  had  been  turned  over  in  part  payment 
for  $150.     The  steamer  was  soon  after  put  in  service. 

In  October,  1880,  Amos  S.  Dickinson,  the  acting  chief,  submitted 
the  first  annual  report  of  the  re-organized  department,  which  had  at 
that  time  46  men  enrolled.  The  apparatus  consisted  of  the  steamer 
"  Wallingford  No.  1,"  which  was  capable,  with  a  pressure  of  90  pounds 
of  steam,  of  throwing  a  stream  209  feet,  through  a  |  inch  nozzle. 
There  were  two  hose  carts  with  1,.'550  feet  of  hose.  The  department 
property  was  worth  $4,437.98.  Two  destructive  fires  had  occurred 
that  year,  viz.,  that  of  the  Wallingford  Wheel  Company,  March  19th, 
1880,  with  a  loss  of  $51,000;  and  the  glass  works  of  Simpson,  Hall, 
Miller  &  Co.,  March  24th,  $7,100. 

In  1881  the  department  cost  $245.63,  responded  to  three  alarms, and 
the  losses  were  only  $1,025.  In  1882  John  W.  Douglass  was  the  chief 
engineer.  There  were  fifty  volunteer  firemen,  seven  alarms  and 
$1,060  losses.  In  1883  David  Ross  was  appointed  chief  engineer, 
which  position  he  also  held  in  1.889,  following  B.  T.  Buell. 

In  1888  the  steamer  was  thoroughly  overhauled  and  equipped  for 
horses,  to  be  used  auxiliary  to  the  hose,  which  can  be  attached 
directly  to  70  hydrants  of  the  city  water  works.  The  other  apparatus 
consisted  of  a  four-wheel  hose  carriage,  two  two-wheel  hose  carts,  and 
one  hook  and  ladder  truck.  There  were  about  2,500  feet  of  ho.se.  The 
department  had  64  men,  exclusive  of  its  three  officers,  belonging  to 
the  Wallingford  Hose  Company,  No.  1;  the  Wallace  Hose  Company, 
No.  2,  with  a  house  on  the  Plains;  and  the  Simpson  Hook  and  Ladder 
Company,  No.  1.  Seven  fires  had  occurred  in  the  year,  from  which 
there  was  a  total  loss  of  $59,782.82.  Nearly  the  entire  amount  resulted 
from  the  burning  of  the  shops  of  the  Wallingford  Wheel  Company, 
May  30th,  1888,  the  fire  being  caused  by  lightning.  In  1889  the  losses 
were  but  $330.  The  department  had  70  men  and  was  maintained  at 
an  expense  of  $1,236.47. 

In  the  year  ending  November,  1889,  the  borough  expended  on  its 
streets  $2,934.33;  on  its  police,  $433;  for  lighting  the  streets,  $2,465.13; 
for  extension  of  the  sewerage  system,  about  $5,000;  and  for  salaries, 
$275.  The  net  debt  of  the  borough,  exclusive  of  the  bonds  issued  for 
the  water  works,  was  a  little  more  than  $21,000,  and  the  rate  of  taxa- 
tion was  light.  The  borough,  under  the  new  charter,  has  flourished, 
and  the  improvements  projected  and  carried  out  under  it  have  not 
only  greatly  advanced  the  business  interests  and  augmented  the  pop- 
ulation, but  have  also  promoted  the  beauty  of  Wallingford  and 
caused  it  to  become  the  most  attractive  and  healthiest  borough  of  its 
size  in  the  state. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  1878,  the  borough  of  Wallingford  was  visited 
by  one  of  the  most  disastrous  tornadoes  ever  known  in  the  state. 
Sweeping  over  the  northwestern  section  of  the  borough,  in  a  north- 
easterly direction,  it  left  a  well  defined  trail  of  ruin,  devastation  and 


HISTOKV    OF    NEW    HAVEX    COUNTY.  367 

•death,  where  but  a  moment  before  hundreds  liad  dwelt  in  health  and 
security.  The  old  frame  Catholic  church  was  demolished,  the  high 
school  building  wrecked,  and  a  number  of  houses  were  caught  up  and 
whirled  about  until  they  were  dashed  to  pieces.  Large  trees  were 
twisted  off  as  if  they  had  been  only  blades  of  grass,  and  the  loss  of 
property  was  very  great.  But  the  saddest  feature  of  the  storm  was 
the  loss  of  life.  Thirty  persons  were  killed  and  more  than  that  num- 
ber injured,  many  of  them  being  the  wives  and  children  of  the  labor- 
ing classes  living  in  that  part  of  the  borough.  The  event  has  passed 
into  history  as  the  "  Wallingford  disaster,"  and  the  phenomena  con- 
nected with  the  tornado  awakened  much  interest  in  scientific  circles, 
but  no  satisfactory  explanation  of  the  cause  of  the  storm  has  been 
given. 

The  Wallingford  Gas  Light  Company  was  incorporated  April  4th, 
1881,  and  organized  two  years  later  with  a  capital  of  $42,000.  W.  J. 
Leavenworth  was  the  first  president,  and  has  so  continued;  E.M.  Judd, 
treasurer;  and  B.  A.  Treat,  secretary.  The  above,  with  G.  W.  Hull  and 
L.  M.  Hubbard,  constituted  the  board  of  directors.  The  works  were 
■erected  on  the  banks  of  Community  lake,  in  the  fall  of  1883,  and  con- 
sist of  a  brick  building,  30  by  70  feet,  and  one  gasometer,  having  a 
capacity  of  50,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  per  day.  H.  H.  Edgarton  was  the 
suuervising  builder,  under  sub-contract  for  W.  C.  McClellan,  and  the 
first  public  service  of  gas  was  November  13th,  1883.  In  1889  there 
were  12|  miles  of  mains,  91  public  lamps,  and  the  output  was  about 
2,000,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  of  good  quality.  F.  H.  Lane  was  the  super- 
intendent. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Wallingford  was  incorporated  January 
1st,  1882,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  which  was  increased  in  July,  1883, 
to  8150,000.  The  first  board  of  directors  was  composed  of  Samuel 
Simpson,  G.  \\\  Hull,  Lyman  M.  Monroe,  Walter  J.  Leavenworth, 
Robert  H.  Cowles,  L.  M.  Hubbard,  Robert  Wallace,  E.  M.  Judd  and 
Hezekiah  Hall.  These  still  continue,  with  the  exception  of  the  last 
three,  who.se  places  are  filled,  in  the  order  named,  by  Frank  Wallace, 
Albert  D.  Judd  and  Henry  Hull.  From  the  beginning  Samuel  Simp- 
.son  has  been  the  president  and  William  H.  Newton  the  cashier,  and 
under  their  judicious  management  the  bank  has  flourished  and  accumu- 
lated a  surplus  of  nearly  $20,000. 

The  banking  office  was  first  established  in  a  room  in  the  Wallace 
Block,  where  it  remained  about  a  year.  In  the  meantime  the  substan- 
tial banking  house  now  occupied  was  built  by  the  corporation,  at  a  cost 
of  $10,000,  into  which  the  bank  was  removed  in  February,  1883.  It 
stands  on  a  part  of  the  old  Whittlesey  lot,  on  Main  street,  and  is  sup- 
plied with  modern  banking  appliances.  Since  in  use  it  has  also  been 
the  home  of  the  W^allingford  Dime  Savings  Bank,  which  was  given  a 
corporate  existence  in  May,  1871.  Samuel  Simpson  has  been  the 
president  of  this  institution  since  its  organization.     E.  H.  Ives  was  the 


368  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

first  treasurer,  and  in  188t?  was  succeeded  by  John  Atwater.  The 
latter  served  until  September.  1886,  when  Leonard  B.  Bishop  became 
the  treasurer,  and  has  since  continued,  serving  also  as  secretary. 
Morton  Judd  and  John  Atwater  are  the  vice-presidents.  Associated 
directors  are  P.  T.  Ives,  George  E.  Dickerman,  Reverend  Hugh  Mal- 
lon,  Charles  N.  Jones  and  L.  M.  Hubbard.  Business  was  begun,  in  a 
small  way,  in  1871,  at  the  store  of  Thomas  Pickford,  the  bank  being 
open  for  deposits  one  evening  per  week.  Next  it  was  open  three  days 
per  week,  at  the  same  place.  In  the  past  few  years  it  has  transacted 
business  daily,  and  has  prospered  proportionately.  In  1889  the  de- 
posits were  $250,000.  Semi-annual  dividends  at  the  rate  of  four  per 
cent,  per  annum  are  paid,  and  a  surplus  of  $13,000  has  been  accumu- 
lated. 

The  American  Building  and  Loan  Association  of  Minne.nnolis, 
Minn.,  organized  a  local  board  at  Wallingford,  May  2d,  1889,  with  G. 
W.  Hull,  president;  William  H.  Newton,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and 
Walter  J.  Leavenworth,  Joel  R.  Boice,  William  M.  Whittaker,  W.  A. 
Trask  and  E.  S.  Stevens,  directors.  In  November,  1889,  forty  persons 
were  members  of  the  local  board,  whose  place  of  business  was  with 
the  national  bank. 

Probably  the  first  public  house  in  the  town  was  the  one  kept  by 
Nathaniel  Merriman,  in  1673,  when  he  was  chosen  "  To  keep  an  orday- 
nary  and  promised  to  make  trial  for  one  year  provided  every  planter 
resident  provide  and  layein  place  wheare  he  apoynts  20  good  sufficient 
rails  for  fence  and  4  posts  redy  morticed  by  the  middle  of  May  ne.xt." 

After  1720  Mrs.  Sarah  Whittlesey  had  a  small  store  in  the  present 
borough,  and  often  entertained  the  public  men  of  the  state  when  they 
passed  from  Hartford  to  New  Haven.  In  the  times  of  the  revolution 
Amos  Hall  kept  the  principal  tavern  at  Wallingford;  and  it  is  claimed 
that  General  Washington  .stopped  at  Peter  Carrington's  tavern  over 
night,  October  18th,  1789.  An  earlier  tavern  keeper  was  Lieutenant 
Abraham  Doolittle,  who  kept  a  popular  place  in  the  times  of  the  French 
and  Indian  wars,  east  of  Main  and  south  of  Centre  streets.  Eben 
Smith  was  a  keeper  of  the  inn  at  the  same  place  in  the  present  gener- 
ation. At  the  same  time  and  earlier  Jared  Lewis  had  a  public  house 
and  store  higher  up  Main  street,  where  is  now  the  Wallace  Block. 
Fred.  Lewis  was  at  the  same  place  at  a  more  recent  date.  At  the  Doo- 
little stand  Benjamin  Foote  and  William  Carter  entertained  the  public. 
Gideon  Hosford  had  a  well  known  tavern  on  the  plains,  andChauncey 
Cook  and  Dwight  Hall  were  in  the  central  part  of  the  village.  The 
Bishop  tavern  was  on  the  turnpike  two  miles  below  Wallingford,  where 
was  also  the  stage  office.  Liverius  Carrington  and  George  B.  Kirtland 
were  well  known  merchants  before  1850.  Since  that  time  many  per- 
sons have  merchandised  in  Wallingford,  and  there  have  also  been  a 
number  of  public  houses,  but  no  detailed  account  can  here  be  given. 

The  first  regular  post  office  at  Wallingford  was  established  in  1798, 


IIISTORV    OF    NEW    HAVKN    COUNTY.  369 

and  James  Carrington  was  the  postmaster,  continuing  until  after  1820. 
In  tlie  later  years  of  his  administration  two  mails  per  week  were  sup- 
plied, but  soon  the  facilities  were  increased.  The  office  was  kept  on 
Centre  street.  William  Elton,  vSamuel  Cook  and  Samuel  Button  were 
later  postmasters.  In  1853  Orrin  Andrews  was  appointed,  and  the 
office  was  opened  in  Union  Hall.  In  1861  Doctor  Jerome  B.  Pomeroy 
became  the  postmaster,  serving  until  his  death,  in  1866.  Lorenzo 
Lewis  was  next  appointed,  and  after  Union  Hall  was  burned,  October, 
1867,  the  office  was  kept  at  his  store,  corner  of  Centre  and  Main  streets. 
A  few  years  later  an  office  was  fatted  up  in  the  town  hall  building, 
where  it  remained  until  December,  1887,  when  the  present  handsome 
office  in  the  Simpson  Block  was  occupied.  This  was  especially  fitted 
up  by  the  proprietor,  Samuel  Simp.son,  and  in  the  completeness  and 
elegance  of  the  appointments  it  is  one  of  the  finest  offices  in  the  county. 
There  are  600  lock  and  300  call  boxes.  The  office  has  a  service  of  six 
mails  per  day,  and  is  a  domestic  and  international  money  order  office. 
Succeeding  Lorenzo  Lewis  as  postmaster  was  D.  W.  Ives.  In  1872  the 
office  pas,sed  to  L.  M.  Hubbard,  with  W.  B.  Hall  as  assistant  po.st- 
master.     The  latter  is  the  present  postmaster. 

Among  the  public  buildings  of  Wallingford  the  old  Union  Hall 
was  the  first  to  deserve  a  place  in  the  annals  of  the  town  on  account 
of  its  size  and  prominence.  It  was  erected  on  Main  street,  south  of 
the  Episcopal  church,  in  1853,  by  an  association  of  citizen^  formed  for 
that  purpose,  who  held  stock  in  shares  of  $25  each.  The  building  was 
fitted  up  for  stores,  a  general  hall  and  lodge  rooms,  and  also  contained 
the  general  offices  of  the  town.  On  the  3d  of  April,  1854,  the  first 
town  meeting  was  held  in  the  building,  and  by  special  arrangement 
they  were  there  continued  until  the  hall  was  destroyed  by  fire,  October 
27th,  1867.  It  was  a  large  three-story  frame  building,  having  the  main 
hall  in  the  second  story.  Lorenzo  Lewis  was  for  many  years  the  sec- 
retary of  the  association.  The  hall  was  not  rebuilt,  and  the  lot  became 
the  property  of  the  Epi.scopal  parish,  the  present  church  standing  on 
part  of  the  Union  Hall  site. 

Immediately  south  of  this  William  Wallace  had  erected  his  large, 
four-story  brick  block  about  the  time  of  the  civil  war,  which  was  the 
first  substantial  public  building  in  the  town,  and  which  still  continues 
to  be  noteworthy  on  account  of  its  massive  appearance.  For  inany 
years  this  building  was  in  advance  of  the  general  improvements,  but 
in  the  light  of  the  progress  made  since  that  time  it  stands  a  fitting 
monument  to  the  public  spirit  and  enterprise  of  the  builder,  who  set 
the  standard  for  future  architecture.  It  is  devoted  to  stores,  offices, 
halls  and  lodge  rooms.  In  1889  the  property  was  owned  by  Wallace 
&  Phelps. 

The  Simp.son  Block,  on  the  west  side  of  Main  .street,  and  north  of 
Centre  street,  is  the  latest  addition  to  the  handsome  public  buildings 
of  the  borough.  It  was  erected  in  1887  by  Samuel  Simpson,  and  is 
33 


370  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

one  of  the  best  improvements  made  by  that  enterprising  citizen" 
Architecturally  it  is  attractive  and  imposing,  a  substantial  and 
capacious  brick  block,  and  was  designed  mainly  for  the  convenience 
of  the  public.  The  lower  floors  are  devoted  to  business  rooms,  the 
.second  to  offices,  and  the  upper  part  forms  one  of  the  handsomest 
opera  houses  in  the  state,  affording  every  convenience  for  the  lovers 
of  amusement. 

In  the  summer  of  1889  the  Messrs.  Wallace  &  Phelps  completed 
in  the  rear  of  their  block  a  large  one-story  brick  structure,  which 
has  been  fitted  up  for  the  use  of  the  Wallingford  Company  of  the 
Connecticut  Guards,  and  has  received  the  name  of  Armory  Hall.  It 
is  also  adapted  for  public  gatherings. 

Directly  south  of  the  latter,  on  Centre  street,  is  the  commodious 
town  hall  of  Wallingford.  It  was  erected  in  pursuance  of  a  vote  of 
the  freemen,  at  a  meeting  held  May  2d,  1868,  when  it  was  decided  to 
"build  a  hall  to  cost  not  more  than  $30,000  nor  less  than  $20,000, 
the  .same  to  have  a  tower  for  a  clock."  A  building  committee,  com- 
posed of  Samuel  Simpson,  D.  W.  Fields,  Franklin  Johnson,  Hezekiah 
Hall,  Bennet  Jeralds,  William  McKenzie  and  Elijah  Williams,  was 
appointed,  and  bonds  were  issued  to  erect  the  hall  according  to  the 
plans  of  Architect  Russell.  January  5th.  1869,  D.  W.  Fields,  appointed 
to  purchase  a  bell  to  be  placed  in  the  tower  of  the  hall,  secured  one 
weighing  3,000  pounds,  and  the  tower  was  surmounted  by  a  flagstaff. 
On  the  4th  of  October,  1869,  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  in 
the  new  hall,  which  has  since  that  time  been  the  capitol  of  the  town. 
It  is  a  brick  edifice,  three  stories  high,  60  by  80  feet,  and  is  attractive 
in  its  appearance.  The  auditorium  is  in  the  second  story  and  has  a 
gallery,  stage  and  scenic  arrangements.  The  property  is  valued  at 
$38,000. 

The  history  of  the  periodical  press  of  Wallingford  begins  with  the 
publication  of  the  Circular,  a  weekly  organ  of  the  community  societies 
issued  from  the  Mt.  Tom  Printing  House,  from  1864  to  1868.  The 
first  distinctively  local  paper  was  the  Wallingford  Witness,  which  was 
established  in  March,  1886,  by  W.  Burgess,  who  sold  to  J.  E.  Beale, 
June  1st,  the  same  year.  The  latter  conducted  the  paper  with  varied 
success  for  three  years,  when  his  interest  passed  to  the  Times  Printing 
Company,  composed  of  citizens  of  the  borough.  Colonel  D.  C.  Pavey 
became  the  editor,  and^so'continued  until  .September  16th,  1889,  when 
the  plant  was  transferred  to  the  present  proprietors,  Richards  &  Buck- 
master.  An  office  in  the  Simpson  Block  is  the  place  of  publication. 
The  Times  is  an  independent  weekly  of  forty  columns  (eight  pages), 
devoted  to  local  and  general  news,  and  has  a  growing  circulation. 
Frederick  Richards  is  the  editor. 

F.  W.  Richards  began  his  newspaper  career  in  Naugatuck  in  1880, 
at  which  time  he  was  associated  with  J.  E.  Beale,  who  was  publisher  of 
the  Naugatnck  Review.     He  came  to  Wallingford  in  the  fall  of  1886, 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  371 

and  had  an  editorial  position  under  Beale  on  the  JV/fniss.  His  reputa- 
tion as  a  writer  made  him  the  choice  of  the  Times  Publishing  Company 
when  it  was  necessary  to  find  a  successor  for  D.  C.  Pavey,  in  vSeptem- 
ber,  1889. 

W.  S.  Buckmaster  is  a  brother-in-law  of  F.  W.  Richards,  and  is  a 
native  of  New  Haven.  He  entered  the  printing  business  as  an  appren- 
tice in  the  office  of  the  IVatcrbiiry  American  in  1860.  He  enlisted  from 
that  city  in  1863.  in  Company  F,  23d  Connecticut  Volunteers.  After 
the  war  was  over,  several  years  were  spent  in  the  employ  of  Hoggsun 
&  Robinson,  of  New  Haven.  He  was  one  of  the  original  stockholders 
in  the  Nc^u  Haven  Union.  His  connection  with  the  Wallingford  Times 
is  contemporaneous  with  F.  W.  Richards. 

Moses  Y.  Beach,  the  successful  proprietor  of  the  New  York  Sun, 
was  a  native  of  this  town,  had  a  country  home  here  and  died  in  Wal- 
lingford, after  having  accumulated  a  large  estate. 

Following  the  cu.stom  of  those  times,  a  library  company  was  organ- 
ized at  Wallingford,  which  was  incorporated  January  30th,  1833. 
Jared  P.  Whittlesey  was  one  of  the  most  active  in  maintaining  it. 
The  library  was  kept  many  years  at  Elijah  Beman's,  at  the  corner  of 
Christian  and  Main  streets,  but  later  was  maintained  in  Union  Hall, 
and  E.  S.  Ives  had  charge  of  the  books.  When  that  building  was 
burned,  in  1867,  most  of  the  library  was  saved,  and  after  the  Ladies' 
Library  and  Reading  Room  A.ssociation  was  organized,  in  1881,  some 
of  the  books  were  transferred  to  that  body,  in  whose  library  they  are 
still  in  use.  The  Ladies'  Association  was  formed  with  about  60  mem- 
bers, and  has  since  had  an  influential  following.  A  library  was 
opened  in  the  Wallace  Block  and  was  maintained  there  until  1887, 
when  more  commodious  quarters  were  secured  for  it  in  the  new  Simp- 
son Block,  the  proprietor,  Samuel  Simpson,  generously  donating  the 
use  of  two  of  the  finest  rooms  in  the  building,  which  have  been  well 
fitted  up  for  library  and  reading  room  purposes.  In  1889  the  library 
contained  2,360  volumes  of  miscellaneous  books,  and  the  reading  room, 
which  was  open  daily,  had  on  file  all  the  leading  monthlies,  five  weekly 
and  four  daily  papers.  These  rooms  were  in  charge  of  ^liss  Emma 
Lewis,  the  librarian,  since  1884,  and  who  succeeded  Miss  Helen  A. 
Hull  in  that  office.  Miss  Edith  C.  Lane  has  been  the  secretary  of  the 
association  since  1882,  and  Mrs.  Henry  L.  Wallace  is  the  treasurer. 
Eight  ladies  manage  the  affairs  of  the  association. 

Yalesville,  a  village  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  has  a  pleas- 
ant situation  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Quinnipiac  river  and  contains 
several  hundred  inhabitants.  There  are  several  flourishing  manu- 
facturing establishments,  stores,  post  office,  three  neat  churches 
(Episcopal.  Methodist  and  Baptist),  a  fine  school  house  and  a  number 
of  attractive  residences.  A  village  improvement  society,  recently  or- 
ganized, has  directed  attention  to  the  care  of  the  streets,  planting  of 
trees  and  the  general  advancement  of  the  place. 


372  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Yalesville  is,  next  to  Wallingford  borough,  the  oldest  settled  place 
in  the  town,  and  in  its  pioneer  history  was  known  as  the  "  First  Falls  " 
above  the  plains.  The  improvement  of  the  water  power  was  ordered 
June  4th,  1677,  and  as  it  has  .since  been  utilized,  this  is  the  oldest 
manufacturing-  point  in  this  part  of  the  county.  After  1700,  for  a 
hundred  years  or  more,  the  place  was  called  Tyler's  Mills,  when  it 
took  the  name  of  Yalesville,  in  compliment  to  Charles  Yale,  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  manufacturers  of  his  time.* 

William  Hall,  Floyd  Camp  and  C.  W.  Michaels  have  merchandised 
in  the  village,  the  latter  continuing  in  1890,  and  being  also  the  post- 
master. 

Tracy  is  the  name  which  has  been  applied  to  the  post  office  estab- 
lished at  Yalesville  station,  June  1st,  1888,  with  Almon  J.  Ives  as  post- 
master. There  are  four  mails  per  day,  and  about  one  hundred  fam- 
ilies are  by  this  means  afforded  mail  privileges. 

The  hamlet  at  this  point  also  embraces  the  works  of  Jennings  & 
Griffin,  the  railway  station,  store,  and  about  twenty  residences.  In 
the  summer  and  fall  of  1889  the  improvement  of  the  hamlet  was 
begun  by  its  inhabitants,  and  public  street  lamps  were  put  up,  twenty 
being  maintained  at  the  close  of  the  year. 

Some  time  after  the  completion  of  the  Air  Line  railroad,  about 
1871,  a  station  was  opened  on  it  in  this  town,  with  the  name  of  East 
Wallingford.  Later  a  post  office  was  there  established,  with  the  same 
name,  and  a  small  hamlet  has  sprung  up,  in  which  are  the  usual  occu- 
pations of  such  a  place. 

In  1890  the  physicians  of  Wallingford  were  C.  Hunt  Atwater, 
Henry  Davis,  J.  D.  McGaughey,  William  S.  Russell,  D.  J.  Curtin,  E.  S. 
Vail,  Vincent  L.  Baldwin,  J.  M.  Tabor  and  George  Andrews.  The 
town  has  had  many  medical  practitioners,  among  them  being,  accord- 
ing to  a  local  writer,  the  following.  In  addition  to  the  eight  Doctors 
Hull  here  named,  five  other  descendants  of  Doctor  John  Hull  located 
elsewhere  : 

1.  Doctor  John  Hull,  born  in  New  Haven  1641  :  came  here  1687. 
Practiced  in  Derby  20  years  before. 

2.  Doctor  Benjamin  Hull,  .son  of  Doctor  John,  born  in  Derby. 
Cpmmenced  here  1693. 

3.  Doctor  Jeremiah  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  John,  born  in  Derby. 
Commenced  here  169.5. 

4.  Doctor  John  Hull,  second,  grandson  of  Doctor  John.  Commenced 
•  1725.     Born  in  Wallingford. 

5.  Doctor  Benjamin  Hull,  second,  grandson  of  Doctor  John.  Com- 
menced 1735.     Born  in  Wallingford. 

6.  Doctor  Benjamin  Hull,  third,  great-grandson  of  Doctor  John. 
Commenced  1763.     Born  in  Wallingford. 

*  See  Manufacturing  Interests. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  373 

7.  Doctor  Amos  Hull,  great-grandson  of  Doctor  John.  Commenced 
about  1786. 

8.  Doctor  Amos  G.  Hull,  great-grandson  of  Doctor  John.  Patentee 
of  the  Hull  truss. 

9.  Doctor  Aaron  Andrews.  Commenced  in  about  1771.  Born  in 
Wallingford. 

10.  Doctor  John  Andrews,  .son  of  Aaron.  Commenced  in  about 
1800.     Born  in  Wallingford. 

11.  Doctor  Moses  Gaylord.  Commenced  in  about  1800.  Came  from 
Durham. 

12.  Doctor  Lyman  Parker.  Commenced  in  about  181.-).  Native  of 
Wallingford. 

It  is  said  that  Doctor  John  Andrews  and  Doctor  Parker  associated 
together  about  the  time  Doctor  Parker  commenced  practice,  and  they 
bought  off  Doctor  Gaylord  from  practicing  physic  and  the  like  of 
fevers,  but  allowed  him  to  doctor  sores,  ulcers  and  such  like  cases  and 
set  broken  bones.     Doctor  Gaylord  died  in  about  1830. 

13.  Doctor  Brandiee.  Commenced  in  1828.  Came  from  Cheshire. 
He  owned  and  occupied  the  place  where  Mi^s.  Blunt  now  resides,  on 
Main  street,  and  for  which  he  gave  in  exchange  1,000  boxes  of  Brand- 
iee's  salve. 

14.  Friend  Cook.  Commenced  about  1835.  Native  of  Walling- 
ford. 

15.  Doctor  B.  F.  Harrison.-'"  Bought  out  Doctor  F.  Cook  in  about 
1836.     Native  of  North  ford. 

16.  Doctor  William  Atwater.  Bought  out  Doctor  B.  F.  Harrison  in 
about  1846.  Native  of  Wallingford;  and  sold  back  to  Doctor  Harrison 
in  1848  or  9.     Doctor  Harrison  died  in  1886. 

17.  Doctor  N.  Banks."'  Commenced  here  in  about  1852.  Practiced 
in  Cheshire  before.  • 

18.  Doctor  V.  Baldwin.  Commenced  here  in  about  1860.  Practiced 
in  Aleriden  before. 

19.  Doctor  Henry  Davis.  Commenced  here  in  about  1870.  Prac- 
ticed in  Derby  and  elsewhere. 

20.  Doctor  J.  D.  McGaughey.-  Commenced  here  in  about  1872. 
Came  from  Tennessee. 

21.  Doctor  W.  S.  Russell.*     Commenced  in  1882. 

22.  Doctor  E.  S.  Vail.     Commenced  here  in  1886. 

23.  Doctor  D.  J.  Curtin*  has  been  located  here  .since  December,  1887, 
succeeding  a  Doctor  Bailey,  who  had  been  here  a  short  time  that  year. 
In  the  same  period  Doctor  J.  D.  Brundage  was  here,  but  removed  to 
East  Haddam. 

24.  Doctor  George  Andrews  is  a  native  of  the  town,  and  after 
practicing  elsewhere  located  here  recently. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing.  Doctor  Davis  in  his  history  says  that 
*See  biographical  sketches  in  the  following  chapter. 


374  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

previous  to  1800  there  had  been  in  the  town:  Doctors  Isaac  Lewis, 
Isaac  Bull,  Isaac  Hall,  Gad  Pond,  Ebenezer  Bardsley,  William  B.  Hall, 
Bilious  Kirtland,  James  Porter  and  John  Dickinson.  He  names  as  a 
contemporary  of  Doctor  Aaron  Andrews  the  celebrated  Doctor  Jared 
Potter,  the  author  of  Potter's  powder,  in  its  day  a  popular  remedy  ■ 
He  was  the  surgeon  of  the  First  Connecticut  Regiment  in  177.").  and 
died  in  this  town. 

Doctor  Jared  P.  Kirtland  was  in  Wallingford  from  1811  to  1817. 
and  a  number  of  others  for  brief  periods  followed  their  professions  in 
the  town. 

In  1889  the  attorneys  of  Wallingford  were:  Seymour  D.  Hall, 
Henry  F.  Hall,  Charles  A.  Harrison,  Leverett  M.  Hubbard,*  George 
M.  Wallace,  O.  H.  D.  Fowler,  Andrew  J.  Brown  and  Frederick  J. 
Holmes.  These  have  here  been  engaged  in  the  legal  profession  from 
two  to  twenty  years.  Previous  attorneys  were:  Eli  I.  Ives,  many 
years;  J.  R.  Merriam,  A.  B.  Chapin,  James  J.  Redmond,  B.  J.  .Smith, 
L.  C.  Hinman  and  others  several  generations  ago. 

Doctor  Lyman  Hall,  a  signer  of  the  declaration  of  independence, 
was  a  native  of  this  town.  He  graduated  from  Yale  in  1747,  and  after 
studying  medicine  and  theology  moved  to  Georgia,  from  which  colony 
he  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  continental  congress.  Later  he  was 
elected  governor  of  Georgia.     He  died  in  1791,  aged  66  years. 

Compass  Lodge,  No.  9,  F.  &  A.  M.,  was  the  first  secret  order  estab- 
lished in  Wallingford.  The  introduction  of  Masonr)'  into  Walling- 
ford antedated  the  revolution.  Compass  Lodge  was  instituted  under 
a  charter  granted  May  1st,  1769,  which  was  signed  by  John  Rowe, 
provincial  grand  master  at  Boston.  This  charter  was  surrendered  to 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  state,  which  issued  in  its  stead  a  new  charter, 
which  bears  date  August  17th,  1796,  and  under  the  authority  of  which 
the  meetings  of  the  Lodge  have  since  been  held.  It  is  much  to  be 
regretted  that  the  records  of  the  early  meetings  are  not  available,  as 
they  might  afford  an  interesting  history  of  a  period  when  most  of  the 
leading  men  of  the  town  were  connected  with  the  order.  From  tra- 
ditionary accounts  it  appears  that  the  Lodge  at  Wallingford  had  a 
flourishing  existence  until  the  height  of  the  anti-Masonic  feeling, 
occasioned  by  the  disappearance  of  Morgan,  when,  in  1833,  its  meet- 
ings were  discontinued,  and  the  charter  was  returned  to  the  Grand 
Lodge.  After  the  lapse  of  eighteen  years  a  legal  number  of  the  for- 
mer members  made  application  for  its  restoration,  which  was  done  in 
July,  1851,  and  since  that  time  the  Lodge  has  been  in  active  existence- 
The  petitioners  for  this  charter  were:  Elisha  M.  Pomeroy,  Lyman 
Cannon,  IMedad  C.  Munson,  Medad  W.  Munson,  George  B.  Kirtland, 
Horace  Hall,  2d,  John  M.  Andrews,  Randall  Cooke,  Lyman  Parker 
and  Aimer  Hall.  Alfred  Parker,  Philo  Hall  and  Harmon  Morse  were 
added  as  old  members.  Soon  after  the  Lodge  had  resumed  it  had  the 
*See  biographical  sketch  in  the  following  chapter. 


HISTORY    UF    NEW    HAVEN'    COUNTY.  375 

following  additions:  Lucius  Pomeroy,  E.  M.  Pomeroy,  Jr.,  Henry 
Martin,  Aimer  I.  Hall  and  Selden  J.Steele.  In  1852  the  membership 
was  increased  by  the  admission  of  twelve  candidates.  In  1856  23  per- 
sons joined,  and  in  every  subsequent  year  additions  were  made  until 
there  was  a  large  aggregate  membership.  In  1889  the  number  belong- 
ing was  more  than  one  hundred,  who  met  in  a  pleasantly  furnished 
room  in  the  town  hall.  Former  Lodge  rooms  were  in  the  chambers 
of  some  of  the  public  houses. 

Since  179.")  the  following  have  been  the  masters  of  the  Lodge  and 
the  years  when  they  were  finst  elected  to  that  office,  a  number  serving 
more  than  one  term  or  at  different  periods:  Terhand  Kirtland,  1795; 
Samuel  Woodruff,  1796;  Jesse  Atwater,  1798;  John  Knott,  1801;  Amos 
Button,  1804;  Augustus  Cook,  1808;  Chauncey  Cook,  1810;  Solomon 
Hall,  1813;  John  Barker.  1820;  Lyman  Cannon,  1822;  Lyman  Parker, 
1823;  Constant  Kirtland,  1826;  Frederick  Lewis,  1827;  John  Barker, 
1828;  Elisha  M.  Pomeroy,  1830-3;  Elisha  U.  Pomeroy,  1851;  Henry 
Martin,  1852;  George  D.  Lane,  1853;  Aimer  I.  Hall,  1856;  J.  B.  Pom- 
eroy, 1861;  Benjamin  Church,  1862;  Gustavus  Phelps,  1866;  Roswell 
Morse,  1867;  William  Gerety,  1870;  J.  H.  Osborne,  1872;  William  Hodge- 
kinson,  1875;  D.  C.  Dudley,  1876;  Joel  R.  Boice,  1878;  William  M. 
Whittaker,  1879;  J.W.  Smith,  1881;  W.  N.  Mix,  1882;  William  Hodge- 
kinson,  1884;  W.  B.  Hall,  1885;  W.  H.  Newton,  1887;  J.W.  Smith,  1888; 
W.  B.  Hall,  1890.  Associated  with  the  latter  were  also  J.  W.  Smith, 
S.  W.;  W.  M.  Whittaker,  J.  W.;  R.  Talbot,  treasurer;  O.  E.  Powers, 
secretary;  F.  J.  Heavens,  S.  D.;  C.  H.  Barnes,  J.  D. 

Accanant  Lodge  No.  71,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  August  14th, 
1850,  and  the  following  were  some  of  the  early  members  participating 
in  its  affairs:  John  Munson,  Samuel  Simp.son,  Henry  Martin,  Asahel 
Andrews,  Samuel  P.  Parmalee,  George  Hull,  Jeremiah  Hall,  Stephen 
Northrop,  Edgar  Atwater,  Doctor  William  Atwater,  Samuel  Button, 
Lorenzo  Lewis,  Israel  Harrison  and  William  Elton.  For  a  few  years 
the  Lodge  was  prosperous,  but  owing  to  various  causes  its  charter  was 
surrendered  to  the  Grand  Lodge,  February  20th,  1856.  From  that  time 
on,  for  19  years,  the  order  had  no  public  representation  in  the  village, 
although  a  number  of  members  remained.  Through  the  efforts  of  a 
few  of  these  the  Lodge  was  reinstated  May  12th,  1875,  with  George  W. 
Elton,  N.  G.;  L.  M.  Phelps,  V.  G.;  George  H.  Yale,  secretary;  Lyman 
D.  Allen,  treasurer. 

It  now  entered  upon  a  career  of  prosperit}',  which,  in  the  main,  has 
continued  to  the  present.  In  the  fall  of  1889  the  Lodge  property  was 
worth  about  §1,500,  and  there  were  more  than  a  hundred  members, 
whose  interests  were  looked  after  by  the  following  principal  officials: 
Trustees,  L.  M.  Phelps,  George  E.  Bickerman  and  Fraray  Hale;  noble 
grand,  J.  W.  Douglass;  vice  grand,  L.  A.  Young;  R.  S.,  Charles  A. 
Barker;  P.  S.,  Fraray  Hale;  treasurer,  F.  W.  Phelps.  Interesting  meet- 
ings are  held  in  a  well-appointed  Lodge  room. 


376  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Putnam  Council,  No.  19,  Order  of  American  Mechanics,  owe.s  its 
existence,  at  Wallingford,  to  the  efforts  of  Michael  .Simons  and  D.  L. 
Barber,  who  were  instrumental  in  organizing  the  above  Council,  De- 
cember -2d.  1885.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in  T.  A.  B.  &  L.  Hall, 
but  a  later  place  of  meeting  was  secured  in  the  hall  of  the  Grand 
Army,  which  is  its  present  home.  The  Council  has  been  fortunate  in 
the  accession  of  membership  and  the  accumulation  of  property,  hav- 
ing had  120  persons  belonging,  with  not  a  death  since  organization, 
and  having,  in  1889,  an  accumulated  fund  of  $1,000  cash  and  other 
effects  worth  §500.  These  interests  were  in  the  care  of  trustees  M. 
Simons,  H.  D.  Kendrick  and  D.  C.  Porter.  Other  officers  at  this  per- 
iod were:  C,  J.  H.  Arthur;  V.  C,  E.  C.  Hastings;  R.  S.,  D.  L.  Barber; 
F.  S.,  S.  D.  Johnson;  treasurer,  C.  F.  Harwood. 

Ivy  Lodge,  No.  43,  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  instituted  February 
4th,  1887,  with  20  charter  members.  De  Witt  C.  Porter  was  elected 
the  first  chancellor  commander;  Henry  D.  Kendrick,  vice-chancellor; 
William  H.  Talcott,  prelate;  and  Albert  Goodrich,  past  chancellor. 
Since  its  organization  the  Lodge  has  had  a  steady  growth  and  has  at- 
tained a  fine  standing  in  the  community.  In  the  fall  of  1889  there 
were  60  members,  who  met  statedly  in  handsomely  furnished  rooms, 
in  the  Wallace  Block.  There  was,  also,  a  large  fund  in  the  trea.sury. 
Besides  elaborating  the  usual  work  of  the  order,  the  Lodge  has,  in  the 
past  year,  conferred  the  amplified  degree,  which  is  the  highest  in  the 
order,  and  one  of  the  finest  degrees  in  any  civic  society.  At  the  close 
of  1889  the  principal  offices  were  filled  by  Hubert  R.  Chamberlain, 
William  J.  Arthur,  Charles  A.  Smith,  Charles  S.  Allen,  Henry  C. 
Elton,  E.  M.  Hall,  C.  O.  Norton  and  William  H.  Talcott. 

Arthur  H.  Button  Post,  No.  36.  G.  A.  R.,  was  organized  in  1869 
The  soldiers  of  the  war  for  the  Union  were  quick  to  realize  the  benefit 
which  must  accrue  from  a  well  conducted  order  devoted  to  their  in- 
terests, and  in  the  year  mentioned  ten  of  them  united  in  organizing 
the  above  Post.  John  R.  Atwater  was  selected  as  their  commander. 
Unfortunately,  a  waning  interest  caused  the  Post  to  disband  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years,  and  for  ten  years  the  comrades  were  obliged  to 
connect  themselves  with  Posts  in  other  localities.  Oa  the  23d  of  No- 
vember, 1883,  however,  the  Post  was  revived  with  31  members  and 
this  corps  of  officers:  C,  William  N.  Mix;  V.  C,  C.  A.  Harrison,  Sr.; 
S.,  Thomas  Pickford;  chaplain,  Charles  H.  Barnes;  Q.  M.,  William  M. 
Whittaker;  Adjt.,  Patrick  McKenna;  S.  M.,  Charles  A.  Harwood;  Q.M.S.. 
J.  B.  Mix.  Before  the  end  of  six  months  the  membership  was  more 
than  doubled,  and  at  the  close  of  1889  more  than  100  names  were  on 
the  rolls  of  the  Post.  Besides  handsomely  furnishing  a  hall,  a  relief 
fund  of  nearly  $1,000  had  been  accumulated.  The  commanders  of  the 
Post  since  its  reorganization  have  been:  1883-.5,  William  N.  Mix;  1886, 
C.  A.  Harrison;  1887,  Ira  B.  Smith;  1888,  William  J.  Morse;  1889,  Lewis 
A.  Northrop.  In  1890  the  commander  was  Jacob  Joab  and  the  adju- 
tant H.  C.  Nettleton. 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    II.WKX    CfH'NTV.  377 

The  Arcanum  Club  was  organized  January  8th,  1881.  by  Christo 
pher  Morgan  and  about  a  dozen  others,  for  social  purposes,  and  a  room 
for  use  was  secured  on  the  third  floor  of  the  Wallace  Block.  The 
succe.ss  of  the  project  caused  the  members  to  apply  for  corporate 
rights,  which  were  obtained  March  19th,  ISS4.  In  February,  1887.  the 
club  held  its  first  public  assembly  and  concert  in  the  armory,  in  Wal- 
lace Hall,  which  gave  it  a  favorable  introduction  to  the  community, 
and  a  largely  increased  membership.  Spacious  and  handsome  quar- 
ters in  the  new  Simpson  Block  were  now  secured,  which  have  been 
fitted  up  for  the  convenience  and  comfort  of  the  club,  which  has  be- 
come a  large  and  prosperous  social  body.  December  (ith.  1889.  the 
second  public  assembly  was  held  in  the  Simpson  Opera  House,  and  was 
a  pronounced  success. 

Among  the  temperance  organizations  maintained  in  the  town  which 
have  left  their  impress  upon  the  community  have  been  a  strong  Divi- 
sion of  Sons  of  Temperance,  prior  to  1855;  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  28,  of 
Good  Templars,  from  1867  for  twelve  years,  had  a  large  membership; 
a  Temple  of  Honor,  several  years;  and  Perseverance  Division,  No.  12, 
Sons  of  Temperance,  organized  in  1883,  whose  meetings  are  still  main- 
tained. 

The  Union  Agricultural  Society  of  Wallingford  was  incorporated 
July  23d.  1872.  Henry  L.  Hall  was  the  first  president  of  the  society, 
which  had  already  held  a  meeting  in  1871.  which  was  attended  with 
so  much  success  that  steps  were  taken  to  place  the  organization  upon 
a  permanent  basis.  William  D.  Hall  succeeded  as  president,  and 
Joseph  W.  Allen  became  the  .secretary,  both  continuing  until  the 
society  disbanded,  a  few  years  later.  For  several  seasons  successful 
fairs  were  held  at  Morse's  Park,  on  Cherry  street,  but  adverse  circum- 
stances produced  a  diminished  interest  in  the  later  exhibitions,  which 
made  it  advisable  for  the  .society  to  suspend  its  meetings,  and  the 
organization  was  given  up. 

Wallingford  Grange,  No.  33,  P.  of  H.,  was  instituted  ^lay  28th. 
1885,  at  the  house  of  M.  E.  Cook,  who  was  the  first  master.  D.W.  Ives 
served  as  .secretary.  Thirty-three  persons  constituted  the  original 
membership,  which  was  quickly  increased,  and  in  November,  1889,  91 
members  belonged,  in  active  connection.  The  meetings  were  held  in 
Grand  Army  Hall,  and  were  occasions  of  unabated  interest  and 
instruction  in  rural  affairs  and  the  economic  arts.  A  purchasing- 
agency,  in  charge  of  F.  M.  Bartholomew,  has  been  succe.ssfully  main- 
tained by  the  Grange  since  1887.  vSince  the  organization  of  the  Grange 
the  principal  officers  have  been  the  following:  Masters,  M.  E.  Cook.  G. 
W.  Cook  and  G.  A.  Hopson;  secretaries.  D.W.  Ives.  G.  A.  Hopson  and 
F.  M.  Bartholomew;  lecturers,  Z.  P.  Beach  and  H.  W.  Andrews.  The 
Grange  has  made  sevenil  fi.ne  exhibits  at  the  state  fair  at  Meriden.  and 
was  awarded  the  first  prize  for  the  displays  made. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  TOWN  OF  WALLINGFORD  (Concluded). 


Educational  Matters. — Establishment  of  Religious  Worship. — First  Congregational 
Church.— The  Wallingford  Controversy.— The  Wells  Society.— The  Walliufiford 
Baptist  Church.— St.  Paul's  (Protestant  Episcopal)  Chnrch.—The  First  Methodist 
Class. — Yalesville  M.  E.  Church.— The  Adventist  Church.— Yalesville  Baptist 
Church. — St.  John's  (Protestant  Episcopal)  Church,  Yalesville  — Second  Advent 
Church  of  Wallingford  — Holy  Trinity  (Roman  Catholic)  Parish. — The  Wallingfoid 
Community. — Cemeteries. — Biographical  Sketches. 


AS  soon  as  the  town  was  fnlly  organized,  about  1078,  the  matter  of 
maintaining  a  school  ■was  a  subject  for  town  legislation,  and  the 
selectmen  were  authorized  to  approve  a  schoolmaster  at  a  salary 
of  "  ten  pounds  a  yeare  and  three  pence  a  weeke  for  all  schollers 
males  or  females  from  six  to  sixteene  years  ould,  so  long  as  they 
goe  toschoole."  But  it  is  probable  that  some  arrangement  for  schools 
had  been  made  as  soon  as  the  church  was  founded,  in  1672,  for 
usually  these  two  institutions  went  hand  in  hand.  In  1680  Elijah 
Preston  taught  a  six  months'  school.  Fifteen  years  later  Eleazer 
Peck,  John  Parker  and  John  Moss  were  chosen  a  school  committee, 
and  the  town  authorized  them  to  hire  a  woman  in  summer  and  a 
man  in  winter.  An  effort  to  build  a  .school  house,  made  this  year, 
was  not  realized  until  1702.  The  building  was  small,  not  exceeding 
20  feet  square.  In  1711  Henry  Bates  was  the  schoolmaster  and  Captain 
Merriman,  Samuel  Munson,  Sr.,  and  John  Ives  the  school  committee. 
A  general  school  tax  was  laid  upon  all  children  between  the  ages  of 
6  and  16  years  living  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  school  house. 

In  1715  the  old  town  was  divided  into  two  districts,  one  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  the  other  on  the  west.  Four  years  later  a  third 
school  was  started  in  the  Andrews  neighborhood.  Henry  Bates  was 
the  village  schoolmaster  a  dozen  or  more  years.  In  1725  a  new  school 
house,  20  by  25  feet,  was  built.  Schools  were  now  held  several  months 
per  year,  on  the  farms,  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  and  separate  dis- 
tricts were  formed  as  the  necessities  of  the  different  sections  de- 
manded, until  the  system  was  thoroughly  established.  The  shifting 
population  made  the  change  of  location  of  many  school  houses  neces- 
sary, and  a  few  have  been  abandoned  in  consequence  of  the  consoli- 
dation of  districts.  The  Yalesville  school  house  was  originally  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  the  location  being  changed  about  ISOO,  when 
the  district  was  enlarged. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  379' 

To  secure  schools  of  a  better  grade,  Districts  Nos.  5  and  6  were 
dissolved  and  united,  December  9th,  1865,  as  the  Central  school  dis- 
trict, whose  first  officers  were  B.  F.  Harrison,  S.  B.  Parmalee,  John  C. 
Roach,  committee:  and  John  Atwater,  clerk.  The  schools  continued 
to  be  held  in  the  old  South  Main  street  building  of  the  6th  district: 
in  the  old  Elm  street  house,  where  Senator  Joseph  R.  Hawley  attended 
while  residing,  as  a  lad,  with  his  father,  at  that  time  the  Baptist  min- 
ister at  Wallingford;  and  a  new  school  was  opened  in  the  basement  of 
the  old  Catholic  church.  But  the  question  of  building  a  centrally  lo- 
cated school  house  was  soon  agitated,  and  October  26111,  1867,  Samuel 
Peck,  Samuel  Simpson,  E.  H.  Ives,  Augustus  Hall  and  John  C.  Roach 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  select  a  site.  Failing  to  promptly  make 
a  selection,  the  matter  was  settled  when,  on  June  11th,  1868,  Moses  Y. 
Beach  donated  a  plot  of  four  acres  of  land,  beautifully  located,  on 
which  he  had  purposed  to  erect,  at  his  own  expense,  a  high  school, 
but  had  been  prevented  by  the  civil  war  and  his  ill  health  to  carry  out 
his  intentions. 

Meantime  the  demand  for  school  room  on  the  "Plains"  had  be- 
come so  great  that  in  1868  the  brick  school  house  was  erected,  at  a  cost 
of  $7,500:  and  October  2()th,  1868,  it  was  voted  to  build  the  Cottage 
school  house,  on  Ouinnipiac  street,  on  the  "  Plains." 

On  the  2.")th  of  October,  1868,  it  was  voted  to  erect  a  school  edifice 
on  the  Beach  lot,  at  a  cost  of  $25,000,  and  a  building  committee  com- 
posed of  Samuel  Simpson,  James  B.  Campbell,  R.  H.  Cowles,  Doctor 
B.  F.  Harrison,  A.  I.  Hall,  James  M.  Leavenworth  and  R.  R.  Bristol, 
was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  work.  This  was  postponed  for  a 
year,  but  ,September  4th,  1869,  it  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  build. 
vSubsequently  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $30,000  were  issued,  and  on  the 
17th  of  April,  1871,  the  building  was  reported  completed,  at  a  cost  of 
$81,896.73.  A  portion  of  it  was  occupied  for  school  purposes,  January 
1st,  1871.  As  originally  put  up  the  house  was  70  by  80  feet,  basement 
half  out  of  the  ground,  two  stories  clear  and  a  mansard  story,  produc- 
ing a  structure  having  a  high  and  attractive  appearance.  August 
9th,  1878,  the  entire  upper  part  of  the  building  was  destroyed  by  the 
great  tornado,  and  when  the  repairs  were  made  the  upper  story  was 
modified  and  the  general  shape  changed.  This  was  done  at  a  cost  of 
$8,500.  Subsequent  improvements  have  made  this  one  of  the  most 
complete  buildings  of  the  kind  in  towns  of  tliis  size. 

In  1884  the  district  erected  the  Simpson  school  house,  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  borough,  Samuel  Simpson  donating  the  lot  on  which 
the  house  stands.  In  1887-8,  the  new  and  complete  Colony  street 
school  building  was  erected,  at  a  co.st  of  $31,455.69,  the  committee  hav- 
ing charge  of  the  work  being  H.  B.  Todd,  Reverend  Hugh  Mallon, 
Henry  L.  Hall,  Michael  O'Callaghan  and  Patrick  Concannon.  In  1889 
the  district  owned  school  property,  in  the  form  of  real  estate,  to  the 
amount  of  nearly  $60,000,  and  had  a  net  indebtedness  of  $51,324.14- 


■'^SO  HISTORY    OF    NKW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

There  was  a  good  supply  of  apparatus  and  modern  fixtures,  and 
schools  were  kept  in  17  rooms.  The  teachers  were  paid  salaries  to 
the  amount  of  nearly  $10,000,  and  other  expenditures  increased  the 
outlay  for  the  support  of  schools  to  about  $14,000  per  year. 

The  first  efforts  to  grade  the  schools  of  the  district  were  made  in 
1871,  but  in  1887  a  more  complete  grade  was  established,  and  June 
14th,  1888,  a  revised  course  of  study  was  adopted,  requiring  about  ten 
years  to  complete,  and  including  cla.ssical  studies  in  the  high  school. 
In  1889  more  than  900  pupils  were  registered  m  all  the  schools  of  the 
district.  Joseph  A.  Kellogg  was  the  first  principal  in  the  high 
school  building,  and  since  1886  the  principal   has  been  F.  J.  Heavens. 

On  the  school  committee  of  the  district  Doctor  B.  F  Harrison  and 
C.  H.  Brown  served  many  years,  and  Joseph  W.  Allen  has  been  the 
clerk  since  1868.  Henry  L.  Hall  has  for  many  years  been  the  acting 
school  visitor,  and  to  his  interest  in  educational  matters  is  due,  in  a 
large  measure,  the  proficiency  of  the  schools  of  Central  district. 

Union  Academy  was  incorporated  at  Wallingford  May  12th,  1812, 
on  the  petition  of  Samuel  Cook  and  others.  The  stock  of  the  corpora- 
tion consisted  of  250  shares  at  $5  each,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that 
Porter  Cook  had  donated  the  land  on  which  the  academy  stood,  he 
was  given  stock  for  the  value  of  the  same— $137.50.  Joshua  Bradley 
occupied  the  building  as  the  first  principal.  He  was  an  earnest,  ener- 
getic teacher,  and  succeeded  in  gathering  together  a  number  of 
pupils,  whom  he  carefully  instructed  several  years,  having  usually  a 
lady  assistant.  Elder  Wright  and  Thomas  Ruggles  were  also  male 
teachers,  the  latter  teaching  in  1817.  The  pupils  in  1818  numbered 
45.  In  the  course  of  time  the  academy  building  was  converted  into  a 
residence,  and  as  such  was  occupied  many  years. 

In  more  recent  years  an  academy  was  maintained  on  Centre  street, 
in  the  .so-called  Masonic  Hall,  where  A.  B.  Chapin,  a  Mr.  Keeler  and 
others  were  the  teachers.  For  short  periods  other  select  schools  were 
taught  in  the  borough,  but  since  the  grading  of  the  public  schools  but 
little  support  has  been  given  to  such  enterprises. 

The  public  school  building  at  Yalesville  is  a  fine  two-story  frame 
edifice,  with  vestibule  extension,  and  was  erected  in  1874  at  a  cost  of 
$9,000.  The  lot  on  which  it  stands  embraces  three  acres,  nicel}'  plotted 
and  planted  with  Norway  spruce  trees.  Three  spacious  rooms  accom- 
modate the  150  pupils  registered  for  attendance.  In  1889  Henry 
Schwab  was  the  school  visitor  of  the  district  ana  Charles  E.  Yale  the 
treasurer.  The  old  Yalesville  school  house,  northeast  from  this  site, 
has  been  converted  into  a  residence,  near  the  place  where  it  originally 
stood.  The  schools  of  Yalesville  have  a  well-merited  reputation  for 
their  excellence. 

The  early  settlers  of  Wallingford  were  actuated  by  the  .same  spirit 
as  that  which  had  moved  the  founders  of  other  towns  in  that  period, 
and  endeavored,  while  their  own   humble   homes  were  vet   building. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  381 

to  secure  for  themselves  religious  worship.  Hence,  at  the  second 
town  meeting,  held  April  2 1st,  1071,  they  voted  to  lay  a  rate  of  "30 
shillings  on  the  owner  of  every  twelve  acre  lot,  and  20  shillings  on 
those  owning  eight  acre  lots,  to  raise  a  fund  for  any  fit  person  to  be 
helpful  in  the  ministry.  For  two  years  a  Mr.  Harriman  preached  on 
the  Sabbath,  performing  this  duty  before  a  regular  society  was  organ- 
ized or  an  ordained  minister  could  be  secured.  The  organization  of 
a  regular  church  was  postponed  several  years,  partly  on  account  of  the 
inability  of  the  settlers  to  provide  the  requisite  means  and  partly  be- 
cause it  was,  like  all  the  affairs  of  the  town,  made  a  matter  for  grave 
deliberation.  But  the  meetings  thus  held  were  after  the  order  of  the 
Congregationalists,  whose  religious  beliefs  and  forms  had  been  legal- 
ized by  the  civil  government  as  the  established  church. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  people  who  had  been  forced  to  leave 
their  native  land  on  account  of  religious  intolerance  should,  in  their 
adopted  country,  through  their  zeal  and  love  for  their  chosen  religion, 
surround  it  with  laws  scarcely  less  tolerant  than  those  which  had  op- 
pressed them.  For  nearly  half  a  century  there  was  scarcely  any  relig- 
ious liberty  in  the  colony  for  those  who  dissented  from  the  state 
church,  when  the  rigor  of  the  laws  was  somewhat  abated  by  the  Act  of 
Toleration  of  170S  and  the  further  acts  of  1727  and  172).  It  was  not. 
however,  until  many  more  years  had  elapsed  that  freedom  of  con- 
science and  "  soul  liberty  "  were  recognized  rights,  and  all  religions 
were  accorded  equal  privileges  and  protection  by  the  laws  of  the  state. 
It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  in  these  days  there  was  not  the  uni- 
versal enlightenment  which  now  prevails,  and  that  class  distinction 
had  not  been  abolished.  The  masses  of  the  colonists  were  controlled 
by  superior  minds,  who  had  themselves  been  trained  to  believe  that 
the  church  and  the  state  were  inseparable,  and  that  the  latter  should 
establish,  maintain  and  protect  the  former.  Hence,  the  stringent  laws 
of  that  period  and  the  prescribed  methods  of  conduct  demanded  by 
them. 

The  First  Congregational  Church  of  Wallingford  was  organized  in 
conformity  with  these  laws  and  after  the  customs  of  those  times.  Its 
founders  were  law  abiding,  devout  men,  with  respect  for  the  usages 
of  their  time,  and  patterned  closely  after  the  parent  society  at  New 
Haven.  Accordingly,  the  preliminary  step  was  the  appointment  of  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer  for  divine  guidance  in  the  selection  of  the 
committee  which  should  "lay  the  foundation."  This  was  held  Feb- 
ruary 3d,  167.').  On  the  15th  of  the  same  month  the  inhabitants  met 
again  to  select  the  foundation  members,  who.  in  turn,  were  to  admit 
by  the  ordinary  processes  of  examination  and  profession.  The  record 
of  the  town  in  regard  to  this  event  is  as  follows: 

"  At  a  lawful  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Walling- 
ford, and  upon  the  15th  day  of  2nd  month,  1675,  it  was  ordered  and 
enacted  by  the  town,  that  as  there  had  been  conference  about  estab- 


"382  HIS'lORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

lishing  a  church  of  Christ  in  the  aforesaid  town,  and  also  a  solemn 
fast  set  apart  and  celebrated  by  the  town  unanimously  to  seek  God's 
guidance  in  so  great  a  work,  they  have  now  also  freely  and  unani- 
mously concluded,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  that  there  shall  be  a  church 
of  Christ  gathered  to  walk  according  to  the  Congregational  way,  and 
have  also  all  freely  and  unanimously  left  the  management  of  the  same 
in  the  hands  of  the  persons  whose  names  are  underwritten,  and  that 
if  it  be  the  will  of  God  to  incline  their  hearts,  so  many  of  them  as  may 
be  a  competent  number  for  that  work,  may  in  his  time  lay  the  found- 
ation. 

Thomas  Yale,  Nehemiah  Rovce, 

Eliasaph  Preston,  John  Hall,  Sen'r., 

Mr.  Moss,  Lieut.  Merriam, 

Mr.  Sam'l  Street,  Serg't  Doolittle, 

Nathan  Andrews,  John  Hall,  Jr., 

Mr.  Brockett,  John  Beach, 

Benl  Lewls." 
The  court  of  election   of  the  colony,  held  at  Hartford.  May  13th, 
1675,  approved  this  purpose  of  the  town,  and  granted  leave  to  estab- 
lish the  church,  consequent  upon  the  approbation  of  the  neighboring 
churches,  which  was  not  withheld. 

Having  no  house  of  worship,  the  meetings  were  held  at  the  dwell- 
insfs  of  Lieutenant  Nathaniel  Merriam  and  Ensigfn  Munson,  the  town 
paying  for  the  use  of  the  same  at  the  rate  of  40  shillings  per  year; 
and  this  custom  was  continued  about  ten  years.  But  at  the  town 
meeting  October  2d,  1676,  it  was  contemplated  to  build  a  meeting 
house,  30  by  34  feet.  A  consideration  of  the  project  led  them,  after 
the  lapse  of  two  years,  to  decide  November  27th,  1678,  "  to  build  a 
house  to  meete  in  on  ye  Saboth  of  28  foot  in  Length  and  24  foot 
breadth  &  ten  foot  in  stud  between  ye  groundsill  and  wall  plate,  to  be 
comfortably  and  comleyly  fitted  up  with  doers  and  windows  and  floors 
and  other  things  nedeful  in  order  to  the  end  propounded." 

Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  material  and  the  lack  of  means  it  took 
several  years  to  complete  this  building,  a  further  rate  being  levied  in 
1681  to  that  end.  The  house  was  built  of  logs,  with  a  square  roof 
running  to  a  point  at  the  center,  where  was  a  small  turret. 

Doors  on  the  east  and  on  the  south  afforded  entrance  and  the 
windows  were  small,  with  shutters  but  without  panes  of  glass.  This 
meeting  house  stood  on  the  hillside  north  of  the  present  church  and 
there  is  an  account  that  when  work  on  it  was  begun,  the  minister  of  a 
neighboring  church  was  present  and  preached  from  the  words  of 
Isaiah:  "  My  beloved  hath  a  vineyard  in  a  very  fruitful  hill,"  which, 
in  view  of  the  beauty  of  the  site  and  its  surroundings,  was  certainly 
an  appropriate  selection. 

The  interior  of  this  hou.se  was  very  plain,  there  being  neither 
pews  nor  slips,  but  long  seats,  the  sexes  occupying  opposite  sides  of 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  383 

the  house.  At  the  door  were  seats  for  the  soldiers,  for  there  was  yet 
apprehension  of  attack  by  the  Indians  and  the  precautions  of  those 
times  were  observed.  In  February,  1689,  the  town  agreed  to  build  a 
fort  round  the  meeting  house,  to  provide  still  greater  .security  against 
a  possible  incursion  by  the  red  men. 

In  1690  the  town  had  73  families  and  the  meeting  house 
having  become  too  small,  an  addition  of  16  feet  was  made  to  its 
breadth.  The  following  year  the  interior  was  changed,  the  pulpit 
being  removed  to  the  west  end  and  a  sounding  top  placed  over  it. 
Two  pews  were  also  ordered  to  be  built  and  short  seats  were  placed 
on  the  sides  of  the  pulpit. 

In  the  course  of  seven  years  the  town  was  again  obliged  to  enlarge 
the  meeting  house  and  in  February,  1698,  it  was  voted  to  build  an 
addition  on  the  east  side,  20  by  5o  feet,  giving  the  improved  building 
the  form  of  a  capital  T.  Still  greater  accommodations  being  demanded, 
on  the  30th  of  April,  1706,  "  The  town  chose  Deken  Hall,  Samuel 
Roys  and  Goodman  Culvert  a  committee  to  procure  workmen  to  come 
and  build  gallers  for  the  Inlargement  of  the  meeting:  house." 

Of  this  church  Doctor  Davis,  in  his  "  History  of  Wallmgford," 
says:  "  In  this  little  edifice — meaner  and  more  rude  in  its  construction 
than  any  building  now  in  the  valley — the  fathers  of  the  town  held 
their  solemn  assemblies,  offered  up  their  united  prayers,  and  put  forth 
their  stern  views  of  doctrine.  At  the  appointed  hour,  the  drum  hav- 
ing been  beaten,  both  the  first  time  and  the  second,  the  whole  popula- 
tion, from  the  dwellings  of  the  town  and  the  outlying  farms  came 
together  in  the  place  of  prayer.  In  plain  and  carefully  kept  clothes, 
the  saintly  heads  of  families  with  their  closely  trained  and  solemn 
faced  children,  came,  after  the  toils  of  the  week  to  observe  holy  da}-." 

The  increase  of  population  so  much  taxed  the  capacity  of  the  meet- 
ing house  that  chairs  and  stools  were  brought  and  placed  in  the 
"alleys  of  the  house"  to  accommodate  the  worshippers.  This 
resulted  in  so  much  inconvenience  that  by  vote  of  the  town,  in  1716, 
the  constable  was  ordered  to  remove  them.  Most  likely  this  uncere- 
monious ejectment  aided  to  settle  the  already  agitated  question  of 
building  a  new  meeting  house  for,  on  the  23d  of  September,  1717, 
that  matter  was  determined  by  a  vote  of  the  town,  when  it  was  decided 
to  build,  •' and  the  forms  of  the  house  to  be  like  Gilford  [Guilford  ] 
meeting  house  and  to  be  left  to  ye  committee  to  make  some  little  altera- 
tion if  they  see  cause;  and  layed  a  rate  of  eight  pence  on  the  pounde 
for  the  careing  of  the  meeting  house." 

The  committee  referred  to  and  who  were  to  have  charge  of  the 
building  were  Captain  John  Hall,  Ensign  Curtis,  Sergeant  Hart, 
Gideon  Ives,  William  Ward,  Joseph  Parker,  Robert  Hall  and  Samuel 
Hall.  So  the  old  meeting  house  was  taken  down  and  the  erection  of 
the  third  house  of  worship  begun.  A  site  for  it  was  .selected  in  front 
of  the  present  meeting  house,  where  the  frame  was  raised  in   1718. 


384  HISTORY  OF  new  haven  county. 

The  building  fronted  east,  the  main  entrance  being  on  its  side  to  the 
street  and  at  the  north  end  or  gable  of  the  house  was  the  steeple.  It 
was  a  large  structure,  three  stories  high,  with  two  tiers  of  galleries. 
It  was  completed  and  occupied  in  1720. 

In  the  prosecution  of  the  work  the  inhabitants  were  called  on  for 
labor  and  means,  but  as  money  was  scarce  progress  was  somewhat 
slow.  Nails  and  glass  were  secured  by  the  exchange  of  barrel  staves. 
In  1719  Captain  Hall  was  authorized  to  exchange  a  vessel  load  of 
.staves  to  secure  the  above  articles,  and  that  year  a  contract  was  made 
with  John  Russell,  a  glazier  of  Wethersfield,  "  to  make  all  the  glass 
for  the  new  meeting  house."  Unlike  the  old  house,  in  the  new  one 
more  attention  was  paid  to  the  interior  arrangement.  A  whole  range 
of  pews  was  built  arotind  the  sides  of  the  new  house,  and  several  of 
the  inhabitants  were  permitted  to  build  pews  of  their  own,  wliich 
should  befit  their  position.  Captain  John  Hall  was  thus  given  liberty 
to  have  a  pew  near  the  last  door.  The  assignment  of  the  pews  was 
placed  in  the  care  of  a  committee,  to  "  dignify  and  seat  the  meeting 
house."  This  committee  was  instructed  to  respect  the  aged,  "  who 
had  been  serviceable  to  the  town,"  and  "to  have  respect  for  those  who 
had  borne  commissions."  After  these  classes  had  received  attention, 
the  remainder  of  the  congregation  were  seated  according  to  their 
social  position,  proper  preference  being  given  to  the  family  of  the  min- 
ister. In  the  galleries  were  usually  the  seats  of  the  young  people, 
boys  under  18  years  of  age  being  excluded  from  the  upper  one,  on 
account  of  the  too  great  opportunity  there  afforded  to  indulge  in  friv- 
olous conduct.  In  the  lower  one  boys  were  permitted  under  the  watch 
of  some  person  appointed  by  the  town  for  that  purpose,  and  who  was 
invested  with  constabulary  powers. 

It  appears  that  in  bttilding  the  new  meeting  house  some  of  the  in- 
habitants favored  a  steeple,  while  others  were  opposed  to  such  an  in- 
novation. But  in  1718  it  was  voted  to  build  one,  which,  however,  was 
not  done  until  1728.  The  top  of  the  belfry  was  crowned  b}'  a  large 
brass  rooster.  The  three  story  meeting  house  was  used  more  than  a 
hundred  years,  and  within  its  walls  some  of  the  most  stirring  events  of 
the  church  and  the  town  took  place.  It  was  taken  down  in  1824  and 
the  fourth  meeting  house  of  the  church  erected  in  its  stead,  in  the 
pastorate  of  Mr.  Noyes.  It  .stood  farther  back  on  the  lot  and  was  what 
was  termed  a  two-story  building,  having  but  one  gallery.  In  the  rear 
of  the  lower  part  was  a  basement.  The  entrance  was  from  the  east 
through  a  piazza,  whose  roof  was  supported  by  large  pillars.  The 
spire  surmounted  the  front  of  the  roof,  a  part  of  the  weight  resting 
on  the  piazza  pillars.     It  was  crowned  with  a  ball  and  a  weather  vane. 

The  present  edifice  occupied  by  the  society  is  the  fifth  meeting 
house  erected  by  the  First  Congregational  church.  It  is  a  large  and 
imposing  building,  with  a  seating  capacity  .of  more  than  700  persons, 
and  cost  about  §40,000.     The  corner  stone  was  laid  June  16th,  1868, 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  385 

and  it  was  dedicated  May  21st  186'.).  Since  that  time  it  has  been 
freely  repaired  and  supplied  with  various  features  to  make  it  attrac- 
tive and  comfortable. 

The  first  minister  of  the  settlers  of  Wallingford,  Reverend  John 
Harriman,  preached  two  years,  when  began  the  first  regular  pastorate 
by  the  Reverend  Samuel  Street.  He  was  a  son  of  Nicholas  Street  of 
New  Haven,  the  colleague  of  Davenport,  and  was  40  years  old  when 
he  came  to  Wallingford,  in  April,  1673.  He  was  carefully  educated 
and  had  graduated  from  Harvard  in  1664.  His  in.stallation  at  Wal- 
lingford did  not  take  place  until  1674,  but  from  the  time  of  his  call  in 
1672  he  was  practically  the  settled  pastor.  Before  his  coming  the  town 
had  provided  him  a  house  and  voted  him  a  salary  of  £50  per  year.  In 
the  later  years  of  his  pastorate  allotments  of  land  were  made  for  "his 
encouragement,"  both  by  the  general  court  and  the  town.  The  for- 
mer, at  its  session  in  Hartford  in  May.  1681.  granted  him  200  acres, 
which  he  sold  in  1686  to  John  Hulls  of  Derby.  The  year  previous  the 
town  had  granted  him  twelve  well  located  acres,  and  at  various  times 
granted  lands,  until  his  holdings  amounted  to  120  acres.  Aside  from 
this  the  pastors  salary  was  increased,  what  seems  a  generous  allow- 
ance being  made.  April  28th,  1696,  "The  Town  voted  to  allow  Mr 
Saml  Street  as  A  recompense  for  his  labours  in  3'e  worke  of  ye  min- 
istry in  ye  year  1696  ye  full  and  just  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  in 
provision  pay,  only  ye  sd  Mr  Street  is  to  find  himself  firewood  &  he 
will  set  a  week  in  ye  fore  part  of  ye  sumer  &  a  week  in  ye  latter  part 
of  ye  sumer  yteach  man  may  bring  a  load  of  wood  or  two  if  ye  sd  Mr 
Street  see  Cause  &  yt  Mr  Street  will  allow  2  &  6d  P  load  to  each 
man." 

Besides  being  pastor  of  the  church  42  years,  Mr.  Street  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  and  was  much  respected  by 
all  its  inhabitants.     He  died  January  16th,  1717,  aged  82  years. 

Before  the  decease  of  Mr  Street  a  colleague  had  been  provided, 
the  town  taking  action  in  this  matter  as  early  as  July,  1708.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  which  invited  Mr.  Samuel  Whittlesey  to  preach 
and,  September  20th,  1708,  the  town  confirmed  the  agreement  which 
this  committee  had  made,  being  satisfied  with  his  preaching.  A 
longer  trial  induced  the  town  to  extend  him  a  pastoral  call,  the  terms 
of  which  are  contained  in  the  following  letter.  This  is  here  produced 
to  show  the  zeal  which  animated  this  community  and  also  indicates 
their  povert}'  in  worldly  riches.  Although  disposed  to  pay  well  for 
ministerial  service  they  had  to  resort  to  make-shifts  in  order  to  raise 
the  salary: 

"  Mr  Whittlesey,  Sur: — The  subscribers  hereof  being  a  committee 
appointed  and  empowered  by  the  town  of  Wallingford  as  may  appear 
by  their  record,  bearing  date  April  4,  1709,  to  treat  with  yourself  in 
order  to  a  settlement  with  us  in  the  ministry,  and  for  your 
incouragement  to  comply  with  us  therein,  doe  propose  to  make 
24 


386  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

such  grants  of  lands  and  other  incouragements  following — first 
we  doe  give  and  grant  to  you,  the  said  Mr.  vSamtiel  Whit- 
telsey,  a  six  acar  lott  of  land  lying  neare  the  meeting  hou.se; 
and  one  acar  and  a  half  of  the  west  end  of  Deaken  John  Hall's 
home  lott  for  a  building  lott,  to  be  bought  for  yon;  also  a  peace  of 
land  at  southward  side  the  Leatel  quarter,  on  the  hill,  on  which  the 
town  stands,  fifteen  acars;  and  seaven  acars  of  pasture  land  on  the 
north  side  of  Nath'l  Ives  home  lott;  also  a  meadow  lott  of  land  in 
the  common  field  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  of  twenty  acars  and 
known  by  the  name  of  the  parsonage;  and  fore  acars  of  plaine  in  the 
same  field  called  the  town  lott,  also  a  farm  of  hundred  and  fifty  acars 
of  land  att  Pilgrim's  Harbor,  called  the  town  farm,  with  all  the  unlaid 
outt  land  adjoining,  and  one  hundred  pound  right  in  commonage  and 
in  all  undivided  land,  all  which  shall  be  the  said  Mr.  Sam'I  Whittelsey. 
his  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  and  assigns  for  ever,  as  an 
estate  of  inheritance  in  fee  simple.  Likewise  the  said  committee  doe 
agree  to  build  a  house  for  the  s'd  Mr.  Sam'll  Whittelsey  of  forty-two 
feet  in  length  and  twenty  feet  in  breadth,  tow  stories  hye,  with  a 
porch  and  back  kitching  and  finished  deasantly,  the  said  Mr.  Samuel 
Whittelsey  to  provide  glass  and  nales;  which  house  is  to  be  soe  built 
within  tow  years;  the  s'd  committee  doth  farther  agree  that  the  said 
Mr.  Whittelsey  shall  have  a  sallery  of  seaventy  pound  a  year  for  the 
tow  first  years  and  the  thurd  yeare  eighty  pound  and  one  hundred 
pound  a  yeare  ever  after  soe  long  as  he  carrieth  on  the  work  of  the 
ministry;  which  sallery  shall  be  paid  in  wheat  at  five  shillings  par 
bushel,  rye  at  three  shillings  sixpence  par  bushel,  pork  at  three  pence 
farding  per  pound,  and  if  it  soe  fall  out  that  there  doth  not  come  a 
supply  of  fire  wood  yearly  to  the  s'd  Mr.  Whittelsey  by  parsons 
appearing  to  do  it  gratis,  then  the  town  are  obliged  to  take  the  care 
and  find  him  his  wood  in  some  other  way — but  if  the  providence  of 
God  should  so  order  that  the  said  Mr.  Sam'll  Whittelsey  dye  leaving 
no  male  Hare  that  is  a  natural  issue  of  his  bodye,  then  the  six  acar 
lott  by  the  meeting  house  and  the  meadow  lott  called  the  parsonage 
to  returne  to  the  town  againe  to  the  true  and  honest  intent  and  par- 
formans  of  the  preameses  we  the  before  named  committee  have  sett 
our  names 

Thom.\s  Yale,  John  Hall,  Sr., 

Samuel  Hall,  John  Meariman, 

Thomas  Curtis,  John  Hall, 

John  Parker." 
Mr.  Whittlesey  accepted  the  call  on  the  conditions  named,  and  was 
installed  in  May,  1710,  as  the  colleague  of  Mr.  Street,  becoming  the 
sole  pastor  upon  the  decease  of  the  latter,  seven  years  later.  He  was 
a  son  of  John  Whittlesey,  the  first  emigrant  of  that  name  in  this  coun- 
try, and  was  born  at  Saybrook,  Conn.,  in  1686.  Becoming  a  student 
of  Yale,  he  graduated  in  1705.     Seven  years  later  he  married  Sarah 


IllSTUKV    OK    N"t:\V    HAVKN    COTNTY.  387 

Chauncey,  a  granddaughter  of  President  Chauncey,  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, who  was  a  woman  of  strong  force  and  character.  Mr. Whittlesey 
died  in  the  service  of  the  church,  April  2r)th,  17o2,  while  yet  in  the 
vigor  of  manhood. 

He  was  an  unusually  talented  man,  and  was  one  of  the  most  emi- 
nent preachers  in  the  colony  in  his  day.  •'  He  applied  his  whole  time 
to  his  work,  and  shone  with  distinction  in  intellectual  and  moral  at- 
tainments. For  twenty  years  he  was  a  fellow  in  Yale  College,  in 
which  institution  his  son,  Samuel,  was  a  tutor  for  six  years,  from  1TH2, 
when  he  became  the  associate  pastor  of  the  Milford  church.  The 
other  members  of  his  family  reflected  the  attainments  of  their  father, 
and  the  descendants  of  this  worthy  minister  have  remained  useful 
citizens  in  the  state,  which  delights  to  honor  his  revered  name." 

We  come  now  to  the  consideration  of  a  most  critical  period  in  the 
history  of  the  church.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Whittlesey  it  soon  be- 
came apparent  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  .secure  a  new  pastor  in 
whom  would  be  combined  the  qualities  of  the  old  one,  and  who  could 
conti-ol  a  membership  which  had  already  become  restless,  even  under 
the  judicious  management  of  Mr.  Whittlesey.  The  people  were  so 
divided  in  their  opinions  and  feelings  that  although  about  twenty 
candidates  had  been  heard,  nearly  six  years  elapsed  before  a  successor 
was  called.  In  1757  matters  had  so  far  progressed  that  a  ballot  on  the 
■candidates  was  held,  100  votes  being  cast.  Of  this  number  Mr.  Chaun- 
cey Whittlesey,  a  son  of  the  old  pastor,  received  48,  the  remainder  of 
the  votes  being  divided  among  four  other  candidates.  The  friends  of 
Mr. Whittlesey  were  staunch  in  their  adherence  to  him,  and  the  others 
being  equally  unyielding,  no  choice  was  made,  and  the  breach  con- 
tinued to  widen.  In  this  strait  the  society,  in  March,  1758,  referred 
the  matter  of  selection  to  a  committee  of  .seven  of  the  leading  men 
of  the  town,  whose  judgment  was  greatly  respected.  After  confer- 
ence this  committee  submitted  the  question  to  neighboring  ministers 
— the  Reverends  Samuel  Whittlesey,  Samuel  Hall,  Isaac  Stiles  and 
Theophilus  Hall — who  advised  the  committee,  April  20th,  1758,  "  to 
send  to  Mr.  Holyoke,  President  of  Cambridge  College,  Mr.  Appleton, 
minister  of  Cambridge,  and  Doctor  Chauncey.  of  Boston,  for  their  Di- 
rection to  some  suitable  candidate  for  the  ministry  in  said  Walling- 
ford."  This  was  done  by  the  committee,  and  Doctor  Chauncey  being 
absent  the  two  first  named  recommended  Mr.  James  Dana,  of  Cam- 
bridge, a  graduate  of  Harvard  in  1758,  as  a  most  suitable  person  to 
supp]}-  the  wants  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Dana  was  at  that  time  23  years  old  and  was  undoubtedly  a 
young  man  of  marked  attainments  and  rich  promise.  He  was  invited 
to  visit  Wallingford,  with  a  view  of  becoming  a  candidate  for  settle- 
ment and,  coming,  preached  several  Sabbaths  to  the  apparent  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned.  Samuel  Hall,Elihu  Hall,  Ensign  Theophilus 
Doolittle,  Charles  Whittlesey,  John  Hall,  John  Peck,   Deacon  John 


388  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Hall,  Caleb  Merriman,  Lieutenant  Joseph  Royee,  Lieutenant  Caleb 
Johnson,  Captain  Nathaniel  Beadel,  Captain  Peter  Hall,  Captain 
Eliakim  Hall,  John  Moss  and  Abraham  Stanley  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  secure  him  as  a  pastor  and  to  arrange  the  terms  of  his 
acceptance.  On  the  2d  of  September,  1758,  Mr.  Dana  agreed  to  become 
the  pastor  and  it  was  decided  that  he  should  have  ^2U0  settlement; 
/"SO  salary,  the  first  year,  ^90  the  second  year,  and  ;^10()  per  year 
thereafter  as  long  as  he  continued  in  the  ministry  of  the  society. 

Unfortunately,  at  this  juncture,  a  question  arose  as  to  the  sound- 
ness of  Mr.  Dana  upon  .some  theological  points  and  upon  his  being 
questioned  in  relation  to  the  same,  he  answered  them  in  .such  a  manner 
as  to  lead  some  of  the  aforesaid  committee  to  think  that  he  was  not 
sufficiently  orthodo.x  to  become  their  minister.  Hence,  when  the 
society  voted  to  give  him  a  settlement  and  salary,  while  140  voted  in 
his  favor,  so  much  opposition  had  already  arisen  that  02  votes  were 
cast  against  him.  Mr.  Dana  accepted  the  pastoral  office,  as  he  was 
clearly  the  choice  of  the  majority,  but  the  opposition  not  only  did  not 
cease  but  now  assumed  larger  and  more  determined  proportions. 
Explicit  charges  were  made  against  him,  to  the  Consociation  of  New 
Haven  county,  which  were  signed  September  25th,  1758,  by  Caleb 
Merriman,  Caleb  John,son,  Daniel  Clark,  Street  Hall  and  Levi  Moss. 
The  consideration  of  these  charges  and  the  que.stions  which  arose 
from  their  discussion,  involving,  as  they  did,  many  of  the  controverted 
points  at  issue  between  the  "Old  Lights"  and  the  "New  Lights," 
culminated,  finally,  in  what  became  widely  known  as  "  The  Walling- 
ford  Controversy."  Of  this  it  has  been  said  "  that  it  more  than  all 
others  became  a  matter  of  public  concern  and  opened  a  distinct  era 
in  New  England  theology  and  in  history  of  the  '  liberties  of  the 
churches.'  Mr.  Dana  was  set  apart  to  the  ministry  by  an  '  Old  Light ' 
council,  in  the  face  of  protest  of  a  respectable  minority  and  against 
the  solemn  edict  of  the  Consociation  of  New  Haven  county,  which  had 
met  at  Wallingford  to  forbid  the  ordination  of  a  candidate  charged 
■with  doctrinal  unsoundness,  even  with  Socinian  or  Arminian  proclivi- 
ties. The  bold  procedure  of  ordaining  in  spite  of  the  prohibition  was 
a  triumph  of  the  principle  for  which  the  'New  Lights'  had  long 
contended:  and  the  pens  of  the  time  were  alive  in  its  censure  or  its 
defense.  It  was  a  triumph  also  over  the  power  of  the  '  ecclesiastical 
constitution  of  the  dissenters,'  and  Noah  Hobart,  aided  by  President 
Clap  and  other  leading  divines  of  the  colony  proved  to  be  a  champion 
no  more  successful  here,  for  the  Saybrook  Platform,  than  he  had  been 
in  his  addresses  to  the  members  of  the  Episcopal  separation  in  New 
England.  Those  on  the  other  side  found  support  for  their  action  in 
the  popular  voice  as  well  as  in  the  voice  of  a  body  of  ministers  trained 
under  the  influence  of  Whitefield's  teachings."* 

The  council  called  to  ordain  Mr.  Dana  and  the  Consociation  meet- 
*  Doctor  Beardsley  and  Dr.  Davis. 


IIISTORV    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  389 

ing  to  examine  the  charges  against  him  both  assembled  at  Walling- 
ford  October  loth,  J758,  and  after  several  days  ineffectual  attempts  to 
adjust  matters,  the  Consociation  forbidding,  the  ordaining  council 
determined  to  go  on,  being  satisfied  with  the  Christian  character  of 
Mr.  Dana  and  that  his  views  did  not  unfit  him  for  the  ministry.  Mr. 
Dana  was  ordained  October  12th,  1758.  Before  the  ordination  the 
Consociation  certified  to  the  council  that  95  members  of  the  society 
were  opposed  to  Mr.  Dana  and  that  they  possessed  half  the  rate- 
able estate.  Some  of  those  opposed  were  the  largest  tax  payers  and 
were  men  of  high  standing  in  the  town.  Naturally,  to  them  the 
selection  of  Mr.  Dana  was  very  aggravating,  especially  since  he  re- 
fused to  be  interrogated  in  regard  to  his  doctrinal  belief,  by  some 
of  these  men,  who  probably  demanded  that  right  on  account  of  their 
social  position.  Hence  they  were  interested  in  keeping  alive  the 
opposition  to  'Mr.  Dana  and  through  the  Consociation  had  the  sentence 
of  non-communion  passed  against  some  of  the  principal  adherents  of 
Mr.  Dana,  as  well  as  against  the  pastor  himself.  Later,  in  March, 
1759.  they  moved  to  have  the  council  which  had  ordained  Mr.  Dana, 
and  which  was  composed  of  the  Reverend  Joseph  Noyes,  Isaac 
Stiles,  Theophilus  Hall.  Samuel  Whittlesey,  Jonathan  Todd  and 
Chauncey  Whittlesey,  elders;  and  Robert  Treat,  Nathaniel  Ruggles, 
Thomas  Darling  and  Ezekiel  Royce,  messengers,  cut  off  from 
ministeral  intercourse  with  the  other  ministers  in  the  county.  This 
being  done  the  disfellowshipped  ministers  formed  a  new  association 
which  was  continued  about  twelve  years,  when  the  excitement  hav- 
ing subsided  the  old  Consociation  made  overtures  which  resulted  in 
uniting  them  into  one  body. 

After  the  disfellowshipof  Mr.  Dana,  he  and  his  adherents  remained 
in  po.ssession  of  the  meeting  house,  the  dissentients  absenting  them- 
selves from  the  worship.  Birt,  on  the  advice  of  the  Consociation,  they 
applied  for  the  use  of  the  meeting  house  when  not  occupied  by  Mr. 
Dana,  and  that  body  would  supply  preaching.  Under  this  arrange- 
ment, Benjamin  Woodbridge  preached  several  times,  but  on  being 
adjudged  a  disorderly  person,*  August  14th,  1759,  on  proper  complaint 
made,  the  meetings  were  there  discontinued.  The  dissentients  did 
not.  however,  acquiesce  in  the  payment  of  their  taxes,  imposed  for  the 
support  of  the  ecclesiastical  society,  without  an  eft'ort  for  relief.  In 
May,  1700,  96  persons  petitioned  the  general  assembly,  pleading  that 
the  action  of  the  Consociation,  April  23d,  1760,  in  disfellowing  the 
entire  church,  on  account  of  adherence  to  unorthodox  doctrine,  war- 
ranted them  in  the  claim  that  they  (adherents  of  the  Consociation) 
were  rightfully  the  society,  and  should  have  possession  of  the  meeting 
house  and  its  immunities.  To  this  petition  Charles  Whittlesey,  agent 
for  the  society,  made   reply,  stating  that  the  dissentients  were  the 

*  That  is,  preaching-  without  consent  of  the  regular  minister,  in  violation  of  a 
colony  law  of  that  period. 


390  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

minor  party  who  had  participated  in  the  call  of  Mr.  Dana,  and  after- 
ward endeavored  to  interpose  an  irregular  Consocional  council,  raising 
a  most  violent  opposition,  etc.,  "  and  although  they  were  released  from 
rates  for  the  support  of  Mr.  Dana  and  allowed  to  worship  by  them- 
selves, as  provided  by  assembly,  yet  they  persisted  and  petitioned  the 
General  Assembly,"  hence  that  body  was  asked  to  subject  the  minor 
party  to  taxes  or  restrain  them  from  interference. 

However,  the  dissentient  party  persisted  in  its  claim  for  an  inter- 
est in  or  division  of  property  of  the  First  Society,  and  for  a  term  of 
3^ears  the  general  assembly  was  flooded  with  petitions  and  counter 
prayers  until  the  matter  became  a  grievous  burden  to  that  body. 

Early  in  1702,  the  opposition  to  Mr.  Dana,  or  the  "constitutional 
party,"  as  they  now  termed  themselves,  through  John  Hall,  Caleb- 
Merriman,  Eliakim  Hall  and  Isaac  Johnson,  again  besought  the  assem- 
bly that  the  society's  and  the  public's  interests  might  be  divided,  and 
that  the  society  be  restrained  from  levying  any  further  rates.  As  a 
reason  for  claim  to  this  exemption  and  participation  in  the  old  prop- 
erty, they  stated  that  they  had  settled  Mr.  Waterman  as  their  own 
pastor,  and  had  now  a  distinct  society  of  their  own.  On  the  memorial 
of  John  Hall,  Jr.,  and  others.  May  1st,  1672,  this  ecclesiastical  society 
was  incorporated,  to  "  be  called,  known  and  distinguished  bv  the  name 
of  Wells."* 

At  the  time  Mr.  Waterman  was  settled  as  their  pastor,  October, 
1761,  the  .society  had  61  members.  Nine  years  later  the  number  was 
104,  which  was  near  the  maximum  strength.  In  April,  1762,  a  place 
for  a  meeting  house  was  selected,  being  a  lot  partly  on  Israel  John- 
son's land  and  partly  on  the  common.  This  was  18  rods  from  the  old 
meeting  house,  and  was  believed  to  be  far  enough  away  to  prevent 
disturbance  to  the  old  .society.  That  body,  however,  asked  for  an  in- 
junction to  prevent  buildmg,  which  was  refused;  and  also  brought  wit- 
nesses to  testify  that  the  services  of  the  Wells  .Society  could  be  heard 
25  rods. 

The  building  of  the  Wells  meetinghouse  was  begun,  when  some 
of  Mr.  Dana's  parish  threatened  to  destroy  it,  because  it  was  partly 
on  the  highway.  "  A  fight  over  the  trenches  dug  for  the  foundations 
brought  together  the  inhabitants  for  miles  around  to  participate  in 
the  scene,  or  to  witness  its  issue."  But  the  meeting  house  was  built 
as  begun,  and  was  opened  for  services  December  8th,  1762.  It  stood. 
ou  part  of  the  present  Episcopal  church  lot,  and  was  a  so-called  two- 
story  frame  house,  with  its  side  to  the  street,  where  was  a  door  and  eight 
windows.  Another  door  was  at  the  south  gable  end.  The  architec- 
ture was  plain,  but  the  building  was  so  substantial  that  it  stood  about 
eighty  years.     It  was  used  in  turn  by  the  "  Wells  Ecclesiastical  So- 

*It  is  claimed  by  some  that  this  name  was  given  for  a  wealthy  citizen  who 
liberally  supported  the  movement. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  391 

ciety,"  the  Baptists  and  the  Episcopalians,  after  1880,  and  as  their 
property  was  taken  down,  by  that  body,  after  184(i. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  trace  the  .struggle  for  their  supposed 
rights  which  took  place  between  these  two  societies,  from  ITRo  for  the 
next  twenty  years,  but  space  forbids.  The  advantages  of  the  situa- 
tion alternated  from  one  society  to  the  other,  and  each  had  its  earnest 
advocates,  not  only  in  the  town,  but  throughout  the  entire  colony.  In 
the  town,  however,  the  most  baneful  effects  were  felt.  It  was  divided 
against  itself,  and  many  brethren  were  alienated  to  such  an  extent 
that  they  connected  themselves  with  churches  of  other  persuasions. 

Mr.  Waterman  continued  pastor  of  the  Wells  church  until  Jtine, 
1787,  when  he  was  dismissed  on  account  of  the  inability  of  the  society 
to  give  him  farther  support.  Soon  after  the  church  ceased  to  exist. 
In  November,  1788,  the  remaining  members  voted  unanimously  that 
"they  were  desirous  of  holding  Christian  fellowship  and  communion 
with  the  church  under  the  care  of  Reverend  James  Noyes,  notwith- 
standing the  sentence  of  non-communion  passed  some  years  since 
by  a  consociated  council  against  said  church." 

At  this  time  Air.  Dana  was  still  pastor  of  the  First  church,  Mr. 
Noyes  being  the  colleague  pastor.  His  views,  probably,  had  some- 
what changed,  and  much  of  the  prejudice  held  against  him  by  the 
dissentients  had  worn  away.  By  his  warm  advocacy  of  the  patriot 
cause  during  the  revolution,  he  had  also  become  more  popular,  not 
only  at  home,  but  throughout  the  colony.  His  political  soundness 
outweighed  his  inclination  to  Arminianism,  causing  many  to  overlook 
it  as  a  pardonable  offense.  It  should  be  remembered,  too,  that  the  war 
had  a  liberalizing  effect  upon  most  communities,  which,  under  the  in- 
spiration of  civil  liberty,  attained  at  such  great  cost,  favored  greater 
liberty  of  thought  upon  religious  matters. 

The  controversy  thus  extended  through  thirty  years  was  not  with- 
out important  compen.sating  results.  Chief  among  the.se  was  the 
overthrow  of  the  "Old  Lights  "  as  a  dominant  party.  Under  the 
"  Ecclesiastical  Constitution  "  of  the  colony  they  had  exercised  much 
arbitrary  power,  and  deprived  many  pastors  and  churches  of  their 
rights,  making  their  peculiar  constitution  a  very  engine  of  oppres- 
sion. In  this  conflict,  in  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Dana,  the  same  means 
which  they  had  so  long  used  was  turned  against  them,  and  the 
"Ecclesiastical  Constitution"  was  shorn  of  its  powers  in  the  attempt 
to  make  those  powers  coercive  against  the  will  of  the  majorit}-.  Xor 
were  the  "New  Lights"  fully  triumphant  in  this  conflict.  Mr.  Dana 
did  not  fully  favor  the  methods  of  Whitefield  and  other  itinerating 
ministers,  and  his  settlement  over  this  important  church,  in  the  face 
of  the  opposition  of  those  more  strongly  imbued  with  such  doctrines, 
had  a  modifying  effect  upon  that  .system.  Nevertheless,  the  contro- 
versy worked  the  dawn  of  a  new  era  in  New  England  theology:  and 
from  the  time  of  its  close  appeared  a  new  generation  of  ministers  who 


392  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

had  imbibed  the  spirit  of  the  "oreat  awakening,"  and  who  had,  to 
some  extent,  been  indoctrinated  with  the  teachings  of  modern  theolo- 
gians,  like  Edwards  and  Bellamy,  whose  influence  upon  the  churches 
is  felt  to  this  day.* 

In  1785,  the  health  of  Mr.  Dana  being  poor,  Mr.  James  Noyes  was 
chosen  as  his  colleague,  and  they  jointly  served  as  ministers  until 
17S9,  when  Air.  I  'ana  removed  to  New  Haven  to  fill  the  pulpit  made 
vacant  by  the  death  of  the  Reverend  Chauncey  Whittlesey.  There 
he  continued  pastor  of  the  First  church  until  the  summer  of  1805, 
when  he  retired,  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of  age.  He  died  at  New 
Haven,  August  18th,  1812,  at  the  age  of  77  years. 

Mr.  James  Noyes,  the  colleague  pastor  from  May  4th,  1785,  and  the 
sole  pastor  after  1789,  was  in  many  respects  the  very  opposite  of  Mr. 
Dana.  He  was  essentially  a  man  of  peace  and  harmony,  whose  genial 
nature  pleased  all  and  ofifended  none.  Until  June  5th,  1832,  he  per- 
formed the  pastoral  duties,  being  prevented  in  all  during  nearly  half 
a  century  of  years,  on  two  Sabbaths  only,  to  attend  to  his  office.  In 
his  ministry  279  persons  were  admitted  to  the  communion  of  the 
church,  leaving  150  members  at  its  close.  In  the  same  period  690  per- 
sons in  the  parish  died.  Reverend  James  Noyes  was  a  son  of  Jo.seph 
Noyes,  of  New  Haven,  and  was  born  in  that  city  in  1704.  When  18 
years  of  age  he  graduated  from  Yale  College,  where  he  was  afterward 
fitted  for  the  ministry,  which  he  began  at  Wallingford  at  the  age  of 
21  years.  He  died  at  Wallingford  February  18th,  1844,  beloved  by 
the  entire  community. 

Reverend  Edwin  R.  Gilbert  was  ordained  the  fotirth  pastor  Octo- 
ber 3d,  1832.  He  was  a  type  of  man  worthy  to  be  the  successor  of 
Mr.  Noyes  and  was  eminently  successful  in  a  pastorate  whose  duration 
was  terminated  only  by  his  death,  April  17th,  1874.  Mr.  Gilbert  was 
born  at  Hebron,  Conn.,  in  1808,  and  when  21  years  old  graduated 
from  Yale,  where  he  afterward  studied  theology.  His  ministr}'  at 
Wallingford  was  attended  by  the  growth  and  progress  of  the  church 
in  .spiritual  and  material  things,  the  church  being  at  the  time  of  his 
death  a  large  and  influential  body. 

After  the  Reverend  Solon  Cobb  had  supplied  the  pulpit,  in  1874-5, 
a  call  to  the  pastorate  was  extended  him,  which  he  declined,  and  sup- 
plies continued  to  serve  the  church  several  years. 

Reverend  H.  M.  Tenney  was  installed  as  the  sixth  pastor,  February 

*  "  The  Old  Lights  "  and  "  The  New  Lights." — Briefly,  these  terms  had  their 
origin  in  the  Evangelistic  labors  of  Whitefield  in  1740,  those  favoring  his  methods 
and  those  of  his  followers,  like  Tennant,  Bellamy,  Pomeroy  and  others,  being 
called  b)^  the  latter  title  ;  while  those  opposed  to  any  unusual  effort  to  awaken 
the  people  were  designated  by  the  former  name.  In  many  communities  the 
contention  between  these  two  was  long  and  bitter,  resulting,  in  many  instances, 
in  the  withdrawal  of  the  "New  Lights,"  who  established  societies  of  their  own. 
These  were  called  ScparaU  churches.  A  small  Sfpciratc  church  was  maintained, 
a  short  time,  in  the  southern  part  of  Wallingford. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  393 

27th,  1877.  by  a  largely  attended  council,  over  which  Leonard  Bacon, 
D.D.,  moderated.  This  pastoral  relation  was  continued  until  June  23d, 
1885,  when  a  council  was  called  to  dissolve  it,  Mr.  Tenney  resigning 
to  take  charge  of  a  church  in  the  West. 

The  seventh  and  present  pastor,  Reverend  Charles  H.  Dick- 
inson, was  ordained  December  17th,  188o,  coming  to  this  place  from 
Northampton,  Mass.  Under  his  care  the  church  continues  to  prosper. 
In  the  parish  were  380  families  who  contributed  a  membership  of 
more  than  400  persons,  in  the  fall  of  1889. 

There  has  been  a  long  line  of  deacons,  who  were  honored  in  the 
community  and  were  important  in  the  affairs  of  the  church.  They 
were:  Eliasaph  Preston,  died  1705;  John  Hall,  died  1721;  Samuel  Hall, 
died  172o:  John  Peck,  died  1768;  Samuel  Moss,  died  1765;  John  Hall, 
died  176G;  Samuel  Hall,  chosen  1760;  Benjamin  Atwater,  chosen  1766; 
Peter  Hall,  chosen  1772;  Oliver  Stanley,  chosen  1781;  Samuel  Hall, 
chosen  1780;  Joshua  Atwater,  chosen  1810;  Solomon  Carter,  chosen 
1810;  Josiah  Hall,  chosen  1816;  Joshua  Atwater,  chosen  1822;  Russell 
Hall,  chosen  1832;  Lyman  Cannon,  chosen  1832;  *John  Atwater,  chosen 
1851;  Levi  W.  Bates,  chosen  1851;  O.  Preston  Northrop,  chosen  1857; 
Samuel  Peck,  chosen  1857;  *Harvey  S.  Hall,  chosen  1868;  *Sereno  L 
Bartholomew,  chosen  1869;  *C.  F.  Harwood,  chosen  1878;  *A.  D.  Judd, 
chosen  1888;  -Henry  B.  Todd,  chosen  1888. 

Associated  with  the  deacons  in  1889  on  the  church  committee  were 
David  Gaylord,  A.  D.  McLean  and  Wm.  H.  Goddard.  John  Atwater 
was  for  many  years  clerk  and  in  1885  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
clerk,  Charles  F.  Harwood. 

Auxiliary  to  the  church  are  a  flourishing  Sabbath  school  and  a 
number  of  societies  to  aid  in  missionary  and  benevolent  work. 

Within  the  parish  have  been  raised  up  as  Congregational  minis- 
ters the  following:  Andrew  Bartholomew,  Joseph  Benam\%  David 
Brooks,  Timothy  Cloot,  Chaunce}'  Coot,  Benjamin  Doolittle,  Edward 
J.  Doolittle,  Ogden  Hall,  Lyman  Hall.  Samuel  Hall,  Theophilus  Hall, 
Luther  S.  Hough,  Jacob  Johnson,  Matthew  Merriman,  James  Noyes, 
Nicholas  Street,  John  Tyler,  Samuel  Whittlesey,  Comfort  Williams 
and  Thomas  Yale. 

The  Wallingford  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  1785.  The 
early  history  of  this  church  is  somewhat  obscure,  on  account  of  the 
changes  which  occurred  before  it  became  a  permanent  body.  Count- 
ing from  the  first  attempt  to  maintain  an  organized  Baptist  society 
in  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  this  was  the  third  church  formed.  The 
first  church  was  organized  in  Groton  in  1705,  and  the  second  in 
Waterford  in  1710.  There  were  about  ten  families  represented,  con- 
tributing thirteen  members,  Timothy  Waters  was  the  minister.  In 
the  course  of  a  few  years  Reverend  John  Merriman,  one  of  the  mem- 
bers, was  ordained  as  the  pastor.     He  was  subsequently  the  pa.stor  of 

*Deacons,  December.  1889. 


394  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  Southington  church,  where  he  died  in  1784,  in  the  Sltth  year  of 
his  age.  How  long  he  preached  for  the  Baptists  of  Wallingford  is 
not  positively  known;  probably  as  a  regular  pastor  not  more  than  a 
few  years.  He  was  a  man  of  liberal  views  and  in  the  "great  awaken- 
ing" in  religious  matters,  which  prevailed  in  the  period  of  his  pastor- 
ate, when  there  seemed  to  be  a  general  concern  for  the  salvation  of 
souls,  he  invited  some  of  the  neighboring  ministers  of  the  Estab- 
lished or  Congregational  church  to  preach  to  his  people.  In  this  way 
Doctor  Bellamy  had  come  and  expounded  the  word  to  their  satisfac- 
tion and  in  the  same  way  Reverend  Philemon  Robbins,  the  "  New 
Light"  minister  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Branford,  was  now 
asked  to  come,  in  December.  1841,  and,  agreeing,  he  made  an  engage- 
ment to  preach  on  January  6th,  1742.  Two  days  previous  to  that 
time  he  was  handed  a  letter  by  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational 
church  of  Wallingford,  which  was  signed  by  42  men  of  the  town, 
desiring  him  not  to  preach  to  the  Baptists,  but  assigning  no  reason 
why  he  should  not.  As  the  Baptists  of  Wallingford,  acting  on  the 
advice  of  Governor  Talcott,  had  not  been  required  to  pay  their  rates 
to  the  ecclesiastical  society,  thus  admitting  their  right  to  maintain  a 
society  of  their  own,  they  could  not  properly  be  classed  as  disorderly 
persons*  and,  after  due  deliberation,  he  filled  Jiis  engagement.  This 
act  awakened  a  hostile  feeling  toward  Mr.  Robbins,  not  only  in  the 
Consociation  of  the  county,  but  also  in  his  own  church,  which  made 
his  ministerial  life  very  unpleasant  for  the  next  five  years. 

Fortitnately  through  his  consistent  bearing  in  these  troublous- 
times  and  his  devotion  to  his  chosen  calling,  even  after  the  Consocia- 
tion had  deposed  him  from  his  ministerial  oflfice  and  relation  to  the 
church  in  Branford  in  1747,+  his  opponents  were  forced  to  believe  in 
the  integrity  of  his  purposes  and  that  he  meant  no  offense  in  preach- 
ing to  the  Baptists.  He  was  re-instated  in  the  favor  of  his  church 
"  which  advanced  his  salary  and  encouraged  him  by  public  acts  of 
generosity,"  and  again,  in  1755,  became  an  honored  member  of  the 
Consociation,  sitting  with  that  body  until  his  death  in  1781.  It  can- 
not be  doubted,  however,  that  the  persecution  directed  at  Mr.  Robbins 
also  affected  the  feeble  Baptist  society  in  Wallingford  and  from  con- 
temporary accounts  it  appears  that  it  did  not  survive  the  aspersions 
heaped  upon  it  and,  sometime  before  1750,  its  organization  was  dis- 
continued. 

Nearly  forty  years  elap.sed  before  the  formation  of  another  church 
vv-as  attempted.  Meantime,  through  the  influences  of  the  revolution 
and  other  causes,  the  Congregational  church  had  become  less  exacting 
of  its  recognized  prerogatives  and  more  tolerant  of  the  views  of  other 

*  A  term  applied  to  those  who  absented  themselves  from  the  lawful  congre- 
gation and  held  meetings  of  their  own  in  violation  of  a  colony  law.  See  Acts 
and  Laws,  p.  139. 

t  See  History  of  Branford. 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY."  395 

persuasions.  _A  more  liberal  feeling  prevailed,  and,  under  these  fav- 
orable conditions,  Reverend  Solomon  Wheat,  a  Baptist  minister,  of 
Glastenbnr}',  came  and  preached.  A  number  of  persons  became  con- 
verts to  the  doctrine  which  he  taught,  as  founded  upon  the  principles 
of  the  Gospel,  and  were  baptized  according  to  the  ordinances  of  the 
Baptist  church,  two  persons  repairing  to  Glastenbury  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  organization  of  a  .society  followed.  August  23d,  1786,  a 
dozen  persons,  "  by  mutual  agreement  spent  the  day  in  fasting  and 
solemn  prayer  to  Almighty  God  to  succeed  and  ble.ss  their  endeavor 
to  build  Him  a  house  and  that  He  would  form  them  into  a  Gospel 
Church."  Their  covenant  was  signed  by  Isaac  Hall,  Samuel  Mix, 
Charles  Ives,  Leah  Peck.  Ephraim  Hough,  Sarah  Ives,  Zenas  Brockett, 
Mary  Hull,  Asaph  Mitchell,  Jerusha  Matoon,  Charles  Ives,  Jr.,  Esther 
Matoon.     Isaac  Hall  was  elected  clerk. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1786,  a  delegation  from  the  church  at  Glas- 
tenbury accompanied  Elder  Wheat  to  Wallingford,  anda  meeting  was 
held,  at  which  the  new  body  was  recognized  as  •'  The  First  Baptist 
Church  in  Wallingford."  This  meeting  and  the  regular  services  for 
a  number  of  years  were  held  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  present 
town  of  Meriden,  in  the  "  North  Farms  "  locality  of  the  old  town  of 
Wallingford.  The  school  house  in  that  section  was  sometimes  used, 
but  more  frequently  private  dwellings  were  occupied,  there  bemg  no 
regular  house  of  worship  until  1801.  In  that  year  a  dwelling,  2.)  by 
3;")  feet,  was  secured  and  fitted  up  for  a  church.  Its  lowly  appearance 
caused  it  to  be  derisively  named  the  "  Temple,"  but  to  many  it  proved 
"  the  house  of  God  and  the  gate  of  Heaven."  After  15  years  use  as  a 
rallying  point  for  the  Baptists  of  this  and  the  surroiinding  towns,  it 
again  became  a  residence,  but  the  spot  on  which  it  stood  will  be  re- 
membered as  the  birthplace  of  half  a  score  of  the  modern  Baptist 
churches  of  this  part  of  the  state.  It  stood  within  the  limits  of  Meri- 
den, but  near  the  town  line,  and  parts  of  it  still  remain.  It  is  from 
this  fact  that  the  society  really  became  the  "  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Meriden,"  which  dates  its  origin  from  1786,  and  claims  the  "  North 
Farms"  as  its  birthplace.  As  the  "Temple"  was  three  miles  from  the 
village  of  Meriden  and  four  from  the  village  of  Wallingford,  it  did 
not  properly  accommodate  the  Baptists  of  either  town,  and  in  1816 
the  church  interests  were  divided,  the  main  body  being  transferred 
to  Meriden  Center,  and  a  new  society  was  organized  in  Wallingford 
village  the  following  year. 

But  prior  to  this  another  Baptist  society  was  organized  in  the  town, 
which  must  here  be  noticed.  In  17fll  the  First  church  dismis.sed  13 
male  and  11  female  members  to  form  a  new  society  in  the  south  part 
of  the  town,  which  was  recognized  as  the  "  Second  Baptist  Church  in 
Wallingford."  They  occupied  the  "  Separate  "  meeting  house,  which 
was  located  a  mile  south  of  the  present  borough,  and  were  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  Separatists,  who  had  left  the  churches  of  the  standing 


396  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

order  after  the  adoption  of  the  Saybrook  Platform.  The  articles  of 
faith  of  this  church  were  Calviristic,  and  it  drew  support  from  those 
of  the  standing  church  who  held  those  opinions,  so  that,  in  the  course 
of  a  few  years  the  members  numbered  64.  There  was  no  regular 
pastor  until  1800.  when  Seth  Iligby  was  called  to  assume  that  relation, 
and  he  continued  until  his  death,  in  1804.  From  this  time  on  the  pul- 
pit was  supplied.  Elders  Lester  and  Green  frequently  visiting  them. 
Nevertheless,  the  church  continued  to  flourish,  and  out  of  it  were 
formed  a  number  of  sister  churches. 

In  1808  29  members  withdrew  to  form  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Waterbury.  In  1804  a  church  was  formed  in  Westfield  parish,  of  Mid- 
dletown,  most  of  the  members  having  been  dismissed  from  this  society 
for  that  purpose.  A  number  of  other  members  removed  and  were 
instrumental  in  forming  Baptist  churches  in  their  new  homes.  This 
left  the  Wallingford  church  so  weak  that  in  1811  it  was  decided  to 
disband,  and  most  of  the  remaining  members  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  town  connected  themselves  with  the  church  in  North  Haven,  which 
was  organized  in  that  town  that  year  by  Joshua  Bradley.  The  "  Sep- 
arate "  meeting  hou.se  was  subsequentl}'  taken  down  and  removed  to 
the  Quinnipiac,  where  it  remained  many  years,  devoted  to  other  uses. 

Joshua  Bradley  came  from  Rhode  Island  in  1809,  and  was  both  a 
teacher  and  a  preacher,  zealously  following  both  avocations.  In  Wal- 
ingford  he  became  the  first  principal  of  the  Union  Academy,  in  1812, 
and  preached  in  the  "  Wells  meeting  house."  This  stood  on  the  site 
of  the  present  Episcopal  church  in  the  borough,  and  was  erected  by 
a  Mr.  Wells,  a  Calvinist,  who,  with  others,  had  separated  from  the  old 
Congregational  church,  and  to  provide  a  place  of  worship,  where  their 
doctrine  should  be  expounded,  built  the  meeting  house.  It  was  used 
by  the  Baptists  until  their  own  house  of  worship  was  built,  in  1822, 
and  later  became  the  Episcopal  church, 

Mr.  Bradley  labored  faithfully  and  incessant!}-  in  the  school  room 
and  the  pulpit  for  about  eight  years,  but  did  not  escape  the  persecu- 
tion of  these  days.  Some  of  the  old  citizens  of  Wallingford  at  this  time 
remember  the  occasion  when  he  was  forcibly  taken  from  the  Union 
Academy  and  carried  to  New  Haven,  where  he  was  confined  in  jail, 
but  was  immediately  bailed  out  by  his  friends.  In  New  Haven  he  was 
also  charged  with  "  drawing  away  from  their  respective  Pastors  and 
Ecclesiastical  Societies,  to  which  they  belonged,  many  of  the  citizens." 
But,  on  being  tried  on  this  charge,  as  in  every  other  trial,  his  enemies 
were  confounded,  and  he  was  judged  guiltless.  This  fruitless  oppo- 
sition had  the  effect  of  establishing  the  right  of  the  Baptists  to  main- 
tain their  identity  as  a  separate  religious  bod}',  and  churches  sprang 
up  with  increased  vigor.  At  Wallingford  the  seed  was  thus  sown 
whose  germination  brought  forth  the  present  church. 

Directly  it  had  its  origin  in  the  conviction  of  the  old  North  Farms 
church  now  removed  to   Meriden  Center,  as  expressed  in  the  words 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  397 

of  its  records,  "  that  it  would  be  for  the  advancement  of  Zion  to  con- 
stitute a  Baptist  church  in  Wallingford  out  of  their  number;  voted  to 
call  a  council  for  that  purpose." 

The  council  was  convened  May  ITjth,  1817,  when  the  present  church 
was  constituted  of  34  members,  a  large  proportion  of  whom  had  been 
connected  with  the  old  church,  but  others  joined  as  the  result  of  the 
labors  of  Joshua  Bradley.  Reverend  Samuel  Miller,  of  the  Meriden 
church,  became  the  first  pastor.  The  church  at  once  entered  upon  a 
career  of  prosperity  and.  four  years  later,  reported  80  members.  In 
fourteen  years  of  the  history  of  the  church  more  than  twenty  persons 
per  year  were  baptized.  In  1827  58  persons  were  baptized;  and  the 
largest  number  in  any  one  year  was  in  1837,  when  64  persons  received 
this  ordinance.  Since  the  formation  of  the  church  more  than  800  per- 
sons have  been  connected  as  members  and  in  1889  the  number  belong- 
ing was  308,  about  one-fourth  of  whom  were  non-residents. 

Reverend  Samuel  Miller  was  pastor  of  the  church  two  years  when, 
in  1819,  Reverend  Sedgwick  Rice  was  associated  with  him,  each  serv- 
ing the  church  half  the  time.  In  1821  the  Reverend  Miller  was  dis- 
missed to  join  the  Meriden  church  and  to  devote  all  his  time  to  that 
body.  Reverends  Oliver  Wilson  and  Sedgwick  Rice  had  the  joint 
pastoral  care  until  1825,  when  Reverend  Seth  Brewer  was  inducted 
to  the  pastorate,  serving  the  church  two  years.  From  1827  to  1831  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  Elders  Glazier,  Kimball  and  Knowlton.  In 
the  latter  year  Reverend  Simon  Shailer  began  a  six  years'  pastorate, 
in  which  period  83  persons  joined  the  church,  leaving  it  in  a  prosper- 
ous condition. 

From  1837  to  1839  Reverend  Amos  D.  Watrous  was  the  pastor  and 
early  in  the  latter  year  he  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  Francis 
Hawley  -^  who  remained  pastor  two  years.  In  1841  Reverend  Matthew 
Bacheler  was  ordained  to  the  pastorate,  but,  two  years  later,  adopted 
"  Millerite  "  views  and  there  was  a  division  in  the  church  which  re- 
sulted in  the  exclusion  of  many  members.  Nearly  one-half  were  cut 
off  on  account  of  their  adherence  to  the  adventistic  doctrines,  and  this 
was  the  darkest  period  in  the  history  of  the  present  church.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  years  many  returned  to  the  original  fold,  but  others 
were  hopelessly  lost  as  members.  In  1844  Reverend  A.  E.  Dennison 
became  the  pastor  and  prosecuted  his  work  with  so  much  success  that 
the  church  was  greatly  revived  and  again  became  prosperous,  spiritu- 
ally and  materially,  so  that  in  1847  the  church  edifice  was  much  im- 
proved. He  was  also  instrumental  in  establishing  the  Sabbath  school, 
April  2d,  1840,  which  has  since  been  such  an  efficient  aid  of  the  church, 
serving  as  a  faithful  hand-maid  in  promoting  its  general  work.  In 
1889  there  were  208  members. 

Reverend   Charles   Keyser  became  the  pastor  in  1850  and  in  less 
than  two  years  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  S.  B.  Grant,  whose  stay 
*  Father  of  Senator  Joseph  R.  Hawley. 


398  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

was  also  short,  when  supplies  filled  the  pulpit.  The  pastorate  of 
Reverend  R.  J.  Adams,  which  began  in  1855  and  continued  more  than 
fourteen  years,  was  one  of  the  most  noteworthy  and  efficient.  Under 
his  care  the  church  again  obtained  character  and  a  wide  reputation 
for  its  earnest  work.  One  week  before  his  leaving,  in  the  latter  part 
of  1869,  the  church  edifice  was  destroj-ed  by  fire  and  his  last  pastoral 
act  was  to  secure  $10,000  in  sub.scriptions  toward  building  a  new 
house.  This  was  completed  in  the  first  year  of  the  ministry  of  Rev- 
erend A.  C.  Bronson,  who  became  the  pastor  January  2;Sd,  1870,  and 
continued  that  relation  six  years. 

June  4th,  1876,  Reverend  W.  C.  Richmond  succeeded  to  the  pastor- 
ate, filling  that  office  until  December  5th,  1880.  From  January  6th, 
1881,  to  November  1st,  1882,  the  pastor  was  Reverend  H.  P.  Smith. 
The  present  pastor,  Reverend  A.  E.  Reynolds,  was  installed  Septem- 
ber 1st,  1883,  and  under  his  faithful  ministry  the  church  continues  to 
prosper. 

The  church  has  had  many  faithful,  devoted  members,  serving  as 
deacons  and  in  private  capacity.  A  partial  list  embraces  the  names 
of  Nathaniel  Andrews,  Aimer  Hall,  John  W.  Blakeslee,  Chester  Cook, 
Sherlock  Avery,  Cephas  Johnson,  Michael  Doolittle,  Lyman  Miller, 
Alonzo  Miller,  Ebenezer  Dudley,  John  Dudley,  Cephas  Johnson,  Mer- 
ritt  Hubbard,  Henry  and  Selden  Tuttle,  Johnson  Doolittle,  L.  S.  Allen, 
Orrin  Andrews,  Friend  Miller,  Asahel  Andrews,  James  and  Marcus 
Scarritt,  Wooster  Martin,  Franklin  Johnson,  William  Marks,  Samuel 
and  Philander  Hopson,  Hubbard  Fenn,  William  L.  Hood  and  the 
deacons  in  1889 :  Benjamin  Sutliff,  Clarence  H.  Brown  and  Frederick 
S.  Smith. 

Caroline  Adams  became  a  member  of  the  church  in  1827,  and  in 
1840  organized  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society,  which  has  been  a  valu- 
able auxiliary  to  the  church.  In  1889  she  remained  the  oldest  mem- 
ber of  the  congregation. 

Mention  should  be  here  made  of  the  fact  that  at  a  call  of  this 
church  a  convention  of  delegates  from  nine  churches  met  in  the  Union 
Academy,  at  Wallingford,  September  2oth,  1825,  and  formed  the  New 
Haven  Baptist  Association,  of  which  body  the  church  has  since  been 
a  member. 

The  ecclesiastical  society  of  the  church  was  organized  December 
29th,  1822,  to  manage  the  business  affairs,  and  has  usually  fixed  the 
salaries  of  the  pastors,  which,  since  1832,  have  been  from  $300  to 
$1,500  per  year.  It  also  hired  the  first  sexton,  in  1843,  at  a  salary  of 
$12  per  year. 

In  the  summer  of  1821  a  plain  frame  meeting  house  was  built  for 
the  church  on  the  lot  on  which  stands  the  present  edifice.  This  was 
enlarged  by  an  addition  and  steeple  to  the  front,  in  1847,  the  changes 
costing  $3,000.  With  other  repairs  and  renovations  it  remained  a  com- 
iortable  place  of  worship  until   it  was  burned,  December   4th,  1869. 


HISTORY   OF   XKW    HAVEN   COUXTY.  399 

Until  a  new  house  could  be  provided,  the  meetings  were  held  in  the 
town  hall.  The  work  of  building  the  present  fine  brick  edifice  was  at 
once  begun,  and  it  was  substantinlly  completed  in  1870,  at  a  cost  of 
nearly  $36,000.  Since  its  consecration  modern  improvements  have 
been  added,  so  that  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  complete  churches  in 
the  association.  In  1864  a  parsonage  was  purchased  on  Academy 
•.street,  which  was  sold  in  1879.  In  1885  the  present  fine  parsonage,  on 
Curtiss  avenue,  was  completed,  being  valued,  with  the  lot,  at  $5,000. 
D.  E.  Morris,  Marcus  E.  Cook  and  Newton  C.  Wooding  are  the  trus- 
tees of  the  society;  C.  H.Brown,  treasurer:  C.  G.  Hull,  clerk;  and  J.  C. 
Mansfield,  the  church  clerk. 

St.  Paul's  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal),  of  Wallingford  borough, 
is  a  prosperous  organization.  Doctor  Davis,  in  his  exhaustive  "  His- 
tory of  Wallingford,"  says  "  that  the  precise  time  when  this  church 
was  gathered  is  unknown."  It  appears  to  have  been  organized  pre- 
vious to  1729,  under  the  auspices  of  the  London  "Society  for  the  Prop- 
agation of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  and  from  a  letter  to  the 
bishop  of  London,  written  in  the  year  named,  which  was  signed  by 
the  members  at  that  time,  we  learn  some  facts  in  regard  to  its  history. 
They  said:  "  We  are  a  church  but  newly  planted,"  which  had  the  ser- 
vice of  a  regular  minister  but  once  per  quarter,  but  on  every  other 
Lord's  day  the  service  was  performed,  so  far  as  it  was  proper,  by  a  lay 
reader;  but  the  want  of  sufficient  sermon  books  was  deplored,  and  the 
difficitlty  of  encouraging  the  spread  of  the  Gospel,  on  account  of  the 
rates  required  to  support  the  established  church,  with  the  pensecution 
attending  those  who  dissented  from  the  state  church,  was  brought  to 
the  attention  of  the  bishop,  with  the  expressed  hope  that  a  better  con- 
dition of  things  would  soon  prevail,  when  more  laborers  in  the  cause 
of  the  church  could  be  supplied.  This  letter  was  signed  by:  "Thomas 
Ives,  North  Ingham, church  wardens;  Ebenezer  Wainwright,  Thomas 
Dewlittle,  John  Bellamy,  Aaron  Tuttle,  Waitstill  Abinather,  Matthew 
Bellamy,  Phineas  Ives,  Shadrach  Seagar,  Ebenezer  Blakesley,  Enos 
Smith,  John  Meeky,  Thomas  Williams,  George  Fisher." 

Only  a  part  of  the  foregoing  lived  within  the  bounds  of  the  present 
town  of  Wallingford;  the  othjrs  lived  in  the  adjoining  towns. 

It  appears  that  there  was  no  further  account  of  this  society  until  1740, 
when  Reverend  Theophilus  Morris,  missionary  of  the  London  society  ex- 
tended his  labors  to  this  section,  coming  from  the  Naugatuck  valley. 
It  is  probable  that  his  ministry  led  to  the  formation  of  the  so-called 
"  U'nion  Church"  parish,  which  was  organized  in  March,  1741,  and 
was  composed  of  perhaps  a  dozen  families  residing  in  the  southern 
part  of  old  Wallingford  and  North  Haven.  A  small  frame  church 
building  was  erected  near  Pond  hill,  in  which  the  services  of  the  church 
were  now  clothed  with  some  of  the  impressive  dignity  which  attaches 
.to  them.  Mr.  Morris  preached  at  this  church  every  three  months,  and 
was  a.ssisted  by  a  ^Ir.  Thompson,  who  officiated  more   frequently.     A 


400  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

little  later  a  Mr.  J.  Lyon  was  the  assistant,  and  they  had  also  the  assist- 
ance of  a  lay  reader,  so  that  services  appear  now  to  have  been  held 
regularly;  and  from  this  time,  1741,  the  Episcopal  church  in  Walling- 
ford  has  had  a  continuous  history. 

This  purpose  to  maintain  an  organized  parish,  distinct  and  separate 
from  the  Congregational  or  State  church,  aroused  the  members  of  the 
latter  body  to  assert  their  rights  as  expressed  in  the  colony  laws  of 
that  period,  and  the  churchmen  were  not  only  obliged  to  pay  their 
rates  to  build  the  regular  meeting-  houses  and  to  support  the  estab- 
lished ministry,  but  some  of  them,  for  protesting  against  these  unjust 
measures,  were  fined  and  imprisoned.  Such  action  had  a  tendency  to 
keep  the  churchmen  poor  and  distressed.  The  newly  organized  churches 
found  it  difficult  to  support  a  minister  or  even  to  contribute  much 
toward  his  maintenance.  Under  these  circum.stances  Henry  Bates  and 
John  Ward,  of  the  Wallingford  church,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1743, 
wrote  to  the  secretary  of  the  London  society,  reciting  that,  although 
there  were  2o  masters  of  families  belonging  to  the  organization,  yet 
owing  to  the  frequent  demands  upon  them  by  the  established  church, 
they  were  kept  poor  and  needed  aid  from  the  venerable  society  in 
order  to  maintain  a  minister.  If  such  aid  could  be  given  they  hoped 
to  be  able,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  to  raise  £20  sterling  per  an- 
num toward  the  support  of  a  minister,  etc. 

The  society  extended  the  aid  the  parish  desired,  and  there  was  an 
increase  of  members  under  the  labors  of  Reverends  Ichabod  Camp 
and  Ebenezer  Punderson.  The  former  first  read  lay  sermons  at  Wal- 
lingford in  1748,  and  after  his  ordination  divided  his  time  between 
Wallingford  and  Middletown.  from  1753  to  1760,  when  he  removed  to 
North  Carolina.  The  latter  was  at  Wallingford  in  17o0,  and  appears 
to  have  made  a  good  impression  in  favor  of  his  cause.  Like  Samuel 
Seabury,  he  was  formerly  a  Congregational  minister  at  Groton,  but  was 
ordained  to  the  prie.sthood  in  England  in  1734,  after  which  he  returned 
to  this  country  and  earnestly  labored  as  a  churchman. 

Meantime  the  meetings  of  the  Wallingford  church  were  held  in 
what  is  now  the  borough,  the  church  at  Pond  hill  proving  to  be  incon- 
veniently located.  Of  this  second  place  of  worship  but  little  can  be 
said.  It  was,  most  likely,  simply  a  dwelling  fitted  up  for  that  pur- 
po.se,  and  stood  in  the  northern  part  of  the  village.  To  provide  a 
more  suitable  place  measures  were  taken  to  erect  a  church  at  a  still 
more  central  point.  Accordingly,  December  20th,  1757,  Joseph  Rice, 
Jr.,  Titus  Brockett,  David  Cook  and  Abel  Thom.son  petitioned  the 
town  for  permission  to  build  a  new  church  on  the  corner  diagonally 
northwest  of  the  present  site.  Permission  being  granted,  the  church 
was  built  in  1758,  and  was  also  an  unassuming  frame  structure,  but 
larger  than  the  first  one,  on  Pond  hill.  In  it  was  placed  an  organ 
by  David  Cook,  who  had  brought  it  from  England.     Subsequently  this 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  401 

organ  became  the  property  of  the  North  Haven  society,  and   in  1809 
it  was  sold  to  William  P.  Gardner,  of  New  Haven. 

vSome  time  about  1762,  Reverend  Samuel   Andrews  was  appointed 
the  missionary  of  the  "  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign   Parts,"  for  the  parishes  of  Wallingford,  Cheshire  and  North 
Haven,  and    continued   that    relation,  with    some    interruption,  until 
1781,  when  he  removed  to  New  Brunswick,  where-  he  became  the  first 
rector  of  the  parish  of  St.  Andrews.     He   remained  in  Nova  Scotia 
until  his  death  at  an  advanced  age.     Mr.  Andrews  was  born  in  what  is 
now  the  town  of  Meriden,in  1787,  and  was  the  youngest  of  eight  sons. 
In  1759  he  graduated  from  Yale  College.     Two  years  later  he  went  to 
England  to  receive  holy  orders    in    the    Episcopal   ministry.     After 
being  in  the  service  of  the   London  Society,  at  Wallingford,  .several 
years,  he  made  an  extended  missionary  trip  into  the  northern  part  of 
New  England,  returning  to  his  original  field  of  labor,  where  his  work 
was  crowned  with  great  success,  until  the  troublous  times  of  the  revo- 
lution.    In  that  struggle  Mr.  Andrews  was  a  tory,  and  thus  incurred 
the  hostility  of  his  patriot  neighbors,  destroying  his  usefulness  as  a 
minister  in  this  locality.     It  is   said  that  when  he  removed,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  opinions,  a  number  of  tory  families  accompanied  him  to 
seek  new  homes  in  Nova  Scotia,  as  their  love  and  respect  for  him  was 
very  great.     He  was  sincerely  consistent  in  his  views  and  unaffected 
in  his  piety,  claiming  that  his  vows  to  the  missionary  society,  in  whose 
employ  he  was,  would  prevent  him   from  doing  otherwise  than  the 
course  he  pursued.     He  was  the  last  missionary  of  the  society  to  the 
Wallingford  church,  which   in   the  early  years  of    his   ministry  was 
greatly  strengthened,  so  that  the  parish  had,  in  1770,  63  families  and 
69  communicants.     In   Cheshire  there   were  47  families  and   64  com- 
municants;  and  in  what  is  now  Meriden  there  were  6  families  and  14 
communicants.     Much  of  the  accession   to  the  membership  was  the 
result  of  dissensions  in  the  established  church,  consequent  upon  the 
discussion  of  theological  questions.     This  drove  many  from  the  folds 
of  the  established  church   in  every  parish,  which  aided  to  liberalize 
the  old  societies  after  they  had  passed  through  a  period  of  contention. 
"  But  many,  in  order  to  escape  the  acrimonious  controversies  of  that 
day,  joined  the  Episcopal  church,  to  find  peace  and  enjoyment  in   its 
communion."* 

Other  missionaries  of  the  London  Society  sometimes  visited  Wal- 
lingford, and  aided  to  establish  the  church.  Among  these  was  Ed- 
ward Winslow,  the  missionary  at  Stratford,  who  frequently  officiated, 
as  often  as  once  every  six  weeks,  in  1760.  He  was  an  excellent 
preacher  and  a  good  rector,  but  died  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  man- 
hood, in  1780. 

Of  the  condition  of  the  Episcopal  church  at  large,  in  the  colony,  at 
this  period  and  later.  Doctor  Davis  says:  "  The  close  of  the  revolution 
*  Doctor  Beardsley's  History  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Connecticut. 
25 


402  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

found  it  in  a  state  of  the  deepest  depression.  Her  altars  prostrate  or 
deserted,  her  ministers  gone  or  disheartened,  herself  the  object  of 
political  odium  and  suspicion,  without  the  inherent  power  of  perpetu- 
ating- her  own  polity,  her  cause,  in  the  view  of  men  seemed  well  nigh 
desperate.     So  mourned  her  friends;  so  vaunted  her  enemies."* 

The  consecration  of  Doctor  vSamuel  Seabury  to  the  bishopric,  in 
1783,  and  the  establishment  of  the  Diocese  of  Connecticut,  brought 
encouragement  to  the  hearts  of  the  churchmen  in  the  colon}',  as  the 
affairs  had  now  a  supervising  head.  The  benefit  of  this  arrangement 
was  soon  made  manifest  in  the  more  perfect  organization  of  the 
church  work,  which  brought  order  out  of  chaos  and  restored  confidence 
in  the  future  of  the  church.  And  yet,  for  many  years,  the  church  at 
Wallingford  felt  the  depressing  effects  of  the  revolutionary  period, 
barely  maintaining  an  existence,  after  some  of  its  strength  was  gath- 
ered to  the  support  of  newly  organized  parishes  within  the  bounds  of 
the  old  town. 

In  1788,  Reverend  Reuben  Ives  became  the  rector  of  the  church  at 
Cheshire,  his  native  town,  for  two-thirds  of  the  time,  with  privilege  to 
devote  the  remaining  third  to  missionary  duties  in  the  neighboring 
towns.  These  ministrations  continued  about  thirty  years,  and  led  to 
the  organization  of  the  parishes  in  Meriden,  Southington  and  Ham- 
den.  He  supplied  Wallingford  and  Meriden  many  years,  and  Rever- 
end Tillottson  Bronson,  the  principal  of  the  Cheshire  Academy;  Rev- 
erend Charles  Seabury,  son  of  the  bishop,  and  others,  also  preached  in 
this  period. 

Near  the  close  of  1794  Reverend  Seth  Hart,  who  had  preached  for 
the  Episcopalians  of  Waterbury,  removed  to  Wallingford  and  remained 
about  four  years.  In  ISOl  Reverend  Ammi  Rogers  took  charge  of 
the  parishes  of  Branford,  Wallingford  and  East  Haven.  Later  the 
Wallingford  church  was  supplied  by,  among  others,  the  Reverends 
Joseph  Perry  and  Virgil  H.  Barber. 

In  1822  there  was  again  a  regular  rector  in  the  person  of  Reverend 
James  Keeler,  but  in  1824  he  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  Ashbel 
Baldwin,  who  lived  at  Wallingford  and  who  ofificiated  several  years. 
In  1832  he  became«disabled  by  age  for  any  active  duty.  He  died  at 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1846,  nearly  90  years  old.  Mr.  Baldwin  was  a 
man  of  ability  and  tact  and  well  liked  in  the  community.  It  was  in 
this  period,  in  1831,  that  the  •'  Wells  Meeting  House  "  was  purchased 
by  the  parish  and  occupied  for  church  purposes. 

vSince  1832  the  parish  has  had  a  regular  succession  of  rectors  and 
has  prospered  accordingly.  The  ministers  since  that  period  have 
been:  Reverends  William  Curtis,  1832-6;  Lemuel  Hall,  1836-9;  R.  M. 
Chapman,  1839-40;  Hillard  Bryant,  1841-50;  Joseph  Brewster,  1850-3; 
Charles  S.  Putnam,  1853-8;  John  Townsend,  1858-64;  Edward  M. 
Gushee,  1864-70.  Since  June,  1870,  the  rector  has  been  Reverend  J. 
*  History  of  Wallingford,  p.  254. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  403 

F.  Wildman,  whose  ministry  has  been  characterized  not  only  by 
length  of  years  beyond  any  of  his  predecessors,  btit  has  also  been 
successful  in  promoting  the  material  and  spiritual  interests  of  the 
parish.  The  membership  has  been  largely  increased,  numbering  in 
December,  1889,  289  communicants  and  190  families. 

The  ministry  of  Reverend  Hillard  Bryant  was  one  of  the  finst  in 
which  there  was  a  marked  change  in  the  affairs  of  the  parish.  In 
1843  he  reported  the  building  of  a  neat  and  commodious  rectory,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,500:  and  in  1846  a  new  Gothic  church  40  by  G'S  feet  was 
erected  on  the  old  "  Wells  "  lot  at  a  cost  of  $5,000,  most  of  which  was 
secured  from  outside  sources.  In  1861,  under  the  rectorship  of  Rev- 
erend John  Townsend,  the  church  was  enlarged  at  an  expense  of 
$2,379,  and  in  1865,  while  Reverend  E.  M.  Gushee  was  the  rector,  it 
was  beautified  at  an  outlay  of  more  than  $400.  In  the  ministry  of  the 
same  rector  the  church  was  burned,  October  27th,  1867,  the  loss  being 
estimated  at  $15,000.  At  the  same  time  the  "  Union  Hall,"  on  the 
lot  south  was  destroyed  and  its  site  was  afterward  included  in  the 
church  lot. 

Upon  the  Reverend  Mr.  Gushee  devolved  the  work  of  having  a 
new  church  edifice  erected,  and  the  present  substantial  building  is 
evidence  of  the  success  of  the  undertaking.  The  corner  stone  was 
laid  by  the  Right  Reverend  John  Williams,  May  26th,  1868,  and  by 
him  the  church  was  consecrated  September  2d,  1869.  It  is  built  of 
Portland  sandstone,  in  the  Gothic  style  of  architecture,  with  a  width 
of  58  feet  and  a  height  of  62  feet.  A  tower  on  the  northwest  corner, 
91  feet  high,  is  supplied  with  a  bell  of  2,500  pounds  weight.  The 
length  of  the  building  is  124  feet  and  it  is  suitably  divided  for  the  tise 
of  the  church.  The  audience  room  accommodates  700  people.  George 
E.  Harney  was  the  architect.  The  church  cost  about  $70,000.  A  very 
large  proportion  of  this  amount  was  paid  by  two  members  of  the 
parish — Samuel  Simpson  and  Ebenezer  H.  Ives.  Since  the  erection 
of  the  new  church  it  has  been  reasonably  repaired  and  made  still  more 
attractive.  The  ministry  of  Mr.  Gushee  was  also  characterized  by 
the  extension  of  the  parish,  in  the  establishment  of  the  mission  at 
Yalesville,  which  had  become  strong  enough,  in  1871,  to  be  organized 
as  an  independent  parish,  and  has  since  gone  apace  with  the  parish 
church. 

Of  the  parish  of  St.  Paul  Samuel  Simpson  has  been  the  senior  war- 
den since  1858,  and  Henry  L.  Hall  has  served  as  junior  warden  many 
years.  The  present  vestrymen  are:  G.  W.  Hull,  S.  N.Edmonds,  B.  A. 
Treat,  William  N.  Mix,  John  Munson,  William  Hodgkinson,  John  H. 
Francis,  Street  Williams,  C.  A.  Harrison,  Benjamin  Hall,  W\  M.Whit- 
taker.     The  parish  clerk  is  Charles  G.  Pomeroy. 

The  church  has  several  valuable  auxiliaries,  chief  among  them 
being  the  Sunday  school,  with  nearly  200  members,  and  William  Whit- 
taker  as  its  superintendent.     St.  Paul's  Guild,  a  ladies'  aid  society,  has 


404  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

for  more  than  twenty  years,  by  its  material  assistance  and  moral  sup- 
port, advanced  the  work  of  the  parish.  St.  Paul's  Chapter  of  the 
Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  is  of  recent  organization,  being  in.stituted 
December  9th,  1889,  with  18  charter  members.  William  Whittaker 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  director:  Horace  Furniss,  secretary;  and 
William  N.  Mix,  treasurer.     Its  membership  is  increasing  rapidly. 

Wallingford  Methodists  organized  a  class  in  the  town  as  early  as 
1809,  which  had  as  members  vSamuel  Smith  and  wife,  Sydney  vSmith, 
Stever  Beach,  Mary  Doolittle,  Elizabeth  Merriam,  Lucinda  Preston 
and  Nancy  Parker.  They  met  for  worship  in  private  houses,  and  what 
preaching  they  had  was  in  connection  with  the  appointments  in  the 
surrounding  towns.  In  more  recent  years  a  Methodist  church  was 
fairly  established  at  Wallingford,  and  a  chapel  was  procured  on  the 
"  Plains,"  on  Quinnipiac  street,  in  which  worship  was  for  some  time 
statedly  held,  and  there  were  a  number  of  active  members.  The  re- 
moval of  some  of  these  and  other  causes  so  weakened  the  society  that 
no  official  organization  was  maintained  in  1889,  and  since  1885  the 
chapel  has  only  been  infrequently  used. 

The  Yalesville  Methodist  Episcopal  church  had  its  origin  in  revival 
services  held  in  the  old  Adventist  church,  in  I860,  the  religious  awak- 
ening extending  to  the  entire  community.  As  a  result  a  union  house 
of  worship  was  built  by  G.  I.  Mix  and  others,  in  which  a  Sabbath 
school  was  established,  with  Mr.  Mix  as  superintendent,  and  the  chapel 
was  used  by  various  denominations.  The  Methodist  class  at  Yales- 
ville, which  had  among  its  members  George  Cook,  A.  J.  Brown,  T.W. 
Jerald,  J.  Campbell,  William  Watson  and  others,  being  encouraged  by 
the  Methodist  church  of  Meriden,  purchased  for$3,oOO,  in  May,  1867,  the 
Union  chapel,  and  made  it  a  church  of  their  own  denomination.  Im- 
provements of  a  more  recent  period  have  made  the  house  comfortable, 
and  a  parsonage,  built  in  1889,  close  at  hand,  has  enhanced  the  value 
of  the  property  of  Yalesville  circuit.  Prior  to  the  organization  of 
this,  about  fifteen  years  ago,  the  church  had  the  services  of  local 
preachers.  In  1889  the  minister  of  the  circuit  was  Reverend  George 
Coburn.  The  church  had  90  members,  and  the  Sabbath  school,  of 
which  Charles  A.  Lamb  was  the  superintendent,  reported  75  mem- 
bers. 

The  Adventist  church  was  built  prior  to  the  civil  war,  and  after 
being  occupied  many  years  for  religious  purposes  fell  into  disuse,  and 
was  later  turned  into  a  storeroom. 

The  Yalesville  Baptist  church  was  organized  in  1877  with  11  mem- 
bers, and  Ephraim  Peck,  Henr}'  Schwab  and  Henry  H.  White  were 
elected  deacons.  The  church  has  prospered,  and  in  1889  had  52  mem- 
bers. Garry  I.  Mix  was  the  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school, 
which  had  100  members,  and  whose  affairs  were  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition. The  pulpit  has  been  supplied  most  of  the  time,  having  had 
only  one  regular  occupant,  the  Reverend  Walter  B.  Vassar,  who  was 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  405 

the  pastor  one  year.     The  past  four  years  the  supply  has  been  Rever- 
end A.  E.  Reynolds. 

The  church  edifice  was  dedicated  May  16th,  1880.  It  .stands  in  a 
pleasant  part  of  the  village,  and  is  sub.stantially  built  of  brick,  38  by 
.'56  feet,  with  a  chapel  extension,  in  the  rear,  of  26  feet.  A  small  spire 
adds  to  the  appearance.     The  property  is  valued  at  $5,000. 

St.  John's  Evangelical  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal)  is  located  at 
Yalesville.  The  first  services  of  the  church  at  this  place  were  held  in 
the  school  house,  by  Reverends  Deshon,  of  the  Meriden  parish,  and 
Gushee,  of  Wallingford;  but  later  meetings  were  held  in  the  Advent 
chapel.  About  186;")  the  .sum  of  $1,500  was  raised,  and  the  building  of 
the  above  house  of  worship  was  begun,  on  a  lot  donated  by  Bennet 
Jeralds.  It  is  an  attractive  edifice,  in  the  Gothic  style  of  architec- 
ture, having  dimensions  of  35  by  70  feet,  and  is  neatly  furnished. 

Having  the  regular  services  of  a  Mr.  Bush,  as  a  lay  reader,  the 
Episcopal  membership  at  this  place  increased,  and  in  1870  there  were 
20  communicants.  The  following  year  St.  John's  became  a  separate 
parish,  with  Bennet  Jeralds  and  Henry  C.  Woodin  as  wardens;  Ed- 
ward H.  Tracy,  John  W.  Woodin,  John  G.  Button  and  Charles  E.  Yale, 
vestrymen.  Since  that  time  the  membership  of  the  parish  has  varied, 
there  being  about  40  communicants  in  1889.  These  were  served  by 
Reverend  William  Wildman,  and  Reverend  J.  E.  Wildman,  of  the 
Wallingford  church,  was  the  rector  in  charge  of  parish  affairs. 

Previous  ministers  were  :  Reverend  Bush,  here  ordained  to  dea- 
con's and  priest's  orders;  Reverend  D.  Henry  Smith,  the  rector  for 
four  years,  after  1880;  and  his  successor,  the  Reverend  J.  B.  Robinson, 
rector  for  about  three  years.  In  addition,  there  have  been  a  number 
of  supplies,  lay  readers  and  ministers  under  deacon's  orders,  the 
frequency  of  change  preventing  the  greater  prosperity  of  the  church. 

The  Second  Adventists  of  Wallingford  built  a  handsome  house  of 
worship  in  1890-1.  In  1843,  and  for  a  few  years  following,  there  was 
a  great  interest  in  Wallingford  in  the  doctrine  of  the  second  coming 
of  Christ.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Bacheler  and  many  others  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  espoused  it,  and  the  cause  soon  had  a  large  following  in 
the  communit3\  Disappointed  in  the  expected  appearance  of  Christ, 
as  foretold  by  Miller  and  others,  many  renounced  their  new  faith,  and 
no  permanent  Advent  organization  was  maintained.  Later  a  society 
was  formed  at  North  Farms,  which  had  among  its  members  Walter 
Ives,  William  Bartholomew  and  D.  Piatt.  The.se  and  others  of  that 
locality  erected  a  chapel  opposite  the  Eben  Neil  corner,  in  which 
Advent  meetings  were  held  about  ten  years.  The  membership,  never 
large,  was  diminished  by  removals,  so  that  services  were  discontinued 
and  the  chapel  was  converted  into  a  residence.  Those  remaining 
Adventists  now  attended  the  meetings  at  Yalesville,  where  an  interest  ■ 
in  this  faith  had  sprung  up,  which  received  support  from  members  of 
the   Piatt,   Chandler,   Marble,    Bartholomew    and  other   families.     A 


406  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

chapel  was  there  built,  which  was  a  useful  factor  in  the  religious  life 
of  the  place  a  score  of  years,  when  the  Advent  meetings  were  there 
also  given  up,  in  consequence  of  the  absorbtion  of  most  of  the  mem- 
bership by  the  other  churches  at  that  place,  noted  in  the  foregoing 
pages. 

About  1879,  Reverend  Homer  A.  King  came  to  Wallingford  bor- 
ough with  a  missionary  tent  and  held  a  series  of  meetings,  which 
were  the  means  of  gathering  up  a  few  members,  among  them  being 
George  Hull,  James  Pierepont,  William  Hill,  Asahel  Andrews,  S.  M. 
Scranton  and  D.  C.  Dudley.  No  regular  organization  was  attempted, 
but  meetings  were  held  in  halls  until  May,  1881,  when  the  old  Main 
street  school  house  was  secured  as  a  regular  place  of  worship,  and  it 
was  occupied  until  the  completion  of  the  new  church. 

In  1883  the  church  settled  Reverend  D.  T.  Call  as  its  pastor,  who 
continued  in  that  relation  several  years.  He  was  followed  in  that 
office  by  Reverend  George  M.  Teeple,  who  remained  until  July,  1889, 
since  which  time  the  pulpit  has  again  been  supplied.  The  member- 
ship has  increased  gradually,  about  ."iO  persons  belonging  at  the  pres- 
ent time.     A  vigorous  Sunday  school  is  maintained. 

Holy  Trinity  Church  (Roman  Catholic)*  is  a  prosperous  and  grow- 
ing organization.  Catholic  worship  in  the  town  was  first  held  in 
December,  1847,  when  mass  was  said  at  the  house  of  James  Hanlon, 
an  Irishman  living  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  High  streets.  He  had 
taken  up  his  residence  at  Wallingford  in  1840,  at  which  time  there 
were  but  two  other  Irishmen  in  the  village — Michael  Mulligan  and 
Mark  Daly,  the  latter  being  in  the  employ  of  Jared  P.  Whittlesey. 
At  that  time  the  nearest  Catholic  church  was  at  New  Haven,  and  to 
that  place  James  Hanlon  was  accustomed  to  walk  to  attend  mass,  re- 
turning on  foot  the  same  day  to  do  his  work  as  a  servant.  Soon  after 
1840  the  nucleus  of  an  Irish  settlement  was  formed  and  as  the  new- 
comers all  professed  the  Catholic  faith,  the  services  of  a  priest  were 
desired.  As  a  missionary  came  Father  McGarick,  from  Waukegan, 
111.,  and  held  the  first  service  which  gladdened  the  hearts  of  this  priest- 
less  people,  sa3^ing  the  mass  on  the  22d  day  of  the  above  month. 
About  twelve  persons  were  in  attendance,  among  the  number  being 
members  of  the  Hanlon,  Owens,  Logan  and  Leonard  families. 

The  second  priest  to  minister  in  the  town  came  from  New  Haven 
and  was  Father  Philip  O'Reilley,  who  also  said  mass  at  James  Hanlon's, 
who  now  lived  on  x'^cademy  lane.  Jkleantime  Catholicism  had  become 
established  at  Meriden  and  Wallingford  was  taken  up  as  an  out-mis- 
sion of  that  parish.  Lender  this  arrangement  Father  Teeven  came 
as  the  third  priest,  holding  worship  at  the  house  of  Martin  Owens. 
On  the  12th  of  May,  1850,  he  solemnized  the  first  marriage  in  town, 
according  to  the  forms  of  the  Roman  church,  the  couple  united  being 
Philip  McCabe  and  Ellen  Maloney. 

*  Compiled  from  an  account  by  John  G.  Phelan. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  407 

Father  Hugh  O'Reilley  was  the  next  priest  to  say  mass,  also  at  the 
house  of  Martin  Owens,  the  north  room  being  used,  the  altar  being  set 
up  between  the  two  front  windows.  He  came  to  the  parish  in  the 
spring  of  1851.  full  of  zeal  and  a  determined  purpose  to  thoroughly 
establish  the  cause  of  his  church.  Under  his  direction  the  first 
Catholic  school  was  soon  after  opened  at  the  Owens  house  and  the 
question  of  building  a  church  agitated.  In  the  furtherance  of  this 
purpose,  on  the  29th  of  May,  1852,  Father  Hugh  O'Reilley  bought 
three  lots  of  land  from  the  estate  of  Philip  McCabe,  on  which  the 
church  was  finally  built,  the  site  being  now  a  part  of  the  Catholic 
cemetery. 

From  1854  to  1856  Father  Thomas  Quinn  rendered  pastoral  ser- 
vice,  coming  from  ^leriden;  and  Reverend  Father  Wallace,  a  young 
man,  soon  after  became  the  resident  priest  at  Wallingford.  The  Owens 
house  having  become  too  small  and  unsafe  for  such  large  meetings  as 
assembled  for  mass,  that  service  was  held  in  "  Union  Hall."  The 
Catholic  population  had  now  grown  to  about  150  persons,  and  a  church 
being  demanded  it  was  decided  to  build  on  the  lots  purchased  by 
Father  Hugh  O'Reilley.  Means  were  secured  and  the  Protestants  of 
the  town  aided  in  raising  a  building  fund,  by  generous  contributions. 
It  was  thus  made  possible  to  lay  the  corner  stone  of  the  first  church 
November  23d.  1857,  that  ceremony  being  performed  by  Father 
Thomas  Quinn. 

The  building  was  a  large  frame,  40  b\'  60  feet,  with  a  small  vestry. 
Ere  it  was  completed  it  was  used  and  one  Sunday  in  April,  1858,  while 
Father  Quinn  was  saying  mass,  a  part  of  the  floor  gave  away,  causing 
great  confusion  and  resulting  in  the  injury  of  several  persons.  After 
the  completion  of  the  church,  Father  Sheridan  became  the  resident 
pastor  at  Wallingford  in  1859,  the  newly  formed  parish  including  also 
Hamden  and  Cheshire.  As  priest  of  this  parish  Father  Charles  Mc- 
Callion  succeeded  in  July,  1860,  but  remained  only  a  short  time,  as 
the  war  unsettled  matters  to  such  an  extent  that  a  separate  parish 
could  not  long  be  maintained.  Wallingford  again  became  an  out- 
mission  of  Meriden,  under  the  care  of  Father  Welch  and  so  continued 
from  1861  until  1867.  In  August  of  that  year  a  parish,  composed  of 
Hamden  and  Wallingford,  was  again  established  and  placed  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  Reverend  Hugh  Mallon,  who  has  since  remained 
the  head  of  the  Wallingford  church.  His  energy  and  devotion  to  the 
interests  of  Holy  Trinity  parish  have  greatly  stimulated  its  growth, 
and  it  has  made  rapid  strides  in  influence,  wealth  and  membership, 
more  than  2.000  souls  now  belonging. 

Father  Hugh  Mallon  was  born  in  County  Tyrone,  October  20th, 
1827,  and  being  left  an  orphan,  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  17  years. 
Following  the  occupation  of  a  stone  mason  ten  years,  he  began  a  long 
course  of  study  in  different  Catholic  institutions  of  the  Union,  and  in 
1863  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  priest.     After  serving  as  an  assist- 


408  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ant  to  various  priests  in  this  state  and  Rhode  Island,  he  entered  upon 
his  pastorate  at  Wallingford,  August  1  lth,1867.  and  through  his  untiring 
efforts  the  parish  has  practically  been  made  what  it  is— one  of  the 
most  progressive  and  substantial  in  the  state.  Soon  after  his  coming 
to  Wallingford,  Father  Mallon  bought  a  tract  of  land  more  centrally 
located  than  the  old  church  site,  with  a  view  of  erecting-  on  it  the 
future  church  and  parish  buildings.  The  cour.se  of  a  few  years  de- 
monstrated the  wisdom  of  this  action,  for  in  a  short  time  the  old 
church  became  too  small  to  accommodate  the  worshippers.  Galleries 
built  on  the  sides,  in  1869,  increased  the  capacity,  but  the  work  of 
preparing  to  build  a  new  edifice  was  soon  after  begun. 

In  1875  ground  was  broken  for  a  new  church  and  the  foundation 
was  laid.  The  funds  being  limited,  slow  progress  was  made,  and  at 
the  end  of  three  years  only  the  height  of  the  water  table  was  reached. 
Meantime,  on  the  17th  of  September,  1876,  the  corner-stone  had  been 
laid  by  Bishop  Galbery,  in  the  presence  of  many  of  the  priests  of  the 
state,  and  thousands  of  people  gathered  together  from  the  neighbor- 
ing cities.  While  the  building  was  at  a  comparative  standstill,  in  the 
summer  of  1878,  the  old  church,  which  was  becoming  much  dilapi- 
dated, was  destroyed  by  the  great  tornado,  August  9th,  leaving  the 
parish  without  a  place  of  worship.  Of  the  30  persons  killed  and  35 
injured  in  that  great  calamity,  most  of  them  were  members  of  the 
Holy  Trinity  congregation,  and  those  were  surely  days  of  sorrow  and 
agony  to  the  afflicted  people  of  the  parish.  Sunday,  August  11th, 
mass  was  said  from  the  steps  of  the  school  house,  which  had  been 
used  as  a  receptacle  for  the  dead,  and  "on  the  afternoon  of  that  day  22 
hearse-wagons,  with  their  dead,  moved  in  procession  to  the  cemetery, 
where  these  victims  of  the  unbridled  tempest  were  laid  in  their  long, 
dreamless  sleep." 

A  temporary  roof  was  fitted  over  the  walls  of  the  new  church,  and 
in  the  shelter  thus  afforded  services  were  held  until  the  following 
spring,  when,  with  the  means  secured  by  Father  Mallon,  outside  of 
the  distressed  parish,  the  work  of  building  was  resumed.  By  the 
latter  part  of  August,  1879,  the  church  was  so  far  completed  that  it 
was  used  temporarily  for  worship,  and  by  November,  1879,  the  base- 
ment of  the  church  was  finished  for  services,  and  was  used  until 
the  main  audience  room  was  fully  finished  and  dedicated,  November 
24th,  1887. 

The  general  plan  of  the  church  is  much  the  same  as  the  one  at 
Clougher,  the  ancient  seat  of  St.  Patrick,  where  also  were  the  scenes  of 
Father  Mallon's  boyhood  days.  It  is  of  cruciform  shape,  the  extreme 
length  being  148  feet.  The  width  of  the  transepts  is  104  feet.  The 
walls  are  29  feet  high,  and  from  the  floor  to  the  apex  of  the  roof  the 
height  is  nearly  50  feet.  It  is  .supported  by  columns  and  arches,  beau- 
tifully decorated,  and  the  entire  room  is  handsomely  embellished  with 
water   color   paintings   and  works  of  art,  to  typify  the  rites  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  409 

church.  The  windows  are  beautiful  and  handsome,  one  costing  $300, 
being  presented  by  the  Young  Men's  Total  Abstinence,  Benevolent 
and  Literary  vSociety;  while  another,  of  like  value,  was  purchased 
out  of  a  fund  left  when  the  old  St.  Patrick's  Temperance  Society  dis- 
banded. 

The  spire  of  the  church  is  190  feet  high  and, -with  a  cross  12  feet 
in  height  on  its  pinnacle,  makes  the  building  a  conspicuous  object, 
viewed  from  any  direction,  and  justly  excites  the  admiration  of  those 
who  assisted  in  its  erection.  The  fine  brick  edifice  throughout,  as 
well  as  the  other  property  of  the  parish,  is  very  attractive  and  gives 
evidence  of  the  care  bestowed  upon  it,  which  makes  it  creditable  not 
only  to  the  parish  but  to  the  entire  community. 

Connected  with  the  church,  as  means  in  extending  the  work  of 
the  parish,  are  the  St.  Vincent  De  Paul  Society,  the  Christian  Doctrine 
Society,  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  and  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus. Pinta  Council,  No.  6,  of  the  latter  order,  is  maintained  on  a  sub- 
stantial basis  and  has  a  fine  membership.  It  has  elegant  rooms  in 
Total  Abstinence  Hall.  This  is  an  attractive  two-story  frame  building, 
with  a  one-story  rear  extension  and  has  a  prominent  location  on  West 
Centre  street.  It  was  erected  in  1885  by  the  Young  Men's  Total 
Abstinence,  Benevolent  and  Literary  Society.  The  latter  organiza- 
tion became  an  incorporated  body,  with  this  name,  on  the  18th  of 
March,  1884,  the  corporate  members  being  Thomas  Brosnan,  Patrick 
J.  Quinn,  Patrick  J.  Laden,  William  Hogan,  John  B.  Roach,  Thomas 
Paden,  John  J.  Prior,  Thomas  Downey,  Thomas  Pahey  and  Edward 
Roach.  The  hall,  on  Centre  street,  has  been  fitted  up  for  assembly 
and  social  purposes  and  the  nucleus  of  a  library  has  been  gathered. 

An  older  and,  in  its  day,  a  very  useful  temperance  organization 
was  the  St.  Patrick's  Total  Abstinence  and  Benevolent  Society,  which 
was  incorporated  in  August,  1871.  Its  privileges  were  suspended  a 
few  years  before  the  organization  of  the  above  society  was  effected. 

The  Wallingford  Community  was  for  many  years  an  object  of 
great  interest  in  the  town,  both  on  account  of  the  religious  views  of 
its  members  and  the  prosperity  which  characterized  its  temporal 
affairs.  The  domain  of  the  community  indicated  a  splendid  property, 
consisting  of  farm,  shops  and  mills  created  largely  by  the  thrift  and 
enterprise  of  the  members.  These  are  located,  along  the  old  New 
Haven  turnpike,  a  mile  west  from  the  center  of  Wallingford  borough, 
along  the  east  base  of  Mount  Tom.  The  farm  embraced  240  acres, 
much  of  it  lying  well  up  the  hillside,  so  as  to  command  a  view  of  the 
Ouinnipiac  and  its  valley  for  several  miles,  north  and  south.  Here, 
upon  spacious  and  finely  laid  out  grounds,  were  erected  the  community 
residences,  whose  large  and  imposing  appearance  make  them  con- 
spicuous objects.  The  largest  of  these  is  of  modern  architecture  and 
contains  40  sleeping  rooms.  It  was  erected  in  1876  and  the  buildings 
cost  $50,000.     Much  of  the  farm  was  devoted   to  the  culture  of  small 


410  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

fruits  and  orcharding,  more  than  1,000  bushels  being  grown  annually. 
In  1889  there  were  orchards  of  15  acres  of  apples,  4  acres  of  pears,  and 
2i  acres  of  quinces.  In  the  latter  years  of  the  community  less  atten- 
tion was  paid  to  the  farm  than  formerly  and  more  time  was  devoted 
to  manufacturing.  A  well-ordered  printing  office  and  silk  mills  were 
carried  on,  both  enterprises  being  .successfully  conducted. 

In  1890  the  title  to  the  property  was  still  held  by  the  community, 
but  there  was  little  to  tell  of  the  activity  which  here  at  one  time 
prevailed  in  the  field  and  the  shop.  After  1880  the  transfer  of  the 
members  to  the  parent  society  at  Oneida  began  and  in  the  course  of 
a  few  years  nearly  all  had  removed  or  assumed  new  relations  in  life. 

The  community  at  Wallingford  had  its  origin  in  18.51,  when  Henry 
Allen  and  his  family,  old  and  respectable  citizens  of  the  town,  em- 
braced the  teachings  of  John  Humphrey  Noyes  and  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  Oneida  Communists.  Believing  in  the  truth  of  the  prin- 
ciples held  by  these  people,  they  determined  to  embody  them  at  this 
place  in  practical  life  and  were  assisted  by  members  of  the  Oneida 
Community  to  form  a  branch  community  at  Wallingford.  In  this  way 
Mrs.  M.  E.  Cragin,  L.  H.  Bradley,  E.  H.  Hamilton  and  Mrs.  S.  C. 
Hamilton  were  most  efficient  aids  in  the  first  years  of  the  community, 
having  been  thoroughly  indoctrinated  at  Oneida.  In  addition  to  Mr. 
Allen  himself  there  were  his  wife  and  four  children  and  his  sister, 
Mi.ss  Eliza  A.  Allen.  B.  Bristol  and  his  family,  of  Cheshire,  soon  after 
joined  and  others  were  added  from  time  to  time,  until,  with  those 
transferred  to  this  place  from  the  communities  of  Oneida  and  Willow 
Place,  New  York,  there  were  about  ."io  members  of  all  ages.  After 
the  lapse  of  the  first  twenty  years  there  were  but  few  accessions  and 
the  membership  steadily  decreased  until  the  Wallingford  Community 
disbanded. 

One  of  the  cardinal  principles  of  the  community  was  to  conform 
as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  conditions  of  the  Christian  church  in  the 
Pentecostal  period,  when  "  the  multitude  of  them  that  believed  were 
of  one  heart  and  of  one  soul:  neither  said  any  of  them  that  aught  of 
the  things  which  he  possessed  was  his  own,  but  they  had  all  things 
common."  They  succeeded  in  applying  this  principle  to  the  avoca- 
tions of  life  and  the  attendant  property  relation,  establishing  a  fine 
social  system,  which  added  dignity  to  labor  and  gave  better  oppor- 
tunity for  the  development  of  natural  talent,  since  a  greater  variety 
of  occupation  was  offered  to  the  member  than  if  he  had  relied  solely 
on  his  individual  efforts.  Education  was  ever  a  subject  of  prime 
interest  and  all  the  youth  of  the  community  were  thoroughly  in- 
structed, a  number  of  them  being  .sent  to  colleges,  at  home  and  abroad, 
while  the  means  of  obtaining  an  academical  education  were  placed 
within  the  reach  of  all  at  the  academy  at  Oneida.  In  all  these  respects 
the  community  was  a  success;  but  the  application  of  the  communistic 
principles  to  the  social  or  family  relation  was  a  failure.     Their  system 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  411 

of  "  complex  marriage  "  was  so  abhorrent  to  the  general  ptiblic  that 
it  found  little  favor  and  provoked,  very  justly,  much  comment  and 
sentiment  adverse  to  the  community.  In  spite  of  the  many  good 
traits  of  the  members,  which  were  freely  recognized,  the  feeling  pre- 
vailed that  they  were  transgre.ssors  of  honored  customs  and  civil  laws 
and  that  their  usages  were  inimical  to  the  welfare  of  society.  After 
an  experimental  existence  of  thirty  years  the  community  yielded 
obedience  to  this  feeling  and  passed  away,  regretted  only  for  its 
material  worth. 

The  cemeteries  in  the  town  are  generally  well  kept  and  attractive. 
In  the  early  settlement  it  appears  that  one  of  the  common  fields  on 
the  "Plains,"  near  the  center  of  the  original  village,  was  selected  as  a 
place  of  burial.  While  the  ground  was  not  contiguous  to  the  meeting 
hou.se  lot,  it  was  near  at  hand,  and  besides  being  dry  and  clear,  per- 
haps more  conveniently  accommodated  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
on  account  of  its  accessibility,  than  any  other  place.  To  the  original 
lot  thus  set  aside,  additions  have  been  made  until  there  are  about  ten 
acres  in  the  enclosure.  Many  of  the  graves  in  the  old  part  have  been 
obliterated,  but  the  places  of  a  few  of  the  early  interments  are  indi- 
cated b}-  rude  headstones.  A  few  years  ago  their  location  and  the 
significance  of  the  inscriptions  were  investigated  by  John  G.  Phelan, 
of  the  borough,  and  from  his  account  we  learn  that  the  oldest  stone, 
which  is  merely  an  irregular  slab,  marks  the  grave  of  William  Houlte, 
who  died  in  1683,  aged  73  years.  He  had  joined  the  settlement  ten 
years  before,  the  original  lot  in  the  village  set  aside  for  John  Miles 
having  been  sold  to  him. 

A  larger  and  more  shapely,  almost  oblong  red  stone,  but  as  rudely 
and  simply  inscribed  as  the  foregoing  one,  only  the  initial  letters 
being  cut,  shows  where  Katharine  Miles  was  buried,  in  1687,  after 
having  attained  the  age  of  95  years.  The  Miles  family  was  one  of 
those  to  settle  at  Wallingford  in  1670,  its  lot  being  where  are  now 
Main  and  Christian  streets,  and  she  must,  therefore,  have  been  already 
78  years  old  when  she  took  up  her  residence  here.  Descendants  have 
ever  since  remained  in  the  limits  of  the  old  town,  as  have  also  those  of 
the  two  next  noted  below. 

The  grave  of  Abraham  Doolittle,  who  died  in  1690  at  the  age  of  70 
years,  is  marked  by  a  very  low  but  rather  thick  stone,  whose  outlines 
have  been  nicely  rounded  by  the  elements.  In  official  matters  he 
bore  the  title  of  sergeant,  and  his  was  one  of  the  houses  ordered  to  be 
fortified  against  Indian  attack,  in  December,  1675.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  committeemen  of  Wallingford,  a  selectman  for  many  years, 
and  a  member  of  the  general  court,  beino-  in  the  sreneral  affairs  of  the 
town  one  of  its  most  prominent  men. 

The  most  elaborate  of  the  old  headstones  marks  the  grave  of  Mr. 
John  Mo.ss,  who  died  in  1707,  at  the  unusual  age  of  103  years.  The 
inscription  is  cut  in  a  heart-shaped   figure,  and   the  top  of  the  stone. 


412  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

which  is  well  preserved,  is  nicely  carved.  John  Moss  was  a  man  of 
distinction  in  the  colony,  and  the  honors  he  held  in  life  seem  to  have 
followed  him  in  death,  as  indicated  by  this  stone.  He  was  one  of  the 
three  persons  in  the  settlement  entitled  to  be  called  "Mr.,"  the  other 
two  being  Mr.  Samuel  Street,  the  minister,  and  Mr.  John  Brocket,  who 
was  a  fellow  commissioner  in  the  colony.  At  the  age  of  83  years  he 
was  one  of  the  selectmen  of  the  town,  and  there  is  a  tradition  among 
his  descendants  that  he  made  his  will  when  he  was  a  hundred  years 
old,  which  shows  that,  besides  being  educated  and  dignified,  he  was 
also  a  remarkably  vigorous  man. 

The  graves  of  some  of  the  prominent  men  who  died  in  early  years 
are  marked  by  new  .stones,  to  which  the  old  inscriptions  have  been 
transferred.  These  epitaphs  are  usually  very  quaint  and  much  at 
variance  with  our  present  style  of  .spelling,  as,  for  example  : 

•'  The  Reverent  Mr:  Street  Departed:  This  Life:  Jen:  ye  10  1717  Agged:  82." 

On  a  number  of  stones  are  poetical  inscriptions: 
(Doctor  Isaac  Lewis,  1784). 

"  As  I  am  now  gone  down  to  dust 

Five  of  my  children  came  here  first 

The  rest  may  se  as  they  pass  by 

That  we  are  now  before  them  gone." 

In  July,  1742,  the  neglected  condition  of  the  cemetery  was  brought 
before  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  when  it  was  ordered  that  the 
grounds  should  be  enclosed,  in  connection  with  some  of  the  common 
fields  near  b3\  so  that  the  highway  to  the  fields,  in  that  locality,  run- 
ning through  the  cemetery,  should  not  be  stopped  up,  but  entrance 
should  be  afforded  by  gates.  In  more  recent  times  greater  regard  has 
been  paid  to  its  privacy,  and  the  cemetery  is  now  separately  enclosed, 
with  a  hedge  of  Norway  spruces,  which  gives  it  an  attractive  appear- 
ance. The  town  decided,  April  20th,  1871,  to  make  this  improvement, 
which  was  much  needed.  The  selectmen — E.  A.  Doolittle,  Hezekiah 
Hall  and  William  Wallace — with  additional  committeemen,  Medad 
W.  Munson,  .Samuel  Simpson  and  Benjamin  D.  Sutliff,  were  appointed 
to  adjust  the  bounds  of  the  cemetery  and  carry  out  the  plans  for  im- 
provement. But  the  desire  for  a  more  secluded  spot  for  the  repose  of 
the  dead  led  to  the  establishment  of 

The  In  Memoriam  Cemetery,  which  was  dedicated  October  16th, 
1887,  when  appropriate  addresses  were  made  by  Reverend  J.  E.  Wild- 
man  and  Honorable  L.  M.  Hubbard.  The  first  person  therein  interred 
was  Mrs.  George  Cook,  of  Yalesville,  December  22d,  1887.  The  ceme- 
tery is  beautifull}^  located,  on  the  high  ground  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  borough,  at  the  intersection  of  Yalesville  and  Main  streets.  It 
embraces  7i  acres  which  have  been  nicely  platted  by  Thomas  Mc- 
Kenzie,  and  improved  according  to  his  plans  by  the  cemetery  associa- 
tion which  controls  it.     This  was  organized  in  May,  1887,  and  in  1889 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  413 

the  officers  were:  William  G.  Choate,  president;  Reverend  J.  E.  Wild- 
man,  vice-president;  William  M.  Hall,  secretary  and  treasurer;  H.  L. 
Judd,  Reverend  C.  H.  Dickinson,  Reverend  H.  L.  Reynolds,  B.  A. 
Treat  and  Horace  Austin,  directors.  The  funds  for  the  purchase  of 
the  cemetery  were  contributed  mainly  by  William  G.  Choate,  David 
JNl.  Stone.  Samuel  Simp.son,  H.  L.  Judd,  Hiram  Austin,  Miss  Fannie  J. 
Curtiss,  and  others  who  were  actuated  by  a  public  spirit  to  secure  this 
attractive  spot  for  the  repose  of  the  dead. 

BIOGR.\PinCAL    SKETCHES. 

Roger  S.  Austin,  born  in  184.'5,  is  a  son  of  Sherman  and  Luc}' 
(Jones)  Austin,  grandson  of  Porter,  and  great-grand.son  of  Joel  Au.stin. 
Mr.  Austin  has  been  collector  of  taxes  16  years,  has  been  three  years 
deputy  sheriff,  and  holds  the  office  of  constable.  He  has  been  five 
years  in  the  ice  business,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Wallingford 
Ice  Company.  He  is  a  member  of  Compass  Lodge,  No.  9,  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  of  Accanant  Lodge,  No.  71,  L  O.  O.  F.  He  married  Fannie  M. 
Pattee.     Their  only  child  is  Albert  S. 

Michael  Backes,  born  in  Germany  in  1829,  came  to  this  country  in 
1835.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  locksmith,  and  his  natural  mechanical 
genius  led  to  several  inventions.  He  came  to  Wallingford  in  1853, 
and  in  1875  began  the  manufacture  of  toy  paper  caps,  and  since  his 
death  in  1889,  his  sons  have  carried  on  the  business.  He  was  nine 
months  in  the  late  war,  in  Company  B,  27th  Connecticut  Volunteers. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of  the  court  of  burgesses 
of  the  borough.  He  married  Catharine  Helm.steadter.  Their  children 
are:  George,  Edward,  Charles,  Frederick,  Henry,  Carrie,  Frank,  Nettie, 
Catharine,  John,  Grace,  Bertha,  and  one  that  died. 

Nehemiah  Banks,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Bethel.  Conn.,  November  8th, 
1813.  He  was  one  of  a  large  family,  numbering  thirteen,  the  children 
of  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Crane)  Banks  of  Bethel,  Conn.  He  was  the 
sixth  in  order  of  birth.  His  father  was  a  physician,  so  that  the  son, 
Nehemiah,  was  familiar  from  early  boyhood  with  the  general  life  of 
the  physician,  and  hence  was  led,  by  parental  example  and  success,  to 
undertake  the  profe.ssion  for  himself.  His  English  education  was 
gained  under  a  private  preceptor,  and  while  he  himself  was  engaged 
in  teaching.  His  special  and  technical  education  as  a  physician  was 
obtained  at  the  medical  college  of  Yale  L^niversity,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1848.  Following  his  medical  course,  he  located  for  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  first  of  all,  in  Cheshire,  Conn.  But  his 
expanding  knowledge  and  skill  fitted  him  for  practice  in  a  larger  town, 
and  he  accepted  an  opportunity  of  moving  to  Wallingford.  This  he 
did  in  1852,  and  in  1856  purchased  the  residence  known  as  the  Judge 
Pomeroy  place  on  Centre  street.  The  house  has  since  been  remodelled 
several  times  and  enlarged,  so  that  from  its  present  appearance,  it 
could  scarcely  be  identified  as  the  home  of  its  former  owner. 


■il4  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Here  Doctor  Banks  lived  about  34  years,  winning  and  ever  keep- 
ing the  high  regard  of  all  who  knew  him  in  the  town.  He  was  of  a 
gentle  nature,  full  of  .sensitive  feeling,  and  fine  nervous  power,  quick 
to  apprehend,  and  very  domestic  in  his  habits  and  affections.  Home 
was  earthly  heaven  to  him,  and  his  family  the  choice  companions  of 
his  heart.  He  was  the  good  neighbor,  beside  whom  his  neighbors 
could  live  in  peace  for  indefinitely  long  periods.  It  pleased  him  always 
to  do  them  a  neighborly  service.  He  never  lacked  for  kind  words  to 
be  uttered,  nor  for  affable  manners  to  be  shown.  And  his  gentle, 
pleasing  manners,  as  his  love  of  truth  and  performance  of  duty,  made 
him  greatly  beloved  in  the  community. 

Dr.  Banks  was  one  of  these  characters  in  whom  the  public  is  not 
disappointed,  who  are  always  better  than  their  professions,  who  are  a 
little  ahead  of  promises  rather  than  behind,  and  are  giving  surprises 
of  genuineness,  instead  of  disappointments  to  those  who  trust  them. 
Hence  professing  to  be  a  physician,  he  must,  perforce  of  nature,  be  the 
good  physician.  He  must  be  an  honor  to  the  profession,  rather  than 
wear  his  professional  title  as  an  honor  to  himself.  He  must  be  a  con- 
stant student  of  the  curative  art.  The  new  remedies  must  be  exam- 
ined with  scientific  care,  and  treated  rather  suspiciously,  until  they 
have  shown  themselves  to  be  worthy  of  confidence. 

This  conservative,  cautious  element  in  his  nature  showed  itself  in 
a  certain  exactness  in  his  habits.  His  dress  was  always  precisely  ar- 
ranged, neat,  clean  and  of  fine  texture.  His  office  and  the  parapher- 
nalia of  his  profession  were  kept  always  in  order.  He  knew  where 
every  instrument  was,  and  every  medicine,  and  book,  and  pamphlet, 
and  article  worth  preserving.  All  his  professional  equipage  was  ready 
for  use,  ready  for  a  call  in  haste,  even  to  the  trappings  of  his  horse  and 
can'iage. 

The  same  punctilious  precision  and  care  extended  to  the  treat- 
ment of  his  patients.  So  sacred  a  thing  as  their  health  or  life  must 
not  be  the  objects  for  experimentation,  except  within  very  narrow 
limits.  An  intelligent  and  careful  diagnosis  must  lead  up  to  the 
remedies  to  be  employed,  and  those  must  be  used  whose  virtues  are 
known  and  not  guessed  at  or  merel}''  advertised.  His  recipes  were 
always  standard,  and  the  pharmacist  must  compound  them  as  written, 
out  of  elements  which  have  standard  virtue  in  them.  He  first  found 
the  pharmacist  who  could  be  absolutely  trusted,  and  patronized  him. 
Doctor  Banks  could  not  rest  unless  he  was  confident  that  both  his 
medicines  and  his  directions  for  their  use  were  the  most  approved  by 
the  learning  of  the  profession,  so  his  patients  had  the  best  treatment 
known.  And  since  a  cure  so  often  depends  on  proper  nursing,  as  well  as 
quantity  and  power  of  medicine,  he  insisted  on  the  former.  Hence 
those  employing  him  might  be  sure  that  he  would  adopt  long-tried 
.methods,  and  not  new-fangled  notions  and  experimentation. 

Doctor  Banks  abandoned  himself  to  his  profession,  hence  he  did 


(k. 


-^/l/L--t.c^^  if2)£i^'^y^(o.  cS). 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  415 

nothing  beside.  He  was  never  found  seeking  political  office  or  bid- 
ding for  popularity  in  the  ordinary  rivalries  of  the  town.  He  aimed 
to  do  the  one  thine,  and  do  that  one  thing  well.  Hence  he  was  the 
tru.sted  "  beloved  phj-sician."  And  when  counsel  was  needed  in  most 
critical  cases,  it  was  easy  to  secure  the  most  educated  and  skillful  ex- 
perts of  the  profession.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New  Haven  County 
Medical  Society,  and  for  many  years,  beginning  with  1852,  was  regis- 
trar of  vital  statistics  for  Wallingford. 

He  was  married  four  times;  the  last  to  Miss  Catharine  N.  Maynes 
of  Meriden,  Conn.,  January  6th,  lcS86,  who  survives  him.  He  died 
June  11th,  1890.  Mrs.  Banks,  in  loving  memory  of  him,  has  given  to 
St.  Paul's  church  of  Wallingford  an  elegant  lectern,  consisting  of  a 
polished,  ornamented,  carved  brass  pillar,  a  large  eagle  standing  on 
the  capital  of  the  pillar.  Its  wings  are  outspread,  and  on  the  oblique 
upper  surface  of  the  wings  rests  the  Bible.  Upon  the  crown  of  the 
pedestal  is  engraved  the  dedication:  '•  To  the  Glory  of  God  and  in 
Memory  of  Xehemiah  Banks,  M.  D.,  a  faithful  Communicant  of  this 
Parish."  On  the  circular  base  is  also  inscribed:  "  Born  A.  D.  1813  : 
Baptized  A.  D.  1880:  Died  A.  D.  1890."  It  is  a  beautiful  memorial  in 
the  church  he  loved  and  where  he  worshipped. 

Doctor  Banks  was  a  Mason,  and  at  his  burial  both  the  service  of  his 
church  and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  committed  him  to  rest  in  peace, 
while  the  community 'mourned  for  an  esteemed  citizen  who  should  no 
more  be  seen  on  earth. 

Augustus  H.  Bartholomew  is  the  eldest  of  four  children  of  Ira  and 
Eunice  (Hall)  Bartholomew,  and  grandson  of  Isaac  Bartholomew.  He 
followed  farming  until  1885,  when  he  retired.  His  first  marriage  was 
with  Mrs.  Mary  Pomeroy,  who  died.  His  second  marriage  was  with 
Mary  E.  Camp.  They  have  four  children:  Elisabeth  M.  iMrs.  H.  X. 
Chil'dsi,  James  D.,  William  H.  and  Charles  F.;  and  one  daughter  that 
•died  in  infancy. 

Francis  C.  Bartholomew,  born  in  1821,  in  Xorthford,  Conn.,  is  a 
son  of  Timothy  and  Mariette  (Cook)  Bartholomew,  grandson  of  Tim- 
othy, great-grandson  of  Samuel,  whose  father,  Andrew,  came  to  Wal- 
lingford in  about  1729.  Andrew's  father,  William,  was  a  resident  of 
Branford,  and  his  grandfather,  William  Bartholomew,  came  from 
England  to  Massachusetts  in  1634.  Mr.  Bartholomew  was  a  school 
teacher  and  farmer  until  1848.  He  was  several  years  president  and 
principal  stockholder  in  the  Xorthford  Rivet  ^^lanufacturing  Com- 
pany. He  was  town  clerk  and  treasurer  six  years,  35  consecutive 
years  justice  of  the  peace,  commissioner  of  the  superior  court,  and  in 
1875  and  1877  he  was  representative  in  the  legislature.  Since  1883 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  Wallingford,  where  he  holds  the  offices  of 
deputy  judge  of  borough  court,  auditor  of  town  accounts,  and  regis- 
trar of  voters.     His  first  marriage  was  with  Erry  Ann  Lee.   She  died  in 


41G  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

1873,  and  he  married  for  his  second  wife  Jennie  E.  Harrison.  He  has 
lost  two  sons:  Frank  L.  and  Charles  A. 

Lyman  Beckley,  born  in  1826,  is  a  son  of  Theodore  and  Eliza  (Bal- 
den) Beckley.  He  is  a  painter  and  paper  hanger.  He  married  Mary 
E.,  daughter  of  Andrew  S.  and  Mary  (Hobart)  Page.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Jennie  E.,  now  Mrs.  E.G.  Hull. 

John  Beaumont,  son  of  Deodate  and  Lucina  (Rose)  Beaumont,  and 
grandson  of  Edmund,  died  in  1879,  aged  88  years.  Mr.  Beaumont  fol- 
lowed the  sea  in  the  fur  trade  until  he  was  about  60  years  old,  and 
after  that  was  a  farmer.  He  married  Ann,  daughter  of  John  and 
granddaughter  of  George  Tyler.  Their  children  are:  Elisabeth  (Mrs. 
S.  Pond),  Edmund  (deceased),  Julius,  Lucina  (deceased),  Harvey,  Fran- 
cis, Lewellyn,  Albert,  George  and  Cynthia. 

Harvey  Beaumont,  born  in  1838,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Ann  (Tyler) 

•Beaumont.     Mr.  Beaumont  is  a  farmer.     He  married   Melissa  Foster 

for  his  first  wife,  and  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Julia  Bailey,  daughter 

of  Elihu  Mix.     They    have  one  son,  Edmund  Mix   Beaumont,  born 

June  18th,  1890. 

William  A.  Booth,  born  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  1856,  is  a  son  of 
Charles  W.  and  Chloe  (Caufield)  Booth.  Mr.  Booth  removed  to  Strat- 
ford, Conn.,  with  his  parents  when  a  small  boy,  and  resided  there 
until  1877,  when  he  went  to  New  Haven,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
various  occupations  until  December,  1886,  when,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  he  bought  the  New  Haven  &  Wallingford  Express,  and  in 
1887  they  bought  a  livery  business  at  Wallingford  of  George  B.  Allen. 
In  February,  1889,  the  firm  of  Booth  Brothers  was  dissolved,  and  since 
then  William  A.  has  run  the  livery  busine.ss  alone.  He  has  lived  in 
Wallingford  since  1887.  He  married  Lillie  Farmer  and  has  four  chil- 
dren: Charles  F.,  Clara  L.,  Harry  W.,  and  Robert,  died  March  4th,  1890. 
They  also  lost  one  daughter. 

Allen  Bowe,  born  in  1822  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  is  a  son  of  Oba- 
diah  A.  and  Nanc}'  (Skinner)  Bowe  and  grandson  of  Obadiah  Bowe. 
He  has  worked  at  the  blacksmith's  trade  smce  1838,  and  .since  April, 
1870,  has  run  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop  at  North  Farms,  Walling- 
ford. He  married  Mary  A.  Coe,  and  has  two  sons  :  Osman  and  Clif- 
ford. 

Andrew  J.  Brown,  born  at  Burlington,  Conn.,  in  1834.  is  the  young- 
est of  twelve  children  of  Ervin  and  Louise  (Bronson)  Brown  and 
grand.son  of  James  Brown.  Mr.  Brown  came  to  Yalesville  in  March, 
1857,  and  shortly  after  became  foreman  of  the  wood  department  for 
the  Charles  Parker  Company.  He  married  Mary  H.  McKenzie.  Their 
children  are:  Mary  H.,  Andrew  J-,  Jr.,  Nettie  A.,  Evaline  E.,  Margaret, 
Harriet,  William,  vSarah  A.,  Fannie  M.,  Robert  and  Alice.  One  son, 
Julius  E.,  died. 

Edwin  Y.  Bull,  son  of  William  and  Ruth  (Hall)  Bull,  and  grandson 
of  Caleb  Bull,  was  born  in  1823.     His  grandfather,  Benajah  Hall,  was 


HISTr)RV    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  417 

a  fifer  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Bull  learned  the  trade  of  tin- 
smith and  sheet-iron  worker,  and  after  following  it  ten  years,  began 
work  as  a  die  sinker  and  machinist,  continuing  until  about  ten  years 
ago.  He  is  a  natural  mechanic  and  has  made  some  violins,  and  has 
also  given  lessons  in  playing  them. 

John  M.  Cannon,  born  in  1860,  is  a  son  of  Burdett  and  Juliette 
Cannon  and  grandson  of  Lyman  and  Sally  (Smith)  Cannon.  He  had 
been  in  the  employ  of  Simpson,  Hall,  Miller  &  Co.  until  March,  1887, 
when  he  bought  a  men's  furnishing  and  boot  and  shoe  business,  which 
he  still  continues,  having  substituted  clothing  for  boots  and  shoes. 
He  is  a  member  of  Accanant  Lodge,  No.  71,  L  O.  O.  F. 

Patrick  Concannon,  born  in  Meriden  in  1853,  is  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Deborah  Concannon.  He  is  an  engraver  by  trade.  He  came  from 
Meriden  to  Wallingford  in  1880.  He  was  two  years  a  member  of  the 
court  of  burgesses,  three  terms  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  been 
assessor  for  the  borough  for  four  terms.  He  is  married  and  has  three 
children  :  John,  Deborah  and  Mary. 

Marcus  E.  Cook,  born  in  1849,  is  the  youngest  son  of  Hiram  and 
Anna  M.  (Marks)  Cook,  and  grandson  of  Chester,  whose  father,  Abel, 
was  a  son  of  Aaron  Cook.  I\Ir.  Cook  is  a  farmer.  Since  1880  he  has 
had  charge  of  the  roads  of  the  town  and  borough,  and  has  invented 
several  machines  for  doing  road  work  with  horse  power.  He  was 
representative  in  the  legislature  in  1883  His  father  and  grandfather 
each  held  the  office  one  term.  He  is  a  member  of  Wallingford 
Grange,  No.  33,  P.  of  H.,  and  has  been  its  master  two  years.  He  mar- 
ried Clara  E.  Potts,  of  Berkshire  county,  Mass.  They  have  one  son, 
Chester  H. 

D.  J.  Curtin,  M.  D.,  born  in  July,  1863,  at  New  Britain,  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Ellen  Curtin.  He  graduated  in  June,  1883,  from  the  Holy 
Cross  College,  Worcester,  Mass.  He  then  took  a  two  and  a  half  years' 
course  in  the  Medical  L^niversity  of  New  York  citj',  and  then  one 
year  in  Bellevue  Hospital  and  other  schools,  and  in  November,  1887, 
came  to  Wallingford,  where  he  now  practices. 

Silas  Noel  Edmonds,  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Va.,  in  1828, 
is  a  son  of  Captain  ^leredith,  and  grandson  of  Vincent  Edmonds,  who 
was  sheriff  of  Westmoreland  county,  and  was  overseer  of  General 
Washington's  farm  in  the  .same  county.  Mr.  Edmonds  came  to  Wal- 
lingford in  October,  1849,  and  after  working  at  his  trade  as  a  carpen- 
ter and  joiner  for  seven  years,  he  was  made  station  agent  for  the 
N.  Y.,  N.  H.&  H.  railroad  here,  which  position  he  has  filled  since  that 
time.  He  is  a  member  of  Compass  Lodge,  No.  9,  F.  &  A.  ]\L  He 
married  Seraphina,  daughter  of  John  D.  Reynolds. 

John  W.  Fitzgerald,  born  in  Wallingford  in  1855,  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Joanna  (Carey)  Fitzgerald.  He  was  employed  in  the  silver 
manufactories  here  tmtil  April,  1887,  when  he  started  the  furniture 
and  undertaking  business.  He  was  married  May  25th,  1882,  to  Mar- 
26 


418  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

garet  i\Iaher,  and  they  have  five  children.     He  is  a  member  of  the 
National  Band  of  Wallingford. 

George  B.  Francis,  youngest  and  only  surviving  child  of  Lyman 
and  Mary  Francis,  grandson  of  Jacob,  whose  father,  Jacob,  was  a  son 
of  Joseph  Francis,  was  born  in  1841.  He  is  a  farmer  on  the  home- 
stead of  his  father.  He  is  a  member  of  Meriden  Grange,  No.  29,  P.  of 
H.  He  married  Emily  J.,  daughter  of  Horace  and  Esther  R.  (John- 
son) Andrews,  and  has  one  son,  Howard  A. 

William  Francis  was  born  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  March  .Sd,  1804. 
On  the  northern  border  of  the  town  of  Wallingford  and  just  east  of 
the  central  point,  lies  a  large  plot  of  ground  which  has  been  owned  in 
the  Francis  family  for  several  generations.  Old  deeds  are  in  posses- 
sion of  the  younger  Francis  sons  which  give  proof  of  the  assertion. 
Here  lived  the  subject  of  this  sketch  during  his  long  life,  and  here 
he  died  at  the  age  of  7.5  years,  April  14th,  1879. 

Mr.  Francis  in  boyhood  attended  the  district  school,  kept  at  what 
is  called  North  Farms,  but  only  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age. 
The  schools  of  those  days  gave  instruction  in  the  fundamental  branches 
of  an  English  education  denominated  the  three  "  R's."  The  arith- 
metic taught  was  not  the  advanced  arithmetic  of  the  better  .schools  of 
to-day,  but  the  simpler  processes  of  numbers.  Hence  those  who 
would  acquire  advanced  knowledge  in  the  science  of  nutnbers,  must 
avail  themselves  of  special  opportunities,  such  as  were  denominated 
"  ciphering  schools."  A  private  instructor,  expert  in  the  science  of 
numbers  as  far  as  "  navigation,"  held  a  private  school,  perhaps  in  a 
private  house.  The  more  ambitious  young  men  of  the  early  part  of 
the  19th  century  in  this  district,  and  young  William  Francis  as  one  of 
them,  learned  advanced  arithmetic  in  a  "  ciphering  school."  In  this 
way  his  talent  for  numbers  was  developed.  After  all,  his  schooling 
was  mostly  of  the  practical  business  sort  gained  in  the  great  school  of 
business  and  trading  life. 

At  first  he  quite  despaired  of  becoming  a  farmer,  for  his  physical 
constitution  was  weak  and  his  physical  weight  light.  His  physician 
advised  him  to  adopt  an  out-door  industry  which  would  call  for  no 
really  hard  labor.  He  took  the  advice,  and  undertook  the  perambirla- 
tions  of  a  peddler  in  the  state  of  New  York.  Meriden  was  then  head- 
quarters for  much  small  ware,  the  product  of  small  factories,  and  Mr. 
Francis  loaded  his  wagon  with  what  he  termed  "  Yankee  notions," 
such  as  wood-combs,  wooden  bowls,  thread,  coffee-mills,  Britannia  and 
tin  ware,  and  went  to  and  fro  in  the  state  of  New  York.  But  upon 
return  home,  while  his  purse  was  satisfactorily  filled  in  these  peregri- 
nations, he  yet  would  declare  he  did  not  like  the  business. 

He  determined  upon  a  farmer's  life  as  the  next  choice  of  industry 
and  trusted  that  by  carefulness  his  physical  strength  might  endure 
the  hardship.  His  father,  Jacob  Francis,  died  July  14th,  1829,  and  the 
next  spring,   William   Francis  began  the  building  of  the   residence 


HLSTORV   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  419 

where  he  lived  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  where  his   family  of  four   chil- 
dren were  born. 

Perhaps  it  was  the  result  of  a  necessary  caution  exercised  in  young- 
manhood  to  .save  the  physical  strength,  but  Mr.  Francis  was  noted 
always  for  doing  work  in  the  easiest  manner;  "  take  advantage  "  was 
a  constant  phrase  of  his  respecting  all  farm  work,  so  that  it  should  be 
done  with  the  least  expense  of  physical  strength.  Let  the  laborer  be 
constantly  thoughtful,  use  his  mind  to  relieve  his  muscle.  Mr. 
Francis  was  always  a  student  of  farm  methods,  and  watchful  for  im- 
provements in  farm  machinery.  Labor  saving  machinery  was  always 
popular  with  him.  He  was  the  first  farmer  in  all  his  district  to  place 
on  his  farm  a  mowing  machine,  and  horse  rake  and  reaper.  It  was 
said  among  the  neighbors  that  they  too  must  purchase  machines,  for 
Mr.  Francis  got  his  work  done  before  them. 

The  enterprise  of  Mr.  Francis  showed  itself  in  another  way.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  the  farmer's  great  source  of  power  in  the  raising 
of  crops  lay  in  the  abundant  fertilization  of  the  land.  The  old  time 
sources  of  supply  were  not  sufficient.  He  sought  for  new  fertilizers 
and  new  sources  of  .supply.  He  began  the  use  of  special  fertilizers, 
as  the  bone  dust  which  fell  from  the  .saw  in  the  button  shops,  before 
his  neighbors  did.  He  watched  the  newspapers  for  hints  and  pointers. 
He  listened  with  an  intelligent  ear  to  what  might  be  said  on  the  topic 
■of  fertilizers  and  made  all  information  practical  by  applying  it  in 
farming.  Besides  he  was  always  observant  to  discover  new  crops. 
Living  in  an  excellent  farming  section,  he  introduced  the  raising  of 
tobacco,  made  him.self  familiar  with  the  best  processes  of  harvesting 
and  cure  of  the  leaf,  so  as  to  offer  on  the  market  the  best  article. 

Hence  by  good  sense  in  management,  and  by  these  improved 
methods,  Mr.  Francis  became  a  leading  farmer  in  his  town,  as  success- 
ful as  he  was  intelligent  and  far-seeing.  To  him  one  season  was  fol- 
lowed by  another,  and  one  year  by  another;  and  he  was  short-sighted 
"who  did  not  plan  for  the  future  as  well  as  for  the  present.  As  a  far- 
mer, Mr.  Francis  looked  far  ahead,  and  he  made  money.  If  his  in- 
vestments were  traced  out,  they  would  be  found  in  safe  places  where 
they  yield  their  dividends.  His  sons  are  to-day  reaping  the  benefit 
■of  his  wisdom  in  management.  They  have  only  to  follow  his  example 
to  go  on  to  greater  fortune  than  they  have  inherited.  Though  frail 
of  physique,  he  was  what  is  called  a  very  "  hard  worker,"  and  yet  so 
wi.sely  did  he  lay  out  his  strength  from  day  to  day  as  to  live  to  a  ripe 
old  age. 

Mr.  Francis  was  recognized  in  his  town  as  a  man  of  excellent,  ener- 
getic business  quality,  and  of  high  moral  worth.  His  townsmen  put 
hmi  in  positions  of  trust,  and  kept  him  in  some  of  them  for  a  long 
term  of  years.  He  was  tax  collector  for  fifteen  years,  at  a  time  when 
he  must  visit  every  house  in  the  town  annually,  and  some  of  them 
several  times,  to  get  the  annual  tax.     He  was  also  road  commissioner 


420  HISTORV   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

for  three  years,  when  the  labor  of  inspection  fell  almost  wholly  upon 
him;  and  besides  at  one  period,  the  town  entrusted  him  with  the 
repairs  on  all  the  town  roads. 

In  religious  faith  and  alliance,  Mr.  Francis  was  an  Episcopalian 
the  greater  portion  of  his  life,  though  he  came  from  excellent  Bapti.st 
stock.  He  and  his  family  were  members  of  St.  Paul's  church  of  Wal- 
lingford,  and  regular  attendants — the  family  still  maintaining  the 
excellent  example  set  them  by  the  father  and  mother. 

He  was  married  twice — the  first  time  to  Emily  Blakesley,  of  Wal- 
lingford,  March  30th,  1831.  To  them  were  born  two  children:  William 
J.,  who  resides  on  a  part  of  the  original  farm  of  his  father,  and  Emery 
Francis,  born  February  10th,  1837,  died  July  14th,  1837.  Mr.  Francis 
married,  the  second  time,  Julia  (Cook)  Tuttle,  of  Hamden,  Conn.  Two 
sons  were  born:  Henry,  December  18th,  1842,  died  February  22d, 
1843;  and  John  H.,  born  June  2()th,  1858,  who  enjoys  the  great  privi- 
lege of  having  his  mother  in  his  family  on  the  old  homestead.  John  H. 
Francis  married  Carrie  P.  Wooding  October  10th,  1883.  She  died 
December  18th,  1887.  He  married  again  Mabel  A.  Wooding,  Feb- 
ruary 21st,  1889.  To  them  has  been  born  Isabel  Alice,  October  4th, 
1890. 

Mr.  Francis'  last  illness  was  brief.  He  had  been  subject  to  rheu- 
mati.sm,  but  seemed  on  the  day  of  his  death  not  to  be  dangerously  ill, 
when  rheumatism  seized  upon  his  heart  and  he  was  gone,  the  com- 
munity losing  a  citizen  of  great  worth,  who  had  .set  an  example  of 
high  virtue  and  ability  in  all  the  walks  of  his  life. 

William  J.  Francis,  born  in  1832,  is  the  eldest  son  of  William  and 
Emily  Francis,  and  grandson  of  Jacob,  whose  father,  Jacob,  was  a  son 
of  Joseph  Francis.  Mr.  Francis  is  a  farmer,  owning  some  of  the  same 
farm  which  was  owned  by  his  great-great-grandfather.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Meriden  Grange,  No.  29,  P.  of  H.  He  married  Marietta  J., 
daughter  of  Justus  and  Jape  (French)  Peck,  and  has  one  son,  Lyman  H. 

Russell  Frisbie,  born  in  Branford  in  1812,  is  one  of  eleven  children 
of  Thomas,  and  grandson  of  Thomas  Frisbie.  Mr.  Frisbie  came  from 
Branford  to  Wallingford  in  1833,  and  after  working  eleven  years  at  the 
blacksmith  trade,  built  the  blacksmith  shop  and  grist  mill  where  he 
has  since  carried  on  business  at  East  Farms.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  Wallingford  Baptist  church  since  1837.  He  married  Laura  Mat- 
toon,  and  of  her  eight  children  four  survive  her:  Susan  J.,  Mary  A., 
William  R.  and  Cornelia.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Harriet  L. 
Hubbard. 

Daniel  P.  Griswold,  born  in  1856,  in  Essex,  Conn.,  is  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel Griswold.  He  began  in  1874  to  learn  the  cabinet  maker's  trade, 
and  in  1880  he  came  from  New  Britain  to  Wallingford  and  opened  a 
furniture  and  undertaking  store,  having  previously  been  three  years 
in  the  business.  He  married  Emily  Page,  and  has  one  son,  Morton  D. 
Augustus  J.  Hall,  born   in  1842,  is  the  youngest  son  of  Joel  and 


HISTORV   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  421 

Hannah  (Beach)  Hall,  grandson  of  Augustus  and  great-grandson  of 
Joel,  whose  father,  Asahel,  was  a  son  of  John  Hall.  Mr.  Hall  is  a 
farmer  on  the  farm  where  his  father  lived  and  died.  He  is  one  of 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living:  Julia  (Mrs.  Henry  Martin), 
John  H.,  Sarah  E.  (Mrs.  B.  F.  Harrison),  Augustus  J.,  Alice  and  Agnes 
(Mrs.  F.  H.  Hall). 

David  M.  Hall,  born  in  1818,  is  one  of  eleven  children  of  Josiah 
and  Martha  Hall,  grandson  of  Hial  and  great-grandson  of  Peter,  whose 
father,  Thomas,  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and  grandson  of  John  Hall. 
Mr.  Hall  learned  the  trade  of  sheet  iron  and  tin  worker,  and  after  fol- 
lowing it  for  a  few  years  began  farming,  which  he  has  since  continued. 
He  married  Catharine  M.,  daughter  of  Thaddeus  Cook.  Their  chil- 
dren are:  Edward  T.,  George  D.,  and  one  that  died.  Tames  C.  Edward 
T.  married  Georgie  A.,  daughter  of  George  F.  Pardee.  George  D. 
married  Jennie  B.,  daughter  of  Elijah  Hough,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Louis  Cook  Hall. 

Elihu  Hall,  born  in  1807,  was  a  son  of  Chauncy  and  Marilla  Hall, 
grandson  of  Hial  and  great-grandson  of  Peter  Hall.  Mr.  Hall  was  a 
wheel  and  wheel  material  manufacturer  until  ten  years  ago,  and  after- 
ward followed  the  insurance  and  loan  business.  He  died  May  27th, 
1891.  He  married  Martha  Ann,  daughter  of  .Samuel  Cook  and  grand- 
daughter of  Ambrose  and  Colonel  Isaac  Cook,  who  was  the  grandson 
of  Isaac  Cook,  who  was  the  first  to  emigrate  to  this  country  by  the 
name  of  Cook.  She  died,  leaving  two  children  living:  John  M.  and 
Martha  C.  (Mrs.  Gustavus  Phelps).     Two  died,  Henry  C.  and  Lucy  I2. 

Henry  D.  Hall,  oldest  son  of  Jeremiah  A.  and  Jemima  (Field)  Hall, 
grandson  of  John  and  great-grandson  of  Elisha  Hall,  was  born  in  1836. 
October  12th,  1859,  he  began  the  butcher  business  at  Wallingford, 
which  he  has  continued  since  that  time,  with  the  exception  of  about 
one  year.     The  present  market  was  built  in  1877. 

J.  Atwater  Hall,  son  of  Jeremiah  A.  Hall,  was  born  in  October, 
1838.  He  enlisted  July  22d,  1861,  in  the  Hth  Connecticut  Volunteers, 
in  the  band,  serving  fourteen  months.  January  Lst,  1864,  he  became 
a  partner  in  the  meat  business  with  his  brother,  under  the  firm  name 
of  H.  D.  &  J.  A.  Hall.  They  have  been  in  business  since,  with  the 
e.xception  of  one  year.  He  is  a  member  of  Compass  Lodge,  Xo.  9, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  a  member  of  Arthur  H.  Dutton  Post,  No.  36,  G.  A.  R. 
He  married  Cora  A.,  daughter  of  Sheldon  Brayman,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Eva  L. 

Julius  C.  Hall,  youngest  .son  of  Jeremiah  A.  Hall,  was  born  in  1840. 
He  served  in  the  civil  war  from  November  9th,  1861,  to  November 
29th,  1864.  in  Company  K,  First  California  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
ofificial  report  shows  that  this  company  marched  4,245  miles  during 
their  time  of  .service,  through  Southern  California.  Arizona,  New 
Mexico,  Texas  and  Kansas.  .Since  186.")  Mr.  Hall  has  been  a  partner 
in  the  meat   business  with   his  two  brothers,  firm  of    Hall  Brothers. 


422  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

He  is  a  member  of  Arthur  H.  Dutton  Post,  No.  36,  G.  A.  R.     He  mar- 
ried Alary  B.  Higgins,  of  Maine,  and  has  one  daughter,  Alabel  C. 

Henry  L.  Hall,  2d,  born  in  1840,  is  a  son  of  Jared  and  Emily  (Aus- 
tin) Hall,  grandson  of  Samuel  and  great-grandson  of  Samuel  Hall. 
Mr.  Hall  was  a  farmer  until  1880,  when  he  bought  the  coal  and  fertil- 
izer business  which  he  now  carries  on.  He  was  assessor  one  term  and 
four  3'ears  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen.  He  married  Emma 
L.,  daughter  of  John  H.  Allen,  and  has  one  son,  Allen  L.,  one  daugh- 
ter having  died  in  infancy.  Emma  L..  his  wife,  died  in  June,  1888. 
In  June.  1890,  he  married  Ann  E.  Loper,  of  New  Haven.  vShe  was  a 
teacher  in  the  Skinner  school  for  twenty  years. 

Hezekiah  Hall,  born  in  1817,  and  died  in  1883,  was  a  .son  of  Nathan, 
grandson  of  Hezekiah  and  great-grandson  of  Eliakim  Hall.  Mr.  Hall 
was  a  farmer.  He  was  three  terms  in  the  house  of  representatives  and 
selectman  several  years.  He  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  Calvin  and 
Harriet  (Rice)  Coe,  and  granddaughter  of  Joseph  Coe.  Their  children 
were:  Lillie  C.  (Mrs.  H.  M.  Comer),  Ida  M.,  Nathan,  Linus  H.,  Emma 
C.  (Mrs.  Charles  Lyman),  Jane  M.,  and  one  daughter  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. Linus  H.  occupies  the  homestead  at  East  Farms.  He  married 
Zoe  L.,  daughter  of  Albert  M.  Phillips,  of  Monson,  Ma.ss.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Catharine. 

Isaac  K.  Hall,  youngest  son  of  Peter  and  Delight  (Kurtland)  Hall, 
and  grandson  of  Hial  Hall,  was  born  in  1834  and  died  in  1886.  He 
was  a  farmer.  He  was  in  the  war,  in  Company  B,  27th  Connecticut 
Volunteers,  from  October,  1862,  for  about  five  months.  He  was  a 
member  of  Arthur  Dutton  Post,  G.  A.  R.  He  married  Ellen  M., 
daughter  of  William  A.  Hart,  of  Durhain.  She  died  January  24th, 
1891,  aged  50  years. 

J.  Walter  Hall,  born  in  1847,  is  the  youngest  son  of  Solomon  and 
Cornelia  I  Andrews)  Hall,  and  grandson  of  Aaron,  whose  father,  Asa- 
hel,  was  a  son  of  John  Hall.  Mr.  Hall  is  a  farmer.  He  married 
Agnes  McGhee.  They  have  two  children:  Delano  W.  and  Zilla  B. 
He  is  a  member  of  Wallingford  Grange,  No.  33,  P.  of  H. 

Sidney  J.  Hall,  son  of  Elizur  and  Eunice  J.  (Nettleton)  Hall,  and 
grandson  of  John  Hall,  was  born  in  1856.  Mr.  Hall  has  kept  a  gen- 
eral store  for  ten  years.  For  four  years  prior  to  that  he  was  in  the 
butcher  business.  He  was  three  years  town  treasurer.  He  married 
Ida  A.  Sutlief.  Their  children  are:  Stuart  W.,  Esther  V.,  and  one  that 
died,  Edna  C. 

W.  Burr  Hall,  born  in  1845,  in  Hamden,  is  a  son  of  William  D. 
and  Harriet  (Perkins)  Hall,  and  grandson  of  Jared,  whose  father 
Samuel,  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Hall.  Mr.  Hall  was  engaged  in  the  hide, 
tallow  and  fertilizer  business  until  April,  1888.  He  has  lived  in  Wal- 
lingford since  October,  1885.  He  held  the  office  of  burgess  ten  months, 
selectman  and  town  clerk  each  one  year.  He  was  appointed  post- 
ma.ster  of  Wallingford  January   16th,  1890,  and   took  charge  of   the 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  423 

office  February  18th  following.  He  joined  the  Governor's  Horse 
Guards  in  1870,  ten  years  later  was  elected  senior  second  lieutenant, 
afterward  senior  first  lieutenant,  and  later  captain,  which  office  he  held 
until  February,  189*),  when  he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He 
married  Ella  ]M.,  daughter  of  Edwin  H.  Skinner,  and  has  one  daughter, 
Maude. 

William  E.  Hall,  born  in  1837,  is  a  son  of  Solomon  and  Cornelia 
(Andrews)  Hall,  and  grandson  of  Aaron,  whose  father  Asahel,  was  a 
son  of  John  Hall,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Wallingford.  Aaron  Hall 
served  in  the  revolutionary  war  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Monmouth  and  Germantown.  His  son,  Solomon,  served  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  was  stationed  at  New  London.  William  E.  Hall  is  a 
member  of  Wallingford  Grange,  No.  33,  P.  of  H.,  and  a  member  of 
Compass  Lodge,  No.  9,  F.  &  A.  M.  He  has  been  selectman  and  has 
held  other  town  offices.  He  married  Lydia  J.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Lydia  R.  Hart.  Their  children  are:  Edgar  S.,  Hattie  C,  Wilbur 
H.,  Ellen  J.  and  S.  Ellsworth.     They  lost  one,  Francis  K. 

George  M.  Hallenbeck  was  born  in  Spencertown  (Chatham  Four 
Corner.s),  New  York,  October  8th,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of  Albert  and 
Mary  H.  (Munsonj  Hallenbeck.  The  earliest  remembrances  of  George 
M.  are  of  Wallingford,  its  streets,  hills,  valleys,  rivers,  its  .schools,  its 
factories  and  its  churches.  His  education  had  only  been  well  entered 
upon  when  he  left  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen  to  work  in  the  electro- 
plating room  of  the  factory  of  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.,  of  Wallingford, 
March  2d.  1863.  Six  years  of  steady  employment  in  the  plating-room 
left  their  warning  mark  upon  his  physical  health,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1869  he  had  quite  resolved  to  leave  the  factory  and  enter  upon  some 
employment  which  would  require  out-door  exercise.  But  by  the 
qualities  of  industrious  earnestness  and  steady,  bright,  pleasing,  busi- 
ness and  social  manners,  he  won  the  very  favorable  opinion  of  the 
governing  powers  of  the  factory.  They  desired  to  retain  his  efficient 
help,  and  offered  him  a  position  in  the  office.  His  first  dirties  in  the 
new  relation  were  those  of  entry  clerk,  and  since  1869,  he  has  passed 
up  through  all  the  grades  of  responsibility,  until  he  became  in  1882 
the  general  manager  of  the  factory.  Since  that  date  he  has  held  that 
position.  It  is  a  position  of  great  responsibility.  The  plant  represents 
a  capital  of  $125,000,  and  employs  a  large  number  of  hands  in  the 
manufacture  of  German  silver  goods  plated  with  silver. 

Mr.  Hallenbeck's  office  is  quiet,  but  pervaded  by  a  spirit  of  busi- 
ness despatch,  of  which  he  himself  is  the  embodiment.  Good  natured 
and  genial,  with  words  few  when  few  words  only  are  in  place,  gentle- 
manly and  kind,  and  masterful  in  his  position,  he  is  highly  respected 
throughout  all  the  works,  while  an  air  of  mutual  confidence  inspired 
by  an  ambition  to  turn  out  the  greatest  quantity  of  finest  goods  in  the 
briefest  time,  pervades  the  factory.  The  well-disposed  employee 
finds  an  officer  considerate  and  fair  in  the  general  manager,  while  the 


424  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVKN   COUNTY. 

laggard  workman  is  so  gently  removed,  he  scarcely  realizes  anything 
has  happened,  until  he  finds  himself  to  be  without  a  daily  wage.  The 
discipline  of  the  factory  so  administered,  is  very  wholesome.  Every 
man  is  made  to  feel  silently,  that  he  holds  his  position  for  his  per- 
sonal merit. 

Mr.  Hallenbeck  bears  the  reputation  among  his  townsmen  of  being 
an  excellent  business  example.  Alwaj^s  prompt,  and  persistently  as- 
siduous, careful  and  yet  energetic  and  pushing,  devoted  closely  to 
business  duties,  and  not  expecting  the  trusts  reposed  in  him  to  take 
care  of  themselves,  but  rather  to  be  taken  care  of  as  his  personal  con- 
cern, he  has  won  an  enviable  good  name  among  all  business  associates 
and  acquaintances. 

Besides  the  management  of  the  factory  of  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.,  Mr. 
Hallenbeck  is  the  financial  manager  of  a  company  dealing  in  ice  in 
Wallingford. 

In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  has  steadily  turned  aside  from 
political  office,  preferring  the  private's  position  to  the  endless  rivalry 
and  buffeting  of  party  success  for  those  in  office.  Of  the  popular 
social  orders,  he  holds  membership  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  religion 
he  is  a  Congregationalist,  and  while  not  a  church  member,  takes 
pleasure  in  performing  the  service  of  a  good  parishioner  in  the  First 
Congregational  parish  of  Wallingford.  One  rule  has  been  taken  as 
the  guide  of  life,  and  been  kept  distinctly  before  him,  whether  in 
social  or  business  relations,  and  that  is  the  Golden  Rule. 

He  was  married  October  26th,  1882,  to  Mrs.  E.  E.  (Dickerman) 
Wilmot,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  resides  at  the  family  homestead 
on  Centre  street,  Wallingford,  where  for  thirty  years  he  has  lived, 
having  the  high  esteem  of  his  townsmen  for  his  many  virtues  and  his 
sterling  manhood. 

Benjamin  F.  Harrison,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Northford,  in  the  town 
of  North  Branford,  Conn.,  April  19th,  1811,  and  was  the  son  of  Elizur 
and  Rebecca  (Bartholomew)  Harrison.  In  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  23d,  1886,  Wallingford  lost  one  of  her  most  distinguished  and 
esteemed  citizens.  He  was  born  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  so  that 
whatever  of  training  or  culture  he  might  have  need  not  attempt  the 
impossible  feat  of  imparting  original  quality  to  make  a  fine,  distinct 
individuality,  but  to  cultivate  quality  already  inherent.  We  will  not 
look  for  a  long  period  of  school  life  in  youth,  nor  for  the  careful  selec- 
tion of  an  academic  college,  and  watchful  supervision  and  guidance 
while  he  might  be  going  through  the  curriculum.  None  of  these  were 
privileges  of  his  youth.  He  was  denied  them,  not  for  any  lack  of 
parental  love,  but  for  the  exigencies  of  farm  life  as  pursued  in  the 
early  part  of  this  centur}-.  The  school  life  of  boyliood  was  inter- 
rupted b}^  workmen  the  farm,  as  soon  as  the  boy  could  be  useful  there. 
And  yet  young  Harrison  obtained  enough  of  education  to  be  the  dis- 


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HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  425 

trict  pedagogue  in  winter,  while  in  summer  he  helped  his  parents  on 
the  farm.  In  this  way  he  secured  the  funds  for  a  medical  course  in 
Yale  University,  and  graduated  in  1836.  He  then  sought  for  hospital 
practice  in  New  York  city,  and  later  became  as.sociated  with  Doctor 
French,  of  Milford,  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  But  he  had  no  sooner 
begun  in  Milford  than  a  favorable  opening  came  to  him  in  Walling- 
ford,  and  he  accepted  it.  Here  he  continued  for  ten  years,  and  then 
resolved  upon  travel  and  residence  in  Europe.  While  in  Paris  he  put 
himself  under  the  tuition  of  famous  lecturers  in  medicine  and  science, 
and  afterward  visited  many  of  the  principal  points  of  interest  on  the 
continent. 

Upon  returning  to  America,  he  first  thought  to  practice  his  profes- 
sion in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  opened  an  office  there  ;  but  his  resi- 
dence in  that  city  did  not  continue  long,  and  he  returned  to  Walling- 
ford. 

After  some  years  his  practice  here  was  again  interrupted  by  the 
events  of  the  war.  Governor  Morgan,  of  New  York,  commissioned 
him.  August  1st,  1862,  to  be  surgeon  of  the  Independent  Corps,  New 
York  Volunteer  Light  Infantry,  already  in  the  field  at  Yorktown,  Xa.. 
The  regiment's  term  of  .service  expired  February  7th,  1864,  and  Doc- 
tor Harrison  with  his  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  that  date.  He 
then  entered  the  service  of  the  sanitary  commission  and  was  assigned 
to  vSouth  Carolina  and  Florida.  At  the  close  of  1864  he  returned  to 
Wallingford,  and  remained  there  for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

But  this  meagre  outline  of  events  gives  no  adequate  idea  of  the 
individualit}'  and  character  of  the  man  who  moved  in  the  midst  of 
them.  Seen  from  any  point  of  view.  Doctor  Harrison  was  a  man  who 
would  attract  attention.  Socially  he  was  an  agreeable  companion  and 
a  brilliant  conversationalist.  It  was  only  needful  that  he  should  have 
his  attention  centered  by  the  presence  of  a  friend,  or  by  an  interesting 
topic  of  conversation,  when  his  eyes  would  sparkle  and  his  mind  open 
its  riches  of  thought  and  humor  and  agreeable  comment,  in  entertain- 
ing  manner.  Especially  was  this  so  if  his  company  at  any  time  was, 
like  himself,  intellectually  bright  and  full  of  information. 

There  were  two  respects  in  which  Dr.  Harrison's  individuality  ap- 
peared distinct  from  that  of  many  people.  He  was  a  thoughtful 
reader  of  good  books  on  all  the  ranges  of  knowledge.  His  library  was 
large  and  stocked  with  much  of  the  best  literature  in  the  different 
departments  of  learning.  Over  and  through  these  books  he  would  go 
with  the  delight  of  the  bibliophile,  always  exercising  his  judgment 
upon  what  he  might  read,  applying  the  test  of  criticism  to  it,  and 
holding  it  in  memory  with  the  grip  of  a  master  hand.  So  that  his 
mind  was  full  of  information  gained  from  communion  with  the  best 
minds,  not  in  the  department  of  medicine  alone,  but  in  the  various 
branches  of  science  and  letters.  All  this  material  would  come  as 
wanted  to  the  surface  when  he  became  animated. 


426  HISTORY   OF   XKW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

But  he  was  also  a  born  observer.  He  was  naturally  a  scientific 
observer.  He  delighted  in  original  investigation.  What  if  others 
had  seen  for  themselves,  he  desired  to  see  for  himself.  He  sought  for 
facts,  and  from  the  facts  worked  out  principles.  He  was  able  to  see 
facts  as  they  are,  and  not  as  they  are  sometimes  seen,  warped  and  one- 
sided, by  reason  of  a  certain  wryness  or  prejudice  in  the  observer. 
And  in  addition  he  was  able  to  describe  what  he  observed,  and  by 
logical  thoroughness  come  to  a  wideness  of  knowledge  of  which  the 
facts  were  concrete  representations.  It  is  seen  now  that  he  was  natu- 
rally a  born  .scientist,  and  if  his  lot  had  fallen  into  the  lines  of  the 
scientific  schools,  he  would  probably  have  become  a  professor  of  some 
branch  of  scientific  learning,  in  one  of  them. 

It  will  not  appear  surprising  now  that  he  supplied  himself  with 
meteorological  apparatus,  and  kept  a  faithful  daily  record  of  the  rain- 
fall and  temperature  from  the  year  1856  until  his  death,  except  during 
his  army  life;  and  even  there  he  indulged  his  scientific  propensity  of 
watching  and  recording  much  of  the  time  the  temperature  and  humid- 
ity of  the  atmospere.  Yale  University  took  cognizance  of  his  scien- 
tific habits  and  attainments,  and  bestowed  on  him  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  A.  M.  in  1872. 

But  Doctor  Harrison  was  eminent  in  this  town,  not  only  for  his 
skill  in  medicine  and  scientific  knowledge,  but  for  his  public  spirit. 
His  ideal  of  town  development  was  considerably  beyond  any  attain- 
ment Wallingford  had  yet  achieved.  He  wanted  the  citizens  to  beau- 
tify the  place  of  their  residence,  and  hence  many  years  ago  planted 
the  ornamental  trees  which  stretch  along  the  front  of  his  own  house 
for  quite  a  distance.  He  was  the  first  to  advocate  a  borough  system 
of  water  supply,  and  to  his  persistent  efforts  is  mainly  due  the  pre.sent 
water  works  of  the  town.  Besides,  he  was  a  principal  promoter  of 
popular  education  and  the  enlargement  of  the  public  school  .system. 
His  only  difficulty  was  that  his  ideal  of  society  was  so  far  in  advance 
he  could  not  speedily  enough  bring  his  fellow-townsmen  up  to  it. 
They  found  in  him  always  the  advanced,  enthusiastic  friend  of  public 
improvements,  and  took  counsel  of  him  accordingly. 

His  moral  nature  was  of  the  stalwart  kind,  and  his  judgments  were 
always  imperative  and  compulsory  upon  his  conduct.  If  he  must  ever 
stand  alone  to  be  loyal  to  his  convictions  of  truth  and  duty,  he  would 
.stand  there,  quite  oblivious  to  what  the  masses  might  say,  if  only  he 
could  have  the  approval  of  his  own  conscience.  He  did  not  leap  to 
conclusions,  but  came  to  them  slowly  from  a  survey  of  the  facts  at 
command  ;  and  from  those  conclusions  only  new  and  stronger  light 
could  move  him.  Truth  in  everything  as  apprehended  was  his  norm 
of  life.  Hence,  when  he  came  to  die,  his  townsmen  felt  they  were 
about  to  lose  one  of  the  chief  ornaments  and  bulwarks  of  Wallingford 
society. 

He  was  married  three  times;  June  8th,  1887,  to  Miss  Susan  Lewis, 


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HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  427 

of  Wallingford,  who  died  September  loth,  1880.  One  daughter  was 
born  to  them,  bearing  the  mother's  name;  she  lived  to  the  age  only  of 
seventeen  years.  He  was  married  again  June  2()th.  1868,  to  Miss  Vir- 
ginia V.  Abell,  of  Franklin,  Conn.,  who  died  December  'i7th,  1809. 
And  again  he  was  married,  in  1885,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Hall,  daughter  of 
the  late  Joel  Hall,  of  Wallingford.  who  survives  him. 

His  memory  now  lives  in  the  hearts  of  Wallingford  people,  only 
as  a  praise  and  an  honor  in  the  town,  which  no  one  has  yet  inherited. 

George  A.  Hopson,  born  in  1859,  was  the  only  child  of  Samuel  and 
Letitia  (L'ounsbury)  Hopson,  grandson  of  Andrew,  whose  father 
Samuel,  was  a  son  of  Samuel,  who  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Hopson,  and 
grandson  of  John.  George  A.  is  a  farmer  on  the  farm  where  four  or 
more  generations  of  the  family  have  lived.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
house  of  representatives  in  1884,  being  the  youngest  member  of  that 
body.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  a  mem- 
ber of  Wallingford  Grange,  No.  33,  P.  of  H.,  and  state  lecturer  for 
that  organization;  also  councilor  Putnam  Council,  O.  U.  A.  M.,  and 
a  member  of  the  board  of  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Wallingford.  He 
married  Alice  M.  Trefethen.  Their  children  are  F.  Mabel  and 
Pauline. 

Seymour  E.  Hotchki-ss,  born  in  1842,  in  Prospect,  is  a  son  of  Shelden 
and  Sarah  Hotchkiss,  and  grandson  of  Isaac  Hotchkiss.  He  came  to 
Wallingford  in  1856,  and  was  several  years  in  the  Parker  box  shop 
at  Yalesville  prior  to  1881,  when  he  began  to  work  in  the  bolt  and 
rivet  shop  with  his  brother,  Albert  .S.  Hotchkiss.  The  latter  was  born 
in  1840,  and  was  employed  in  the  bolt  and  rivet  shop  at  Quinnipiac 
from  1868  till  1877,  when  he  bought  the  business,  with  S.  Morse  as 
partner.  One  year  later  Seymour  E.  Hotchkiss  bought  out  Mr.  Morse 
and  has  since  been  a  partner  in  the  business.  The  brothers  are  both 
married.  A.  S.  lives  near  the  works  in  North  Haven  and  S.  E.  lives  at 
Wallingford,  where  he  holds  the  office  of  burgess. 

Joel  Hough,  born  in  1806  and  died  in  1886,  was  a  son  of  James,  and 
grandson  of  Joseph  Hough.  Mr.  Hough  was  a  farmer.  He  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Silas  Rice.  She  died  in  1875,  leaving  seven  chil- 
dren: Cornelia  (Mrs.  E.  C.  Hall),  Joel  R.,  Susan  E.,  Albert  P..  James  B., 
Alice  L.  and  Rosie.  One  daughter,  Lucy,  died.  Albert  P.  and  the 
three  younger  daughters  occupy  the  homestead  where  their  father 
spent  his  life. 

Elijah  J.  Hough,  born  in  1829,  is  the  eldest  son  of  James  and  Mary 
T.  (Rice)  Hough,  grandson  of  James,  and  great-grandson  of  Joseph 
Hough.  Mr.  Hough  is  a  farmer,  occupying  the  homestead  of  his 
father.  He  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  selectman.  He  has  been 
treasurer  of  Wallingford  Grange,  No.  33,  P.  of  H.,  since  its  organiza- 
tion. He  married  Ruth,  daughter  of  Silas  Blakeslee.  Their  children 
are:  Jennie  B.,  married  George  D.  Hall,  and  has  one  son;  Hattie  B. 
(Mrs.  J.  N.  Barnes),  and  George  E. 


428  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Leverett  M.  Hubbard  was  born  in  Durham,  Conn.,  April  23d, 
1849.  He  is  the  son  of  Reverend  Eli  Hubbard,  A.  M.,  a  graduate  of 
Wesle5-an  University,  Middletown,  Conn.,  who  had  a  long  and  note- 
worthy career  in  the  state  of  Mississippi,  as  an  educator  and  minister, 
being  especially  distinguished  for  his  eloquence  and  power  as  a 
preacher.  The  mother  of  Leverett  M.,a  daughter  of  Mr.  L.  W.  Leach, 
for  many  years  a  leading  merchant  of  Durham,  and  sister  of  Honor- 
able L.  M.  Leach  and  Honorable  Oscar  Leach,  of  Middlesex  county, 
died  when  he  was  three  years  of  age,  and  he  was  brought  up  in  the 
family  of  his  grandparents.  His  academic  education  was  obtained  at 
the  Wesleyan  Academy,  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  and  the  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity, from  which  latter  institution  he  has  received  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts,  and  among  whose  sons  he  holds  a  distinguished  place.  His 
legal  studies  were  pursued  at  the  Albany  Law  School,  Albany,  N.  Y., 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1870.  He  then  located  for  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Wallingford  in  August  of  that  year.  He  soon  be- 
came marked  at  the  bar,  and  by  the  community  generally,  as  a  young 
man  of  fine  spirit  and  rare  intellectual  endowments.  From  that  time 
he  has  steadily  grown  in  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public,  and 
for  many  years  has  held  the  conspicuous  rank  he  early  achieved,  being 
among  the  most  respected,  widely  known  and  successful  lawyers  in 
New  Haven  county.  He  has  been  frequently  identified  with  leading 
cases,  from  some  of  which  he  has  gained  special  distinction,  notably 
the  Hayden-Stannard  mui-der  trial,  and  the  trial  of  Anderson,  indicted 
for  the  killing  of  Horatio  G.  Hall. 

From  the  beginning  of  his  professional  career  he  has  maintained 
an  office  connection  in  New  Haven.  For  a  year  he  pursued  his 
studies  with  the  Honorable  Charles  Ives,  now  deceased.  From  1874 
to  1877  he  was  a  law  partner  of  Morris  F.  Tyler,  Esq.,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  associated  with  John  W.  Ailing,  Esq. 

Mr.  Hubbard  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Wallingford  by  Presi- 
dent Grant  in  1872,  which  office  he  held  by  successive  reappointments 
until  the  inauguration  of  President  Cleveland  in  1885,  when,  with  an 
unexpired  commission  for  three  years,  he  tendered  his  resignation  in 
order  that  he  might  devote  his  entire  attention  to  his  profession, 
whose  increasing  demands  had  for  a  number  of  years  made  this  step 
a  near  necessity.  He  administered  that  office  with  unusual  intelli- 
gence and  fidelity,  and  to  the  universal  acceptance  of  its  patrons,  who, 
without  respect  of  party,  tendered  him  upon  his  retirement  a  compli- 
mentary banquet,  which  was  widely  remarked  at  the  time  for  its 
elaborateness  and  the  enthusiasm  which  attended  it. 

The  late  Honorable  C.  D.  Yale,  well  known  through  the  state  as  a 
sterling  democrat,  presided  on  the  occasion,  and  in  concluding  a 
very  complimentary  address,  said:  "  The  company  has  a.ssembled  that 
it  may  go  on  record  in  an  unmistakable  manner  that  Mr.  Hubbard  is 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  429 

beloved  and  respected    by  every   man    in   Wallingford    whose   good 
wishes  are  worth  having." 

Honorable  George  H.  Watrous,  of  New  Haven,  in  writing  his 
regrets,  said:  "I  share  with  you  sincerely  the  desire  to  honor  our 
esteemed  friend.  I  have  known  him  nearly  as  long  as  you  have,  I 
presume.  I  early  learned  to  believe  in  him  as  a  man  not  only  of 
superior  intelligence,  but  of  great  integrity  and  trustworthiness.  My 
knowledge  of  him  has  increased  my  faith  in  him.  Mr.  Hubbard  has 
not  onl}'  been  a  successful  po.stmaster,  but  he  has  been  in  every 
respect  a  very  successful  and  highly  useful  member  of  your  com- 
munity. He  has  already  carved  his  way  to  the  front  rank  of  his  pro- 
fession." 

He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  school  visitors  from  1874  to 
1880,  and  a  justice  of  the  peace  from  1878  to  1881.  He  has  been 
borough  attorney  since  1870  and  counsel  for  the  town  during  most  of 
the  same  period.  He  was  one  of  the  projectors  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Wallingford,  and  has  been  one  of  its  directors  since  its  organ- 
ization; also  a  director  in  the  Dime  Savings  Bank  since  1884,  and  is 
now  its  first  vice-president.  In  1881  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the 
Wesleyan  Academy,  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  a  position  which  he  has  held 
until  the  present  time,  and  to  the  discharge  of  whose  duties  he  has 
brought  the  same  devotion,  energy  and  capacity  which  have  marked 
his  career  in  all  the  various  positions  of  responsible  trust  which  he 
has  occupied. 

Upon  the  establishment  of  a  borough  court  for  Wallingford  by  the 
general  assembly  in  1886,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  friends  in 
both  political  parties,  and  at  some  disadvantage  to  his  business,  Mr. 
Hubbard  accepted  the  position  of  its  first  judge,  having  been  elected 
by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  legislature.  In  a  similar  manner  he 
has  been  reelected  for  each  succeeding  term,  and  still  continues  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  that  oifice  to  the  eminent  satisfaction  of  the 
community. 

In  1886  Mr.  Hubbard  was  unanimously  nominated  for  secretary 
of  state  by  the  republican  party  in  a  convention  of  more  than  five 
hundred  delegates,  and  was  elected  with  a  larger  popular  vote  than 
any  other  candidate  on  the  state  ticket.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say 
that  in  dignity,  ability  and  enterprise  Mr.  Hubbard's  administration 
as  secretary  during  his  term  of  two  years  has  rarely  been  equalled 
and  never  excelled  in  the  history  of  the  state.  Among  his  many 
noteworthy  special  services  in  that  office,  one  of  the  most  universally 
esteemed  related  to  his  preparation  and  publication  of  the  first  com- 
prehensive and  elaborate  "  Register  and  Manual  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut "  ever  issued,  a  model  upon  which  all  subsequent  editions 
have  been  fashioned,  highly  valued  for  the  great  variety  and  accuracy 
of  its  information,  and  easily  ranking  among  the  most  complete  things 
of  its  kind  ever  compiled. 


430  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Mr.  Hubbard  has  long  enjoyed  a  wide  reputation  as  a  speaker  of 
unusual  force  and  eloquence,  and  has  been  much  in  demand  as 
an  orator,  especially  on  patriotic,  commemorative  and  political 
-occasions. 

He  has  been  from  the  beginning  of  his  career  actively  interested 
in  the  work  of  the  political  organization  to  which  he  has  been  at- 
tached, and  in  addition  to  the  honors  already  referred  to,  was  sent  as 
a  delegate  to  the  national  convention  which  nominated  Benjamin 
Harrison  for  president,  and  was  prominently  named  as  a  candidate 
for  congress  in  1888. 

In  religion,  his  antecedents  and  early  associations  were  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  which  he  is  still  devoted,  although 
since  it  has  no  organization  in  his  community  he  has,  from  his  first 
residence  in  Wallingford,  been  a  regular  attendant  upon  the  First 
•Congregational  church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  liberal  supporter,  and 
in  the  management  of  whose  affairs  he  has  been  prominently  iden- 
tified. 

Mr.  Hubbard  was  married  May  21st,  1873,  to  Florence  Gazelle, 
■daughter  of  Wooster  Ives,  of  Wallingford,  and  on  her  maternal  side  a 
lineal  descendant  from  Governor  Roger  Wolcott  and  from  Reverend 
John  Davenport  of  colonial  fame.  Four  children  have  been  born  of 
this  marriage,  all  of  whom  are  now  living:  Georgiana,  Samuel  Wolcott, 
Leverett  Marsden,  Jr.,  and  Kenneth  Davenport. 

The  following  items  concerning  descendants  of  Doctor  John  Hulls, 
■of  the  town  of  Wallingford,  have  been  taken  from  the  genealogy  of 
the  Hull  family  in  Doctor  Davis'  excellent  "  History  of  Wallingford 
and  Meriden": 

The  name  of  Hull  appears  early  in  Connecticut,  and  came  from 
Derbyshire,  England.  The  first  of  the  name  in  Wallingford  was  Doc- 
tor John  Hull  (or  Hulls,  as  he  wrote  his  name),  who  was  admitted  a 
planter  at  Stratford  in  1661.  It  is  not  quite  certain  whether  he  came 
from  England,  or  was  a  son  of  Richard  Hull,  of  the  New  Haven  col- 
ony. Doctor  John  Hulls  was  at  Derby  in  1668  and  at  Wallingford  in 
1687,  where  he  died  December  6th,  1711.  He  was  probably  somewhat 
advanced  in  life  when  he  came  to  Wallingford.  He  was  married  Oc- 
tober 19th,  1672,  to  Mary  Jones,  who  was  probably  his  second  wife. 
After  her  death  he  married  Rebecca  Turner,  September  20th.  1699. 
He  exchanged  his  house  and  land  at  Stratford  with  Benjamin  Lewis, 
for  his  house  and  land  at  Wallingford  in  1687.  The  town  of  Walling- 
ford set  out  to  Doctor  Hulls  a  tract  of  land  which  they  supposed  con- 
tained 700  acres,  lying  between  the  north  side  of  Broad  Swamp  and 
the  Quinnipiac  river.  This  grant  was  more  than  a  mile  square,  and 
was  known  as  Doctor  Hulls'  large  farm.  The  children  of  Doctor  John 
Hulls  were:  John,  Samuel,  Mary,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Ebenezer,  Richard, 
Jeremiah  and  Archer. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  431 

John  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  John,  was  born  in  vStratford,  March  14th, 

1661-2,  married  Mary ,  and  settled  in  the  old  town  of  Derby. 

His  children  were:   Deborah,  John,  Daniel,   Miles,   Ebenezer,    Mary, 
Martha  and  Priscilla. 

Captain  Joseph  Hull,  of  Derby,  son  of  Doctor  John  Hulls,  of  Wal- 
lingford,  was  born  in  1668,  and  married  Mary  Nichols,  of  Derby, 
where  they  lived  and  died.  He  was  married  twice,  his  second  wife's 
name  being  Hannah,  whom  he  left  a  widow.  His  children  were: 
Samuel,  Joseph,  Caleb,  Abijah,  Archer,  Sarah  and  Mary. 

Doctor  Benjamin  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  John,  was  born  October  7th, 
1672,  and  married  Elizabeth  Andrews,  December  14th,  1693.  She  died 
April  27th,  1732.  He  came  to  Wallingford  with  his  father  in  1687. 
He  died  March  30th,  1741.  His  children  were:  Andrew,  Mary,  Eliza- 
beth, Damaris,  John,  Abigail,  Samuel,  Sarah  and  Benjamin. 

Ebenezer  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  John  Hulls,  of  Wallingford,  was  born 
in  1673,  and  married  May  Mix,  May  7th,  1706.  He  died  November 
9th,  1709,  and  his  widow,  Lydia,  administered  on  his  estate.  He  had 
one  child,  Hannah,  born  March  23d,  1708. 

Doctor  Jeremiah  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  John,  was  born  at  Derby,  in 
1679,  and  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hope  Cook,  at 
Wallingford,  May  24th,  1711.  She  died  December  11th,  1741.  Hedied 
at  Wallingford  May  14th,  1736.  Their  children  were:  John,  Moses, 
Tabitha,  Hannah,  Anna,  Jeremiah,  Joseph,  Patience  and  Keturah. 

Caleb  Hull,  son  of  Captain  Joseph  and  Mary  Hull,  and  grandson  of 
Doctor  John  Hulls,  first,  was  born  February  4th,  1695,  and  married 
Mercy  Benham,  of  Wallingford.  May  1st,  1724.  She  died  April  19th, 
1766.  He  died  in  September,  1788.  In  1710,  when  Caleb  was  14  years 
old.  he  received  from  his  grandfather,  Doctor  John  Hulls,  100  acres  of 
land,  deeded  to  Joseph  from  Caleb,  conditioned  that  Caleb  should 
come  and  live  with  him  till  21  years  old,  or  until  his  decease.  Doctor 
Hulls  died  December  6th,  1711.  Doubtle.ss  Caleb  went.  The  100 
acres  is  on  record.  The  children  of  Caleb  Hull  were:  Sarah,  Andrew, 
Mary,  Samuel,  Joseph,  Abijah,  Joseph,  Caleb,  Submit,  Patience,  Jo- 
seph and  Caleb. 

Abijah  Hull,  son  of  Captain  Joseph  and  Mary  Hull,  and  grandson 
of  Doctor  John  Hulls,  was  born  in  1697,  and  married  Abigail  Harger, 
of  Derby,  November  20th,  1727.     He  had  two  daughters. 

Doctor  John  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Hull,  was 
born  October  6th,  1702,  and  married  Sarah  Ives,  June  21st,  1727.  She 
died  November  29th,  1760.  He  married  for  his  second  wife  Damaris 
Fro.st,  October  20th,  1761.  He  died  May  22d,  1762-3.  His  children 
were:  Zephaniah,  John,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  John,  Desire,  Sarah,  John 
and  Amos. 

Captain  Samuel  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  Hull, 
and  grand.son  of  Doctor  John  Hulls,  was  born  September  1st,  1706, 
married   Sarah    Hall,   February  21st,  1733,  and  settled   in   Cheshire, 


432  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

where  he  died  January  17th,  1789,  aged  82  years.  His  wife  died  June 
11th,  1763,  aged  50  years.  His  children  were:  Sarah,  Samuel,  Samuel, 
Sarah,  Love,  Jesse,  Benjamin  and  Levi;  the  last  two  by  a  second  mar- 
riage. 

Doctor  Benjamin  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  Benjamin  and  grandson  of 
Doctor  John  Hulls,  first,  was  born  July  6th,  1712,  and  married  Hannah 
Parmalee  December  17th,  1735.  Their  children  were:  Patience,  Phebe, 
Hannah,  Doctor  Benjamin,  Eliakim,  Charles,  Sybil,  Joel,  Beda,  Lois, 
Asahel  and  Ephraim. 

Doctor  John  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  Jeremiah  and  Hannah  (Cook) 
Hull,  and  grandson  of  Doctor  John  Hulls,  first,  was  born  November 
13th,  1712,  and  married  Mary  Andrews  October  26th,  1735.  He  died 
August  15th,  1755.  His  children  were:  Sarah,  Molly,  Sarah,  Mcses, 
John,  Nathaniel,  Aaron,  Abigail  and  Hannah. 

Jeremiah  Hull,  son  of  Doctor  Jeremiah  and  Hannah  (Cook)  Hull, 
was  born  January  5th,  1729,  and  married  Mary  Merriman  January  18th, 
1753.  She  died  August  22d,  1774,  aged  41  years.  He  died  August  24th, 
1790.  He  was  twice  married.  His  children  were:  Caleb,  Jeremiah, 
Samuel,  Ann,  Benjamin,  Levi,  Hannah  and  Eunice. 

Andrew  Hull,  son  of  Caleb,  grandson  of  Captain  Joseph,  and  great- 
grandson  of  Doctor  John  Hulls,  of  Wallingford,  was  born  August  23d, 
1726,  and  married  Lowly  Cook,  daughter  of  Captain  Samuel  and  Han- 
nah Cook,  of  Wallingford.  He  died  vSeptember  21st,  1774.  Mrs.  Low- 
ly Hull  died  about  1785.  Andrew  Hull  owned  a  large  farm  near 
Cheshire  street,  bounded  north  by  the  river.  His  children  were: 
Damaris,  Lowly,  Hannah,  Damaris,  Andrew,  Sarah,  Ursula,  Mary, 
Esther,  Susan  and  Lovisa. 

Samuel  Hull,  son  of  Caleb,  grandson  of  Captain  Joseph,  and  great- 
grandson  of  Doctor  John,  the  first,  was  born  March  22d,  1730,  and 
married  Eunice  Cook,  daughter  of  Captain  Samuel  and  Hannah  Cook, 
of  Wallingford,  December  26th,  1753.  He  died  April  27th,  1791.  She 
died  May  9th,  1803,  aged  68  years.  Their  children  were:  an  infant 
son,  Jedediah,  an  infant  son,  .Samuel,  Zephaniah,  Epaphras,  Eunice, 
Lois,  Caleb,  Elizabeth,  Josephus  and  Hannah. 

Samuel  Hull,  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Mary  (Merriman)  Hull,  grand- 
son of  Doctor  Jeremiah  and  Hannah  (Cook)  Hull,  and  great-grandson 
of  Doctor  John  Hulls,  first,  married  Lois  Peck  and  settled  on  the  old 
homestead  of  his  father.  He  was  an  enterprising  and  successful 
farmer  in  the  northern  part  of  Wallingford.  His  children  were:  Wil- 
liam, married  Alma,  daughter  of  Reuben  Hall;  Sylvester,  married  De- 
lilah, daughter  of  Benajah  Morse;  and  Lois,  married  Miles,  son  of 
Ichabod  Ives. 

Samuel  Hull,  son  of  William  and  Alma  (Hall)  Hull,  and  grandson 
of  Samuel  Hull,  was  born  in  1824,  and  is  a  farmer,  owning  and  occupy- 
ing the  homestead  of  his  father  and  grandfather.     He  married  Susan 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  433 

A.,  daughter  of  Ira  Miller,  and  has  two  daughters:  Elida  (Mrs.  Horace 
Williams)  and  Anna  (Mrs.  Julius  Williams). 

Friend  Johnson,  born  in  1807,  is  a  son  of  .Samuel  and  Polly  (Tuttle) 
Johnson,  grandson  of  Ephraim  and  great-grandson  of  Reuben  John- 
son. Mr.  Johnson  has  been  a  farmer.  He  married  Harriet  Hunt, 
who  died  leaving  one  daughter,  Mary  E.,  now  Mrs.  A.  J.  vSmith.  She 
first  married  Captain  William  M.  Whitney,  who  was  lost  at  sea,  leaving 
two  sons,  William  F.  and  Doctor  S.  T.  Whitney.  His  second  wife  was 
Phoebe  Yale,  and  his  present  wife  was  Mary  M.  Carroll.  Mr.  Johnson 
was  representative  in  the  legislature  in  1849. 

Charles  N.  Jones,  born  in  1831,  :s  a  son  of  Street  and  Mary  P. 
fEastman)  Jones,  grandson  of  Nicholas  and  great-grandson  of  The- 
ophilus  Jones.  He  followed  farming  until  about  1869,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  grocery  and  feed  business,  continuing  until  1887.  He  has  been 
a  director  in  the  Dime  Savings  Bank  since  its  incorporation,  and  treas- 
urer of  it  one  year.  He  has  been  selectman  four  terms,  and  has  been 
chairman  of  the  board  three  terms.  He  married  Ellen,  daughter  of 
John  Cook.  She  died  in  1878,  leaving  four  daughters:  Mary  E., 
Emma  A.,  Sadie  C.  and  Florence  B. 

Morton  Judd  was  born  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  November  iith,  1808. 
Many  of  the  prominent  families  of  the  county  of  New  Haven  have 
come  to  their  present  wealth  and  social  position  from  the  favorable 
opportunities  and  openings  to  which  they  have  been  led  up  by  the 
business  ability  and  sterling  character  of  parents  whose  birth  goes  well 
back  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  This  is  true  of  the 
Judd  family,  who  are  the  immediate  de.scendants  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  It  is  not  intended  to  detract  a  single  iota  from  the  independ- 
ent worth  and  mastery  in  the  world's  aifairs,  of  the  sons  and  daugh- 
ters. They  have  the  vigor  and  business  thrift  of  the  best  New  Eng- 
land stock,  but  so  closely  have  they  been  associated  with  their  father 
for  many  years,  and  so  related  is  their  business  industry  to  what  was 
his,  that  it  seems  to  be  only  the  rich  development  of  what  he  quietly 
and  intentionally  introduced  them  to.  The  father  is  perpetuated  in 
his  sons  by  an  inheritance  of  business  development,  as  of  physiologi- 
cal and  moral  quality. 

The  Judd  family  of  which  Mr.  ^lorton  Judd  is  a  descendant  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  vicinity  of  New  Britain.  It  is  possible  to  trace  the 
ancestry  to  very  honorable  position  in  English  biography.  The  ear- 
liest person  who  bore  the  name  in  the  town  of  Farmington,Conn.,  was 
Thomas  Judd,  known  as  "  the  emigrant."  He  was  deacon  of  the  First 
church  of  the  Farmington  parish.  But  the  immediate  ancestors  of 
Morton  Judd  were  John  and  his  wife,  Ursula  (Stanley)  Judd,  of  New 
Britain.  He  (John)  was  a  blacksmith,  and  learned  his  trade  of  Esquire 
North,  who  bears  the  credit  of  originating  the  manufacturing  ten- 
dency and  life  of  New  Britain.  }*Iorton  Judd  was  a  member  of  a 
large  family  of  twelve  children,  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth. 
27 


434  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

His  boyhood  was  accompanied  by  no  special  advantages  whatever. 
His  school  days  ended  when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age.  At  that 
time  the  originators  of  the  industrial  prosperity  of  New  Britain  were 
struggling  to  lay  the  foundation,  and  young  Morton  Judd  felt  the  influ- 
ence of  the  life  about  him,  for  at  the  end  of  his  schooling  he  went  into 
a  brass  foundry  to  learn  the  trade  of  casting  brass. 

The  succeeding  years  of  Mr.  Judd's  life,  until  1847,  were  occupied 
chiefly  in  gaining  a  firm  foothold  in  the  manufacturing  world.  And 
it  was  not  until  that  year  that  his  ambitions  were  realized.  He  in- 
vented a  sash  fastener,  which  received  the  stamp  of  the  Patent  Office, 
September  4th,  1847.  He  did  not  realize  at  the  time  how  useful  an 
article  it  would  prove  to  be.  It  was  simple  in  construction  and  effec- 
tive, and  soon  began  to  displace  the  goods  of  English  manufacttire  im- 
ported by  the  trade  in  builders'  hardware.  An  incident  illustrates  the 
point.  A  few  years  after  the  manufacture  was  begun.  Air.  Judd  tried 
to  increase  his  sales  in  the  New  York  market.  He  appealed  to  a  mer- 
chant and  received  the  following  reply:  "  No;  I  have  got  g.'i.OOO  worth 
of  imported  fasteners  there  on  my  shelves,  and  I  would  have  sold  all 
of  them  and  as  many  more  if  it  had  not  been  for  your  fastener." 

In  1864,  Mr.  Judd's  sons,  Hubert  L.,  Albert  D.  and  Edward  M.,  en- 
tered into  partnership  in  New  Haven  for  the  manufacture  of  uphol- 
stery hardware.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Judd  moved  to  New  Haven  and 
entered  into  partnership  with  his  son,  Albert  D.,for  the  manufacture 
of  builders'  hardware;  and  out  of  this  movement  grew  the  Judd  Manu- 
facturing Company.  Mr.  Judd  became  president,  and  the  business  of 
the  company  was  greatly  enlarged.  It  was  continued  in  New  Haven 
until  1879,  and  then  moved  to  Wallingford,  Conn. 

The  choice  of  Wallingford  for  location,  forms  a  little  scrap  of  Wal- 
lingford history,  and  as  it  redounds  to  the  good  name  of  the  town 
as  a  place  of  residence,  it  is  worth  repeating.  Mr.  Judd's  daughter, 
Martha  L.,  found  that  residence  in  either  New  Britain  or  New  Haven 
was  attended  with  peril  to  her  health.  The  evidences  were  unmistak- 
able, and  Mr.  Judd  believed  that  higher  ground  would  be  beneficial. 
Hence  he  sought  the  main  street  of  the  town.  It  was  soon  apparent 
that  the  family  health  was  improved  ;  at  the  same  time  Wallingford 
society  was  very  agreeable.  Mr.  Judd  had  been  living  in  the  town 
five  years  at  the  year  1879,  and  in  moving  the  factory  of  the  Judd 
Manufacturing  Company[it  was  only  natural  that  it  should  be  moved 
nearer  home. 

The  business  was  carried  on  in  Wallingford  until  the  year  1887, 
when  it  was  bought  out  by  H.  L.  Judd  &  Co.  of  New  York — the  con- 
summate flowering  of  the  plant  set  out  in  Mr.  Judd's  early  manhood. 
For  many  years  the  business  connections  of  Mr.  Judd  have  been 
ornamental  and  without  labor  rather  than  active.  His  name  and  asso- 
ciation have  given  character  to'the  enterprises,  rather  than  demanded 
of  him  personal  attention.     He  has  lived  much  at  ease  in  the  town  on 


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HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTV.  435 

its  main  street;  and  in  the  course  of  years  his  children  have  gathered 
about  him  and  built  expensive  residences,  highly  ornamental  to  the 
town  and  very  helpful  to  the  tax-payers  in  general. 

ilr.  Judd  in  personal  appearance  is  of  medium  stature,  erect,  his 
eye  bright  and  manner  animated,  and  full  of  sunshine  for  the  com- 
pany he  ma}'  be  in,  while  his  conversation  is  as  entertaining  as  ever. 
His  step  is  elastic,  and  now  at  the  age  of  nearly  eighty-three  years  he  is 
frequently  observed  to  run  like  a  boy.  Walking  is  a  pastime,  and 
only  the  most  agile  of  foot  better  challenge  him  to  contest.  His  visits 
among  his  children  and  neighbors  spread  the  sunshine  of  a  happ3% 
humorous  nature  wherever  he  goes.  The  freedom  of  all  the  homes  of 
the  Judd  family  seems  to  have  been  offered  him,  and  he  is  at  home  in 
them  all — children,  servants,  horses  and  carriages  only  wait  to  hear 
his  desires  expressed,  and  then  joyfully  fulfill  them. 

Mr.  Judd  is  a  Christian  who  does  not  hesitate  to  declare  his  rever- 
ence for  things  .sacred  and  his  faith  in  God.  In  New  Britain  and  in 
the  Center  Congregational  church,  which  enrolls  so  much  of  his  family 
history,  he  is  known  as  "Deacon,"  and  so  in  general  called  Deacon 
Morton  Judd.  Not  regarding  his  orthodoxy  as  exactly  the  old  type, 
Tie  refused  the  office,  but  after  months  of  refusal  and  much  urging  on 
the  part  of  the  Center  church  people,  he  accepted  the  po.sition,  and 
wears  the  title  still  by  the  insistance  of  common  love  on  the  part  of  the 
parish  and  the  town. 

The  general  favor  in  which  he  stands  among  his  neighbors  and  his 
church  betrays  the  character  he  bears.  And  whether  in  New  Britain 
or  New  Haven  or  Wallingford,  where  he  has  lived  the  last  nineteen 
years,  he  is  spoken  of  only  in  terms  of  esteem  and  generous  praise. 
His  charitable  efforts  have  relieved  the  poor  in  man}-  a  struggle,  and 
the  unfortunate  have  risen  again  b}'  reason  of  his  "  Good  Samaritan" 
hand.  He  has  borne  a  willing  part  in  those  social  activities  for  good 
ends  which  contribute  in  every  live  community  to  the  general  wel- 
fare; and  by  example  and  precept  has  been  a  distinct  builder  of  social 
and  religious  worth  in  society. 

In  town  and  state  politics  he  has  been  retiring,  and  yet  has  been 
pressed  forward  to  the  first  town  offices.  He  has  served  the  town  in  the 
general  assembl3\ 

January  26th,  1828,  he  married  Miss  Lucina  Dunham,  of  vSouthing- 
ton,  Conn.  She  was  a  Christian  who  might  serve  as  the  impersona- 
tion of  Solomon's  description  of  the  good  wife  and  mother,  who 
looked  well  to  the  training  of  her  children.  Four  children  were  born 
to  them:  Hubert  L.,  Albert  D.,  Edward  M.  and  Martha  L.,  now  Mrs. 
2\Iartin,  of  Kearney,  Neb.  But  their  mother  died  March  21st,  1853. 
Mr.  Judd  married,  again,  Aliss  Julia  Blynn,  of  Wethersfield,  Conn., 
February  21st,  1855.  There  was  born  to  them  one  daughter.  Miss 
Mary  B.  Judd,  of  Wallingford.  It  is  enough  to  say  of  the  second 
mother  that  her  step-children  learned  to  regard   her  with   filial  love 


436  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

and  reverence,  so  fully  did  she  succeed  to  the  mother's  place  in  the 
family.     She  died  November  l!)th,  1888. 

Mr.  Judd's  residence  is  on  Main  street,  Wallingford,  where  he  is 
now  (1891)  passing  the  evening  of  a  beautiful  closing  day. 

William  A.  Kendrick,  son  of  J(ihn  and  Frances  (Edmunds)  Ken- 
drick,  was  born  in  1848.  He  was  eleven  years  in  New  York,  in  the 
store  of  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.,  and  since  1878  has  been  in  the  office  of  G. 
I.  Mix  &  Co.,  Yalesville.  He  married  Frances,  daughter  of  G.  I.  Mix, 
and  has  four  children;  Clara  F.,  Bessie  M.,  Camilla  A.  and  Jose- 
phine V. 

Jared  T.  Kimberly,  born  in  1840,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Eli/.abeth 
(Olds)  Kimberly,  grandson  of  Thomas,  and  great-grandson  of  Thomas 
Kimberly,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  revo- 
lutionary army.  He  was  in  the  service  during  the  late  war  from  No- 
vember, 1861,  in  Company  K,  1st  California  Infantry.  Since  1871  he 
has  practiced  dentistry  in  Wallingford.  He  was  one  term  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  is  a  member  of  Arthur  H.  Button  Post,  No.  36,  G.  A.  R. 
He  married  Charlotte  F.  Chatfield,  and  has  one  son,  Jared  R.  Mrs. 
Kimberly  was  born  in  Seymour,  Conn.,  in  1851,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Joel  R.  Chatfield,  born  at  Seymour,  and  Mary  Tomlinson,  born  at 
Rutland,  Vt. 

Charles  N.  Lane,  born  in  1834,  is  one  of  six  sons  of  George  and 
Janette  (Atkins)  Lane,  and  grandson  of  Josiah  Lane.  Mr.  Lane  served 
in  the  band  of  the  5th  Connecticut  Regiment  from  June,  1861,  to  .Sep- 
tember, 1862.  Hereenlisted  in  March,  1865,  holding  a  second  lieuten- 
ant's commission  in  Company  A,  12th  Connecticut  Volunteers,  and  was 
detailed  as  leader  of  the  band.  He  was  discharged  in  August,  1865. 
He  is  a  machinist  by  trade.  In  November,  1887,  he  and  his  son,  C. 
Fred.,  bought  a  small  news  store  and  ice  cream  business,  which  has 
grown  to  considerable  proportions  under  their  management.  He  is  a 
member  of  Arthur  H.  Dutton  Post,  No.  36,  G.  A.  R.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Eldridge  Morse.  Their  children  are:  Edward 
C,  C.  Frederick,  and  Bessie. 

Josiah  W.  Lane,  born  in  1838,  is  a  son  of  George  and  Janette  (At- 
kins) Lane,  and  grandson  of  Josiah  Lane.  He  was  in  the  war  from 
June,  1861,  to  September,  1862,  in  the  band  of  the  5th  Regiment.  He 
reenlisted  in  July,  1863,  and  was  in  Harland's  Brigade  Band  until  July, 
1865.  He  opened  a  store  August  31st,  1865,  where  he  built  a  larger 
one  a  few  years  later.  He  deals  in  dry  goods  and  groceries.  He  is  a 
member  of  Arthur  H.  Dutton  Post,  No.  36,  G.  A.  R.  He  married 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Lucien  Pomeroy.  Their  children  are  Robert 
J.  and  Emeline  E. 

Oscar  B.  Lane,  born  in  1840,  is  a  son  of  George  and  Janette  (Atkins) 
Lane.  He  was  in  the  L'nited  States  service  during  the  late  war  from 
June,  1861,  to  .September,  1862,  in  the  band  of  the  5th  Regiment,  and 
from  July,  1863,  until   July,  1865,  in  Harland's  Brigade  Band.     He  is 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  437 

one  of  five  brothers  that  served  in  that  conflict.  Since  187<»  he  has 
been  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  brother,  J.  W.  Lane.  He  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Beach  Wilcoxson,  and  has  one  daughter,  Hattie 
M.     He  is  a  member  of  Arthur  H.  Dutton  Post,  No.  86,  G.  A.  R. 

Walter  J.  Leavenworth,  son  of  James  M.  and  Julia  (Hurd)  Leaven- 
worth, was  born  in  Roxbury,  Conn.,  in  1845,  and  cjime  to  Walling- 
ford  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  He  was  in  the  employ  of  Hall,  Elton 
&  Co.  from  1862  until  December,  1877,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
in  the  office  of  R.  Wallace  &  Sons'  Manufacturing  Company,  and  is 
now  trea.surer  and  general  manager  of  the  company,  also  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  and  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Walling- 
ford  Gas  Light  Company.  In  vSeptember,  1871,  he  became  a  private  in 
Company  K,  2d  Connecticut  National  Guards,  and  was  promoted  from 
time  to  time  until  February  16th,  1885,  when  he  became  colonel  of  the 
regiment,  which  position  he  resigned  June  22d,  1889.  He  married 
Nettie,  daughter  of  Robert  Wallace,  and  they  have  had  four  children: 
Clifford  W.,  Isabel,  Bessie  A.  and  John  W.  Isabel  died  in  1889,  aged 
16  years. 

Doctor  James  D.  McGaughey  was  born  in  Greenville,  Tenn., 
August  5th,  1848,  a  descendant  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage  on  his  father's 
side,  and  German-English  on  his  mother's.  The  earliest  authentic 
account  of  his  paternal  ancestors  is  found  in  a  written  record  of  his 
grandfather,  who  states  that  his  grandfather's  (the  doctor's  great-great- 
grandfather's) name  was  William  McGaughey,  and  that  his  wife's 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Lackey,  and  they  came  from  Scotland  be- 
fore the  revolution.  They  moved  from  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  to 
Holston,  near  Abingdon,  Virginia,  but  later  settled  in  Greene  county, 
Tenn.,  some  time  after  the  revolution.  From  the  latter  home  they 
removed  to  Boyd's  Creek,  East  Tennessee,  where  the  wife  died  in 
1804.  The  great-great-grandfather  then  removed  to  Middle  Tennes- 
see, and  died  near  Duck  River,  about  1810.  While  living  at  Boyd's 
Creek  he  built  a  stockade,  which  was  known  in  the  early  history  of 
Tennessee  as  McGaughey 's  Station.*  Of  their  ancestors,  the  record 
states,  but  little  was  known,  but  it  is  believed  that  they  were  Scotch- 
Irish  Presbyterians. 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  doctor's  grandfather  was  John 
Laughlin,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  from  Ireland.  In  his  time 
he  was  a  celebrated  weaver,  and  his  wife  kept  a  large  dairy  at  their 
home,  twelve  miles  from  Abingdon,  Va.  They  were  staunch  Presby- 
terians and  strong  supporters  of  the  revolution. 

The  great-grandfather,  on  the  doctor's  father's  side,  was  Samuel 
McGaughey,  who  was  born  in  York  county,  Pa.,  July  15th,  1763,  and 
was  nine  years  old  when  his  father  removed  to  Holston  (at  that  time 
Washington  county,  Va.)  From  documents  in  the  Pension  Bureairof 
the  L'nited  States  it  is  learned,  from   his  statements,  that,  "  In  the 

*See  Ramsey's  Annals  of  Tennessee. 


438  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

spring  of  1778  the  Indians  made  war  upon  the  settlement  and  his 
father  was  called  to  serve,  but  that  he  took  his  father's  place,  as  his 
substitute,  and  served  throughout  the  revolutionary  war.  He  was 
under  Captain  James  Montgomery,  in  March,  1779,  against  the  Chicka- 
mauga  Indians,  in  the  expedition  commanded  by  Colonel  Evan  Shelby . 
In  1779  he  served  under  Captain  John  McKee,  also  in  a  movement 
against  the  Indians,  as  a  mountain  rifleman.  In  1780  he  was  in  Cap- 
tain Andrew  Cowan's  company,  under  Colonel  Isaac  Shelby,  all  being 
under  the  command  of  General  Charles  McDowell,  and  marched  into 
South  Carolina.  He  was  in  the  engagements  on  the  Tyre  river  and 
on  the  Palotell.  At  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain  he  was  in  Captain 
John  Pemberton's  company,  in  Colonel  Shelby's  regiment.  In  1781 
he  commanded  a  company  under  General  Marion  in  Colonel  John 
Sevier's  regiment  and  was  with  Marion  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs." 

The  records  of  the  grandfather  tell  us  that  he  had  been  on  fourteen 
different  expeditions  after  the  Indians  and  in  a  personal  encounter 
with  one,  on  the  Tennessee  river,  killed  him  with  a  corn  knife. 
After  the  war  he  was  appointed  territorial  sheriff  of  his  county,  by 
John  Sevier,  and  was  with  Sevier  and  against  Tipton,  in  the  contest 
for  the  state  of  Franklin,  which  existed  about  one  year.  He  also 
served  as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  lay  off  the  county  site  of  Sevier 
county.  His  home  was  on  a  beautiful  farm,  a  mile  east  of  McGaughey's 
Station.  He  had  a  family  of  five  sons  and  six  daughters.  This  great- 
grandfather and  his  family  helped  found  the  old  Urbana  church,  in 
the  upper  end  of  Blount  county,  Tennessee,  and  their  minister  was 
Gideon  Blackburn,  the  great  western  orator. 

One  of  the  sons  of  the  above.  Major  John  McGaughey,  the  grand- 
father of  Doctor  McGaughey,  was  born  in  Greene  county,  E.  T.,  July 
12th,  1792.  His  wife,  Jane  Robertson,  was  born  in  the  same  county, 
January  29th,  1792.  and  died  January  12th,  1864.  She  was  a  descend- 
ant of  the  Robertson  who,  as  an  associate  of  John  Sevier,  helped  to 
organize  the  first  government  of  the  state.  Major  John  McGaughey 
was  a  clear  headed,  even-tempered  man,  but  had  a  fearless  disposition. 
Throughout  his  life  he  served  in  many  public  capacities.  He  was  one 
of  the  commissioners  to  treat  with  the  Indians  before  their  removal 
from  Tennessee  and  served  as  a  soldier  under  Andrew  Jackson  in  his 
Indian  campaigns  in  Alabama  and  Mississippi.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  1796,  under  which  the 
state  was  first  governed,  representing  Greene,  Sevier,  Cocke,  Munroe, 
Blount  and  McMinn  counties.  Under  the  provisions  of  that  constitu- 
tion free  persons  of  color  were  allowed  to  vote.  This  right  was  taken 
away  in  the  new  constitution.  Major  McGaughey  offered  an  amend- 
ment to  restore  it,  but  the  proposition  was  voted  down,  thus  doing 
away  entirely  with  free  colored  suffrage.  Although  being  the  owner 
of  a  very  large  farm  he  would  never  be  the  owner  of  slaves  and  hired 


150 


ns 


*        . 


|i 


iii 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  439 

all  his  work  done  by  the  day.  He  also  served  in  both  branches  of  the 
state  legislature  a  number  of  times.  He  took  a  great  interest  in  the 
building  of  the  E.  T.  &.  Va.  R.  R.,  from  Bristol  to  Knoxville,  using  all 
his  means  to  that  end.  and  was  a  director  of  the  company  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  civil  war.  In  that  struggle  he  maintained  his  character 
as  a  Jacksonian  democrat  and  stood  out  straight  for  the  Union  during 
the  terrible  political  excitement  in  East  Tennessee  in  the  first  two 
years  of  the  war.  He  died  at  the  old  homestead  I^Iay  20th,  1874,  82 
years  of  iige,  and  was  buried  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  at  ]\Iount  Bethel, 
near  Greenville. 

Samuel  McGaughey,  a  son  of  the  foregoing  and  the  father  of 
Doctor  McGaughey,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  near  the  jSIolachucky 
river,  May  31st,  1816,  and  died  at  his  residence  at  Greenville,  Feb- 
ruary 25th,  1870.  He  was  a  wholesale  and  retail  merchant,  also  doing 
an  extensive  commission  business.  His  integrity  was  of  the  highest 
order  and  his  business  capacity  was  unusually  great.  The  war 
entirely  wiped  out  his  large  business,  but  as  soon  as  peace  was 
declared,  he  began  anew  with  increased  energy  and  was  rapidly  re- 
gaining what  he  had  lost,  when  he  suffered  a  terrible  fall  which  pro- 
duced concussion  of  the  brain,  from  which  he  died  in  ten  days.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  and  for  many  years  a 
deacon  of  that  body.  He  had  a  very  liberal  mind  and  great  sympathy 
for  the  poor,  always  delighting  in  doing  charitable  deeds. 

On  the  side  of  the  doctor's  mother,  his  great-grandfather,  Peter 
Burkhart,*  came  from  Germany  before  the  revolutionary  war.  and 
settled  in  Frederick  county,  Md.,  where  his  maternal  grandfather, 
George  Burkhart,  was  born  September  30th,  1775.  On  September  Sth, 
1794,  he  married  his  first  wife,  Hannah  Hedge,  who  bore  him  five  chil- 
dren, and  died  ]\Iay  3d,  1801.  He  married  his  second  wife,  Elizabeth 
Castle,  January  7th,  1805,  who  bore  him  twelve  children,  the  doctor's 
mother  being:  the  eleventh.  His  grandmother,  Elizabeth  Castle,  was 
of  English  descent,  and  was  born  and  reared  near  Frederick  City,  then 
called  Frederick  Town,  [Md.  Her  birthda3'was  November  25th,  1779, 
and  she  died  at  Paperville,  East  Tenn.,  July  14th,  1855.  The  grand- 
father died  at  the  same  place  June  29th,  1852.  They  had  settled  in 
that  section  of  Tennessee  in  1806,  where  Grandfather  Burkhart  built 
a  paper  mill,  in  which  was  made  the  first  sheet  of  paper  ever  manu- 
factured in  the  state  of  Tennessee,  and  for  which  he  received  a  pre- 
mium of  $50.  From  the  location  of  the  mill  the  place  became  known 
as  Paperville,  a  hamlet  four  miles  east  from  Bristol.  The  only  sur- 
viving member  of  his  family  is  a  son,  J.  W.  Burkhart,  of  Ruthton.  Sul- 
livan county,  Tenn.,  who  has  preserved  the  family  accounts. 

The  mother  of  Doctor  McGaughey,  Caroline  A.  Burkhart,  was  born 
at  Paperville,  March  4th,  1821,  and  died  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  January  27th, 

*  Orig^inally  spelled  Burckhardt,  but  it  was  abridged  by  the  doctor's  grand- 
father to  the  present  form. 


440  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

1886.  She  was  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  six  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters of  her  family  surviving  her.  All  resid.c  in  the  South  except  the 
doctor,  who  has  been  an  adopted  citizen  of  Connecticut  the  pasttwentj' 
}'ears.  The  mother  of  this  family  was  a  woman  of  extraordinary  worth 
and  piety,  and  her  lovable  disposition  caused  her  to  be  esteemed  by 
all  who  knew  her.  She  was  an  earnest,  consistent  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  and  was  much  interested  in  its  welfare. 
The  memor)'  of  her  good  deeds  remains  as  a  priceless  heritage  to  the 
.family  left  to  follow  her  Christian  example,  and  all  the  children  have 
become  useful  citizens. 

James  D.  ]\IcGaughey  finst  attended  school  in  isr)4  in  a  small  boys' 
department,  in  a  young  ladies'  seminary  at  Greenville,  presided  over 
by  Mrs.  Valentine  Sevier,  a  daughter  of  Deacon  Lyman  Cannon,  of 
Wallingford,  Conn.  From  this  he  went  to  the  old  Greenville  College, 
the  oldest  institution  of  learning  in  the  state.  Tn  the  civil  war  the 
Third  Georgia  Battalion  of  confederate  troops  was  quartered  in 
Greenville,  to  intimidate  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  two-thirds  of 
whom  were  Unionists.  They  took  the  college  for  a  small-pox  ho.s- 
pital  and  destroyed  one  of  the  most  valuable  libraries  in  the  state, 
and  all  the  apparatus  belonging  to  the  college.  Determined  to  pursue 
his  studies,  he  now  entered  a  private  school,  which  was  also  disbanded 
on  account  of  the  hostilities  in  that  section.  He  next  took  instruction 
under  a  private  tutor,  Robert  McCorkle,  one  of  the  most  thoroughly 
educated  men  in  the  state,  and  pursued  his  studies  under  great  diffi- 
culties. Some  days  he  was  unable  to  reach  the  house  of  his  tutor  on 
account  of  the  guerrilla  warfare  in  the  streets  and  the  fear  that  he 
might  be  impressed  into  the  confederate  service  by  these  lawless  men; 
but  he  persevered  and  continued  his  studies  through  all  these  peril- 
ous times,*  and  until  he  entered   Jefferson  Medical  College,  at  Phila- 

*  The  impressions  of  those  stormy  scenes  remain  very  clear  in  the  mind  of 
Doctor  McGaughey,  from  the  reading  by  his  father  fro:n  the  Richmond  Dispatch 
of  the  account  of  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  until  the  last  incident  of  the  war. 
He  saw  the  first  two  Union  men  hung  by  General  Leadbetter,  their  crime  being 
the  burning  of  the  bridges  between  Greenville  and  Knoxville,  to  prevent  some 
maneuvre  of  the  confederates.  Six  or  eight  more  were  hung  in  Knoxville  and 
many  others  were  put  in  prison.  He  witnessed  the  battle  between  the  Union- 
ists imder  General  Alvin  C.  Gillem  and  the  celebrated  cavalry  commanded  by 
the  confederate  John  H.  Morgan.  He  saw  the  latter  at  the  head  of  his  troops 
entering  town  at  4  o'clock  Saturday  evening,  and  saw  him  dead  the  next  morn- 
ing, September  4th,  1864,  at  7  o'clock,  while  being  carried  out  of  town  on  the 
horse  of  a  federal  soldier.  His  body  rested  across  the  saddle  in  front  of  the  sol- 
dier, his  head  hanging  down  on  one  side,  his  feet  dangling  on  the  other.  A  large 
bullet  hole  in  the  front  of  the  left  chest  was  visible.  In  the  fight  in  which  Mor- 
gan was  killed,  all  of  the  staff  but  one.  Major  Bassett,  were  captured.  The  pris- 
oners were  brought  to  town  under  guard,  and  stood  on  a  corner  near  the  house 
of  the  doctor's  father,  where  he  had  a  good  view  of  their  crestfallen  appearance. 
A  short  time  after  the  battle  he  also  met  and  talked  with  Mrs.  Lucy  Williams, 
who  has  been  credited  with  betraying  Morgan  into  Gillem's  hands,  by  riding 
with   the   information   from    Greenville   to   Bull's   Gap,   Gillem's   headquarters. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  441 

delphia,  in  1866.  He  graduated  with  all  the  honors  of  a  full-fledged 
M.  D.  from  that  institution  in  1870,  when  he  practiced  his  profession 
in  East  Tennessee  one  year. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1871,  Doctor  McGaughe)"-  married  Sara  V.  Can- 
non, daughter  of  Burdett  and  Juliett  (Merriam)  Cannon,  of  Walling- 
ford,  who  is  also  a  granddaughter  of  Deacon  Lyman  and  Sally  Can- 
non, of  the  same  town.  In  1872  they  removed  from  Tennessee  and 
settled  permanently  in  Wallingford,  where  the  doctor  has,  by  his  in- 
dustry, worth,  and  unremitting  professional  activity  and  honorable 
life,  won  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men,  and  has  become  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens  of  the  town.  He  manifests  in  his  life  the  many  ex- 
cellent traits  of  his  honorable  lineage,  being  a  temperate,  straightfor- 
ward Christian  member  of  the  community.  He  has  built  up  an  ex- 
tensive and  lucrative  practice  in  his  chosen  profession,  and  is  the  med- 
ical examiner  for  the  town  of  Wallingford  and  post  surgeon  for  ex- 
emption from  military  taxes.  He  is  also  the  examiner  for  a  number 
of  other  boards  and  in.surance  companies.  As  a  member  of  the  Con- 
necticut State  and  New  Haven  County  Medical  Societies  he  has  taken 
an  active  interest,  and  has  contributed  papers  to  current  medical 
periodicals.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  a  member 
of  Accanant  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Wallingford.  His  duties  to  the 
town  have  not  been  neglected,  and  he  has  served  in  several  ofiSces. 
In  188(1  he  represented  Wallingford  as  one  of  the  members  of  the 
state  legislature,  and  took  part  in  the  debate  on  the  final  settlement  of 
the  boundary  line  between  New  York  and  Connecticut,  which  had 
been  in  dispute  over  two  hundred  years. 

Doctor  McGaughey  and  his  wife  have  had  five  children  ;  one  son 
and  one  daughter  died  in  infancy.  Three  survive — two  daughters  and 
one  son. 

eighteen  miles,  on  a  dark,  rainj'  night.  That  story  is  entirely  mythical,  for  she 
was  out  of  town  that  night  and  did  not  know  anything  of  Morgan's  having  been 
in  Greenville  until  after  the  fight  the  next  morning. 

There  is  one  historical  fact  which  the  doctor  well  remembers:  The  last 
Union  flag  to  wave  in  public  in  the  South  after  the  war  commenced  was  at 
Greenville,  the  home  of  Andrew  Johnson  and  other  outspoken  loyalists.  They 
erected  a  liberty  pole  100  feet  high,  on  which  they  placed  a  large  and  beautiful 
flag,  which  waved  in  full  sight  of  the  railroad,  while  over  30,000  confederates 
passed  over  it,  on  their  way  to  Virginia.  Finally  the  Louisiana  Tigers  came 
along,  stopped  their  train,  cut  down  the  pole  and  took  away  the  flag,  after  which 
they  made  the  town  feed  the  whole  regiment.  Before  the  door  of  the  doctor's 
father's  house,  he  cotmted  twenty-two  muskets,  while  the  men  were  eating  their 
breakfast,  and  he  was  greath-  tempted  to  make  off  with  one. 

After  the  battles  of  Chickamauga  and  Fort  Saunders,  Longstreet's  whole 
force  mustered  in  the  town,  and  his  entire  staff  boarded  at  the  doctor's  father's 
house,  and  he  thought  it  a  great  favor  to  be  permitted  to  eat  at  the  same  table 
with,  what  seemed  in  his  boyish  eyes,  such  grand  officers  as  Colonel  Fairfax,  of 
Virginia;  Major  La  Trobe,  of  Baltimore;  Colonel  Dunn,  of  Nashville,  and  Gen- 
eral Jones,  of  Georgia.  They  were  kind,  courteous  gentlemen,  and  won  the 
respect  of  the  famih-  by  their  chivalric  behavior. 


442  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

James  A.  McKenzie,  born  in  1842,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Hall)  McKenzie,  and  grandson  of  William  McKenzie.  Mr.  McKenzie 
has  been  wood  turner  in  the  Parker  box  shop  at  Yalesville  for  25 
years.  He  married  Adaline,  daughter  of  vSanford  Tuttle,  and  they 
have  three  children:  William  T.,  Albert  S.  and  Mabel  L. 

Aimer  I.  Martin,  youngest  son  of  Henry  and  Julia  (Hall)  Mai'tin, 
was  born  in  1866.  He  has  been  in  the  grocery  and  grain  business 
since  April,  1885.  Until  October,  1888,  the  firm  was  Martin  Brothers 
(John  A.  and  Aimer  I.);  since  that  time  Mr.  Martin  has  been  alone. 
He  is  a  member  of  Accanant  Lodge,  No.  71,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Garry  I.  Mix,  born  in  1819,  is  a  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  John 
Mix.  His  mother  was  Olive,  daughter  of  Joel  Ives,  who  lo.st  his  right 
arm  in  the  battle  of  White  Plains  at  the  time  of  the  revolutionary 
war.  Mr.  Mix  has  been  engaged  in  spoon  manufacturing  since  1889. 
In  1855  he  started  in  business  for  himself  at  his  present  location.  He 
was  state  senator  in  1868.  He  was  three  years  captain  of  the  old  Con- 
necticut National  Guards  of  Wallingford.  He  married  Almira 
White.  Their  children  are:  Eliza  (Mrs.  Doctor  Glenney)  and  Frances 
(Mrs.  W.  A.  Kendrick). 

John  B.  Mix,  born  in  1845,  at  Cheshire,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Gregory)  Mix,  grandson  of  John,  and  great-grandson  of  John  ^lix. 
He  served  in  the  late  war  from  August,  1862,  until  July,  1865,  in  Com- 
pany K,  15th  Connecticut  Volunteers.  Since  1865  he  has  been  a 
buffer  of  silver  ware,  and  since  1876  he  has  been  contractor  for  R.Wal- 
lace &  Sons.  He  was  representative  in  1887.  He  is  a  member  of 
Compass  Lodge,  No.  9,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Arthur  H.  Button  Po.st,  No. 
36,  G.  A.  R.  He  was  sergeant  in  the  Wallingford  Militia  Company 
six  years.  He  married  Emily  E.,  daughter  of  Lyman  N.  Hull,  grand- 
daughter of  Willis,  and  great-granddaughter  of  Doctor  John  Hull. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Grace  B.,  and  have  lost  one,  Lilian. 

William  N.  Mix,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Gregory)  Mix,  grand- 
son of  John,  and  great-grandson  of  John  Mix,  was  born  in  1843,  in 
Cheshire,  Conn.  Mr.  Mix  served  during  the  late  war  from  July,  1861, 
to  July,  1865,  having  reenlisted  as  veteran  in  January,  1864.  He  was 
discharged  as  first  sergeant  of  Company  A,  5th  Connecticut  Volunteer 
Infantry.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  militia  company  here, 
and  held  different  offices  for  nine  years,  when  he  retired  as  captain. 
He  is  a  member  of  Arthur  H.  Dutton  Post,  No.  36,  G.  A.  R.,  and  was 
the  first  commander.  He  is  a  member  of  Compass  Lodge,  No.  9,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  and  treasurer  and  collector  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He 
married  Catharine  S.,  daughter  of  Frederick  A.  Rich.  Their  children 
are:  Edith  F.,  Herbert  G.,  William  E.,  John  V.  and  Dorothy  G.  Mr. 
Mix  has  been  superintendent  for  the  SimiDSon  Nickel  Silver  Company 
since  July,  1887. 

Lyman  H.  Morse,  born  in  1783,  and  died  in  1878,  was  a  son  of 
Captain  Joel  Morse.     He  married  Sally  Francis,  who  was  the  mother 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  443 

of  twelve  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  Sarah  E.,  Emily  M.,  Car- 
oline E.,  j\Iary  A.  and  Amos.  One  son,  Henry  L.,  died  November 
10th,  1890.  One  daughter,  Elizabeth  H.,  lived  in  New  Haven.  Caro- 
line E.  married  Selden  D.  Dowd,  who  was  born  in  1831.  He  enlisted 
in  1862  in  Company  K,  15th  Connecticut  Volunteers,  and  died  in  a 
rebel  prison  in  November,  1864.  They  had  two  daughters:  Lula  A., 
who  died,  and  Ella  H. 

William  J.  Morse,  born  in  1839,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Betsey  E. 
(Doolittle)  Morse,  grandson  of  Theophilus.  who  was  a  son  of  Ebenezer, 
whose  father,  Theophilus,  was  a  son  of  Samuel,  he  a  son  of  John,  and 
he  a  son  of  John  ]SIorse,  who  came  from  England  in  16139,  and  in  1670 
came  to  Wallingford.  Mr.  Morse  was  a  soldier  from  August,  1862, 
until  July,  1860,  in  Company  K,15th  Connecticut  Volunteers.  He  was 
then  engaged  in  various  business  enterprises  until  1880,  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  work  for  the  Maltby,  Stevens  &  Curtiss  Company  as  con- 
tractor, and  continued  eight  years.  He  is  now  doing  a  general  insur- 
ance business.  Since  January,  1889,  he  has  been  water  commissioner, 
is  president  of  the  town  board  of  health,  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
holds  other  minor  offices.  He  is  past  commander  of  Arthur  H.  Dutton 
Post,  No.  36,  G.  A.  R.  His  first  wife  was  Frances  J.  Addis,  and  his 
present  wife  was  Catharine  H.  Maher.  They  have  two  children:  Flora 
E.  and  Willie  M. 

Michael  O'Callaghan,  born  about  1839,  in  Cork,  Ireland,  is  a  son  of 
John  O'Callaghan.  He  came  to  America  in  1857,  and  after  residing 
two  years  in  Wallingford  went  to  Australia,  where  he  remained  for 
thirteen  years,  when  he  returned  to  Wallingford,  where  he  now  resides. 
Mr.  O'Callaghan  is  a  thorough  farmer,  an  experienced  wool  grower 
and  wool  sorter  and  an  excellent  judge  of  sheep  and  cattle.  While 
in  Australia  he  was  for  nine  years  the  manager  of  Molka  station, 
Murchison.  He  has  been  on  the  board  of  water  commissioners  since 
1883,  and  is  now  its  chairman.  He  was  four  years  on  the  board  of 
relief,  and  was  representative  one  term,  1889-90.  He  married  Bridget 
Dailey  for  his  first  wife,  and  his  present  wife  was  Lizzie  Colbart.  They 
have  two  children:  Bridget  and  John  M. 

Joel  H.  Paddock,  youngest  of  .seven  children  of  Charles  and  Eliza- 
beth D.  (Hall)  Paddock,  and  grandson  of  Samuel  Paddock,  was  born 
in  1849.  He  came  from  Meriden  to  Wallingford  in  1871,  where  he 
has  since  been  a  farmer.  His  farm  suffered  severely  by  the  tornado 
of  August,  1878,  being  damaged  to  the  amount  of  $2,000.  Mr.  Pad- 
dock is  a  member  of  Accanant  Lodge,  No.  71,  L  O.  O.  F.,and  a  charter 
member  of  Wallingford  Grange,  No.  33,  P.  of  H.  He  married  Dela- 
phine,  daughter  of  Elizur  and  Eunice  G.  (Nettleton)  Hall.  Their 
children  are:  Jennie  D.  and  Grace  D. 

General  W.  R.  Pease,  born  in  1831,  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Louisa  (Bartlett)  Pease.  In  July,  1851,  he  entered  the  United 
States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  graduating  four  years  later. 


444  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

He  served  on  the  frontiers  until  1862,  when  he  was  commissioned 
colonel  of  the  117th  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers.  He  was 
brevetted  major  U.  S.  Army  in  May,  1863,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  in  the  .seige  of  Suffolk,  Va..  and  brigadier  general  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  .services  during  the  war.  He  is  on  the  retired  list  of 
the  army  for  disability  in  the  line  of  duty.  His  first  marriage  was 
with  Rowena  C,  daughter  of  Reverend  Hart  F.  Pease,  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.  His  present  wife  was  Frances  E.  Strickland.  They  have  one 
son,  Robert  W.  Pease. 

George  J.  Peers,  born  in  18o3,  in  England,  is  a  sou  of  John  M. 
Peers.  He  came  from  England  to  Wallingford  in  1868,  and  choosing 
the  trade  of  his  father,  he  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  in  March,  1873, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  serving  the  people  of  Wallingford  in 
that  line  of  work.  He  married  Kittie  E.  Robinson  and  has  one 
daughter,  Jennie  M.  He  is  a  member  of  Compass  Lodge,  Xo.  9,  F. 
&  A.  M. 

Frank  \V.  Phelps,  son  of  Chester  Phelps,  was  born  in  18.52,  at 
Northampton,  Mass.  He  came  to  Wallingford  in  April,  1875,  and  for 
seven  years  was  a  partner  with  L.  ^I.  Phelps  in  the  stove  and  tin  ware 
business,  firm  of  L.  M.  &  F.  W.  Phelps.  In  1882  they  dissolved  part- 
nership and  divided  the  business,  and  Frank  W.  has  continued  the 
branch  store  on  North  Colony  street.  He  is  a  member  of  Accanant 
Lodge,  No.  71,  L  O.  O.  F.  He  married  Sarah  L.  Hastings,  of  South 
Deerfield,  Mass. 

L.  M.  Phelps,  born  in  1841,  in  Northampton,  Mass.,  is  a  son  of 
Spencer  Phelps.  He  came  to  Wallingford  in  1875,  and  established 
the  hardware,  stove  and  plumbing  business  which  he  has  since  con- 
tinued. He  was  two  years  a  member  of  the  court  of  burgesses.  He 
was  in  the  late  war  as  a  nine  months'  man  in  Compan}'  C,  52d  Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers.  He  is  a  member  of  Arthur  H.  Button  Post,  No. 
36.  G.  A.  R.,  of  Accanant  Lodge,  No.  71,  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  Com- 
pass Lodge,  No.  9,  F.&  A.  M.  He  married  Jennie  Hastings,  of  South 
Deerfield,  ^lass. 

John  J.  Prior,  son  of  Daniel  Prior,  opened  a  store  for  the  sale  of 
boots,  shoes,  hats,  caps  and  men's  furnishing  goods  in  October,  1888, 
where  he  is  now  conducting  the  business. 

Joel  Rice,  born  in  1829,  is  the  only  surviving  son  of  Joel  and 
Lucretia  (Yale)  Rice,  grandson  of  James,  and  great-grandson  of  James 
Rice.  Mr.  Rice  followed  the  sea  from  1846  to  1886,  and  was  master 
of  vessels  after  1859.  He  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  Alfred  Parker, 
and  has  one  daughter,  Mary  L. 

Augustus  F.  Rich,  son  of  Frederick  A.  and  Catharine  (Hall)  Rich, 
and  grandson  of  Harvey  Rich,  was  born  in  1837.  He  is  one  of  eleven 
children,  ten  of  whom  are  living.  He  is  a  spoon  maker,  and  was 
foreman  for  Hall,  Elton  &  Co.,  for  2U  years,  and  eight  years  for  the 
Maltby,  Stevens  &  Curtiss  Co.  He  married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Albert  Ward. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  445 

William  S.  Russell,  M.  D.,  born  September  7th,  ISoS,  is  a  son  of 
Henry,  and  grandson  of  Lewis  Russell.  He  was  a  student  in  French's 
school  at  New  Haven,  prior  to  entering  Yale,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1880.  After  studying  one  year  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  of  New  York,  and  practicing  in  the  New  Haven  Hospital 
one  year,  he  opened  practice  in  Wallingford  in  July,  1882.  He  is  a 
member  of  both  state  and  county  medical  societies.  He  married 
Eliza  C,  daughter  of  Edward  Hall,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

Luther  B.  Scranton,  born  in  1847,  in  North  Branford,  is  a  son  of 
Martin  and  Sally  (Thomas')  Scranton.  and  grandson  of  Torry  Scran- 
ton. He  has  been  a  wagon  maker  since  1870.  In  1873  he  came  to 
North  Farms,Wallingford,  where  he  started  business,  and  in  October, 
1884,  he  came  to  his  present  place  of  busine.ss  near  the  depot.  He 
is  a  member  of  Accanant  Lodge,  No.  71,  L  O.  O.  F.  He  married 
Martha  J.,  daughter  of  Nelson  T.  Crowell,  and  has  two  daughters, 
Grace  L  and  Alice  L. 

Samuel  Simpson  was  born  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  April  7th,  1814. 
]klr.  Simpson  resides  on  Main  street,  in  the  center  of  the  borough  of 
Wallingford,  where  for  more  than  55  years  he  has  been  known  as  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  prosperous  business  men,  and  has  been 
honored  for  his  business  thrift  and  ability,  his  integrity  and  high 
character.  Yet  the  omens  attending  his  boyhood  were  not  propitious, 
unless  an  hone.st,  industrious,  judicious  and  aspiring  nature  be  counted 
in.  He  inherited  these  qualities,  but  not  wealth  or  social  eminence. 
His  parents  were  estimable  people,  who  gave  to  the  society  of  their 
day  a  qualit}^  of  excellence  and  solidity,  but  in  1806,  like  other  Con- 
necticut farmers,  they  purchased  land  in  the  Western  Reserve  of 
Ohio,  thirty  miles  from  physician  or  store  or  mill.  Emigration  thither 
was  made  in  the  primitive  manner  of  travel  by  oxen  and  horses.  But 
Mr.  Simpson  lived  on  his  western  farm  only  five  years,  for  residence 
wrought  severely  against  his  wife's  health,  and  they  returned  to  Wal- 
lingford. Their  slender  fortune  was  considerably  curtailed  by  the 
expensive  moving  to  and  fro  and  change  of  residence:  and  Samuel, 
the  youngest  of  their  seven  children,  went  from  home  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years  to  work  for  a  physician  as  oflSce  and  chore  boy.  But  evi- 
dently he  was  not  to  become  a  physician.  Two  years  only  did  he  re- 
main in  the  employ  of  Doctor  Gaylord.  At  about  fifteen  years  of  age 
he  was  apprenticed  to  Charles  Yale,  of  Yalesville,  for  a  term  of  five 
years.  At  the  close  of  the  term  he  became  journeyman  in  the  same 
shop,  and  very  soon  foreman,  in  the  manufacture  of  Britannia  ware. 
He  continued  in  this  position  until  January  1st,  1835,  when,  by  dint 
of  economy,  he  had  saved  of  his  earnings  about  two  hundred 
dollars. 

We  have  been  minute  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Simpson  thus  far,  for 
it  is  both  interesting  and  informing  to  watch  the  progress  of  a  young 
man  at  the  beginning  of  his  career,  for  then  usually  his  quality  will 


446  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

appear.  Mr.  Simpson  was  now  ready  for  independent  busines.s,  and 
in  partnershiip  with  another  purchased  Mr.  Yale's  Britannia  ware  in- 
dustry. We  cannot  enumerate  in  detail  the  vicissitudes  of  Mr.  Simp- 
son's career  before  he  became  permanently  settled  in  the  great  indus- 
tries, whose  development  was  determined  so  largely  by  his  discriminat- 
ing judgment  and  business  ability.  For  a  series  of  years  change  was 
as  typical  of  that  career  as  was  success.  In  1847  he  sold  out  his 
Britannia  and  tin  ware  business,  and  soon  after  purcha.sed  the  old 
flouring,  wool  carding  and  cloth  dressing  mills  of  Wallingford,  known 
as  the  Humiston  mills. 

Just  now  experiments  were  making  in  the  plating  of  metal  by 
electricity,  and  Mr.  Simpson  was  a  pioneer  plater,  and  probably  the 
earliest  manufacturer  in  this  country  to  apply  the  process  to  hollow 
ware.  The  mills  just  purchased  were  soon  fitted  for  the  manufacture 
of  electro-plated  silver  ware.  But  January  1st,  lSfl4,  this  industry  was 
merged  in  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company,  then  one  year  old,  Mr. 
Simpson  becoming  one  of  the  directors  and  largest  stockholders  of  the 
company.  He  now  formed  a  partnership  with  his  neighbor,  Mr.  Rob- 
ert Wallace,  under  the  firm  style  of  R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  nickel  silver  spoons  and  forks,  and  leased  the  new  concern 
a  part  of  the  Humi.ston  mill  property.  Thifewas  a  partnership  limited 
to  ten  years,  and  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company,  which  afterward 
became  a  partner,  entered  into  contract  to  take  the  goods  manu- 
factured. At  the  close  of  the  ten  year  period,  in  1865,  Messrs.  Sirnp- 
son  and  Wallace  formed  a  joint  stock  company,  under  the  title  of 
Wallace,  Simpson  &  Co.,  the  capital  stock  being  placed  at  $100,000. 
Mr.  Simpson  was  chosen  president.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  ex- 
tensive plant  located  at  the  old  Humiston  site,  dates  its  greatly  in- 
creased growth.  The  next  year,  1866,  Mr.  Simpson  organized  a  new 
company,  with  the  title  of  Simpson,  Hall,  Miller  &  Co.,  locating  the 
factory  for  the  manufacture  of  electro-plated  silver  ware  on  the  east 
side  of  the  village  of  Wallingford.  Mr.  Simpson  became  president  of 
the  new  company.  In  1871  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  joint  stock  con- 
cern of  Wallace,  Simpson  &  Co.  to  his  partner,  and  organized  the 
Simpson  Nickel  Silver  Company  to  manufacture  nickel  silver  goods. 
Mr.  Simpson  was  chosen  president  also  of  this  company. 

This  outline  of  the  more  important  industries  in  which  Mr.  Simp- 
son has  been  a  chief  factor,  gives  evidence  of  his  superior  business 
ability  already  asserted.  They  absorbed  a  great  deal  of  capital,  and 
have  employed  many  hands.  And  while  able  executive  men  have 
been  associated  with  him  in  the  development  of  these  industries,  it  is 
beyond  dispute  that  he  has  been  the  guiding  genius  and  power,  con- 
trolling and  mapping  out  the  lines  of  advances. 

When  his  fifty  years  of  business  life  had  passed  in  the  town  in 
1885,  he  thought  to  celebrate  the  event  by  inviting  his  coadjutors  and 
business  associates  to  a   banquet.     But  no   sooner  was   the    festival 


HISTORV    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  447 

placed  in  the  hands  of  his  friends  than  they  made  the  event,  not  sim- 
ply an  occasion  of  mutual  congratulation  among  those  who  had  been 
pleasantly  associated  for  business  in  the  town,  but  an  ovation  for  him- 
self ;  and  not  before  did  Mr.  Simpson  have  any  suspicion  of  the  sort 
of  person  he  was.  He  has  since  hardly  known  how  to  explain  the 
happenings  of  that  evening. 

It  IS  often  a  little  surprising  that  men  who  control  in  chief  part 
great  private  industries  can  find  time  for  public  duties.  But  the 
power  to  do  the  one  seems  to  include  the  time  as  well  as  the  power  to 
do  the  other.  Mr.  Simpson  is  naturally  very  public  spirited,  taking 
pride  in  public  works  and  improvements.  Indeed,  it  is  the  testimony 
of  his  fellow-townsmen  that  he  is  quite  without  a  peer  in  the  promo- 
tion of  public  werks  and  the  development  of  Wallingford,  though  his 
modesty  or  his  unassuming  nattire  does  not  allow  him  to  think  of 
himself  as  anything  more  than  the  ordinary  citizen.  He  has  been 
frequently  called  out  to  serve  in  various  town  offices,  and  has  been  a 
leader  in  the  development  and  perfecting  of  the  school  system  and 
the  fire  department  of  Wallingford. 

Mr.  Simpson  also  aided  greatly  in  establishing  the  Dime  Savings 
Bank  of  Wallingford  in  1871,  and  has  since  been  its  president.  In 
1881  the  First  National  Bank  of  Wallingford  was  chartered,  and  he 
became  its  president.  Besides,  at  the  founding  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Meriden,  he  subscribed  for  one-tenth  of  the  stock,  and  has 
since  been  a  director. 

Mr.  vSimpson's  political  affiliations  have  always  been  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  of  which  he  has  been  a  distinguished  representative. 
He  was  chosen  to  the  general  assembly  of^the  state  in  the  years  1846, 
'o9,  '65  and  '79.  He  has  served  his  party  in  the  most  prominent  coun- 
sels, whether  state  or  national. 

In  religion,  Mr.  Simpson  is  an  Episcopalian  and  a  member  of  St. 
Paul's  church  of  Wallingford.  He  has  borne  the  interests  of  Chris- 
tianity as  manifest  in  his  church  with  a  fatherly  love  and  pride.  For 
more  than  thirty  years  he  has  been  the  senior  warden,  and  during  all 
his  business  life  a  principal  supporter.  His  wisdom  and  devotion 
have  borne  the  affairs  of  the  parish  through  hard  places.  His  gener- 
ous feeling  is  known  throughout  the  parish,  while  the  poor  and  the 
suffering  have  constantly  received  relief^from  his  warm-hearted  char- 
ity. And  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  himself  and  his  family  are 
not  only  greatly  re.spected  in  all  the  town,  but  genuinely  beloved. 
His  wealth  and  influence  have  seemed  to  him  to  be  sacred  trusts,  and 
he  must  be  the  faithful  steward  both  for  righteousness'  sake  and  for 
the  account  of  his  stewardship  he  must  give  some  time. 

Mr.  Simpson  was  fortunate  in  choosing  a  kindred  spirit  for  his 
companion — Miss  Martha  De'Ette  Benham,  of  Cheshire,  Conn.  They 
were  married  July  6th,  183n.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Ben- 
ham,  whose  ancestor  of  the  same  name  was  one  of  the  original  "  plant- 


448  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ers"  of  Wallingford.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  them,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  five  of  whom  have  passed  away — Samuel  Augus- 
tus, George  Williams,  Martha  De  Ette,  Willis  Duryee  and  Samuel 
George.  Their  mother,  Mrs.  Simpson,  has  erected  a  fine  chapel,  "  St. 
Paul's  Parish  Building,"  in  connection  with  the  family  church,  as  a 
religious  memorial  to  them.  The  surviving  daughter  is  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth  Malinda,  wife  of  Gurdon  W.  Hull,  who  reside  with  the  parents 
in  the  spacious  homestead,  where  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life  are 
plentiful. 

F.  C.  Slate,  born  in  1840,  in  Franklin  county,  Mass.,  is  a  son  of 
Chauncey  J.  Slate.  He  has  been  a  merchant  since  1873,  and  in  1883 
he  came  to  Wallingford  and  established  the  dry  goods  business  which 
he  is  now  conducting.  He  married  Hattie  A.  Lewis,  who  died  in 
1889. 

Fred.  H.  vSmith,  born  in  1852,  at  Brasher,  N.  Y.,  is  a  son  of 
Stephen  and  Harriet  lOber)  Smith.  He  came  to  Wallingford  in  1873. 
He  was  for  eleven  years  a  traveling  salesman,  and  since  1884  has 
been  carrying  on  the  grocery  business.  He  married  Ida  E.,  daughter 
of  Asahel  Talmage,  and  has  one  son,  Leslie  F. 

George  A.  Smith,  son  of  Charles  A.  Smith,  was  born  in  Hartford  in 
1860.  He  was  a  drug  clerk  for  eight  years  in  Waterbury,  and  in 
January,  1882,  he  came  to  Wallingford  and  purchased  a  drug  business 
of  H.  C.  Goddard,  and  moved  it  to  his  present  store,  corner  of  Colony 
and  Centre  streets.  He  has  been  first  assistant  engineer  of  the  fire 
department  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Compass  Lodge,  No.  9, 
F.  &  A.  M. 

John  P.  Stevenson,  son  of  Francis  Stevenson,  was  born  in  1860,  at 
Clinton,  Mass.  He  has  been  in  the  clothing  business  since  1876,  and 
since  1883  at  Wallingford.  He  is  a  member  of  the  New  England 
combination  clothiers.  He  married  Sarah  L.,  daughter  of  Trumball 
and  Josephine  (Harrison)  Jones,  and  granddaughter  of  Street  Jones. 
They  have  one  daughter.  Josephine. 

Colonel  B.  R.  Townsend  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  Townsend.  He  was 
a  florist  and  market  gardener  at  Austin,  Texas,  until  1877,  when  he 
came  to  Wallingford,  where  he  has  since  been  a  farmer.  In  iVugust, 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  First  U.  S.  Sharpshooters,  was  afterward 
transferred  to  the  12oth  N.  Y.  Volunteer  Infantry  as  second  lieutenant. 
Company  D,  then  first  lieutenant  of  Company  F.  After  having  been 
appointed  major  of  2d  U.  S.  Colored  Infantry,  he  was  promoted  to 
lieutenant  colonel,  and  subsequently  colonel,  which  rank  he  held  when 
the  regiment  was  discharged  in  January,  1866.  He  is  a  member  of 
Wallingford  Grange,  No.  33,  P.  of  H.  He  married  Alice  F.,  daughter 
of  Reuben  B.  and  Catharine  L.  (Perry)  Merriman.  They  have  three 
children:  Frederick  P.,  Edward  B.  and  Alice. 

Captain  B.  A.  Treaty  was  born  in  1842,  at  Oxford,  Conn.  He  grad- 
uated from  Cheshire  Academy  and  from  the  normal  school,  and  after 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  44'J 

teaching  two  years,  began  the  wheel  manufacturing  business,  which 
he  has  followed  since  that  time.  He  is  now  president  and  treasurer 
of  the  Wallingford  Wheel  Company.  He  was  captain  of  Company  K, 
2d  Regiment,  Connecticut  National  Guards,  six  years,  until  he  resigned 
in  1888.  He  was  six  years  warden  of  the  borough,  and  representative 
in  the  legislature  two  years,  1888-9.  He  is  also  shell  fish  commis- 
sioner. He  married  Sarah  Hill,  and  has  six  children:  Charles  C, 
Emma  A.,  Eddie  B.,  Kittie  I.,  Frank  L.  and  Marion  A. 

Robert  Wallace,  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Prospect,  Conn., 
November  IBth,  1815.  The  two  great  branches  of  Anglo-Saxon  stock 
on  the  soil  of  Great  Britain,  the  Scotch  and  the  English,  are  united  in 
him.  His  father,  James  Wallace,  though  a  small  farmer  of  Prospect, 
had  floating  along  his  ancestry  the  heroic  traditions  and  deeds  of 
Scottish  history,  while  his  mother  bore  the  name  of  Urania  Williams, 
a  name  well  embedded  in  English  history  and  life. 

It  would  be  difBcult  to  find  a  finer  illustration  of  life-long,  steady, 
persistent  attention  to  business  than  Mr.  Wallace.  Many  attempts 
have  been  made  to  turn  him  aside,  many  allurements  have  been 
thrown  before  him,  such  as  entice  most  other  men,  but  none  of  them 
have  moved  him  in  all  his  life  from  his  single  aim  of  being  a  first- 
class  and  foremost  manufacturer  in  his  special  line  of  goods.  He  has 
been  for  many  years  one  of  the  heaviest  tax-payers  in  the  town  of 
Wallingford,  and  it  has  been  the  desire  of  many  of  his  townsmen  that 
he  should  serve  them  in  official  capacity,  and  receive  the  honors  of 
the  town,  but  he  has  as  steadily  withdrawn  himself  from  all  appear- 
ance of  notoriety,  and  preferred  his  daily  business  routine  to  political 
emoluments. 

His  gathered  wealth  has  given  him  the  opportunity,  and  his  large 
acquaintance  might  have  furnished  the  incentive  of  movement  in 
public  in  a  showy  style,  but  he  has  eschewed  it  all,  purposel}'  avoiding 
it  and  preferring  to  be,  among  his  fellow-men,  a  great  deal  more  than 
seeming  to  be.  His  tastes  are  as  simple  to-day  as  they  were  when  he 
was  only  IS  years  of  age,  and  hired  an  old  grist  mill  in  Cheshire  and 
began  the  manufacture  of  spoons  on  his  own  account. 

He  had  been  working  in  his  Cheshire  mill  only  about  a  year  when 
one  of  those  events  happened  which  we  call  good  fortune,  and  no 
doubt  there  is  such  a  thing  as  good  fortune,  but  it  may  be  doubted 
whether  it  is  very  common,  except  it  is  accompanied  by  good  sense. 
It  takes  eood  sense  to  detect  good  fortune.  Mr.  Wallace  met  a  New 
Haven  patron  at  that  time,  and  was  shown  a  spoon  made  from  a  metal 
new  to  both  of  them.  It  was  called  German  silver.  What  was  its 
compounding? — never  a  conundrum  was  more  puzzling.  But  an  ana- 
lytic chemist,  Doctor  Louis  Feuchtwanger,  was  known  to  have  brought 
a  small  bar  of  it  from  Germany,  and  he  was  appealed  to  to  unravel 
the  mystery.  Mr.  Wallace  purcha,sed  the  bar,  carried  it  to  Water- 
bury,  had  it  rolled,  and  from  this  bar  made  four  dozen  spoons. 


450  HISTORV   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

But  a  second  good  fortune  followed  the  first,  and  it  was  equally 
detected  by  the  good  sense  of  Mr.  Wallace.  He  met  a  gentleman  in 
Waterbury  who  had  recently  come  from  England,  and  had  brought 
with  him  the  recipe  for  making  German  silver.  Mr.  Wallace  pur- 
chased it  for  $25.  It  was  at  this  period  that  he  moved  his  simple  ma- 
chinery from  the  Cheshire  gri.st  mill  down  on  the  Quinnipiac,  below 
Wallingford,  and  there  prepared  for  the  manufacture  of  spoons  and 
flat  ware  on  a  more  extended  scale.  Nickel  was  procured,  copper 
also,  and  zinc,  and  the  compoundmg  of  German  silver  was  first  done, 
in  this  country,  in  Wallingford,  in  the  factory  of  Robert  Wallace  and 
under  his  supervision,  in  1834. 

We  reach  a  point  now,  1854,  twenty  years  in  advance.  It  is  a  con- 
venient po.sition  from  which  to  look  back  on  the  manufacturing  busi- 
ness of  Mr.  Wallace.  The  industry  has  grown  greatly,  both  in  the 
variety  and  the  output  of  goods.  We  notice  the  new  and  improved 
machinery — the  product  of  the  manufacturer's  invention.  We  notice 
the  methodical  manner  in  which  the  work  is  done,  a  very  picture  in 
method  of  the  manufacturer  himself.  All  goods  in  process  of  making 
must  be  handled  in  the  easiest,  quickest  manner,  and  the  manner 
must  be  perpetuated,  for  the  workmen  will  then  become  skillful  and 
quick  in  it,  and  here  profits  accrue  to  the  business. 

But  the  year  1865  was  one  of  great  enlargement  in  the  business. 
For  the  last  ten  years  the  capital  .stock  had  been  only  §1,2(X)  in  1855, 
and  $14,000  a  little  later,  and  now  it  was  raised  to  $100,000,  and  the 
name  taken  for  the  combination  was  Wallace,  Simpson  &  Co.  The 
size  of  the  factory  was  now  greatly  enlarged,  and  its  capacity  for 
manufacturing  more  than  correspondingly  increased.  But  in  1871 
Mr.  Wallace  purchased  the  interest  of  his  individual  partner,  Mr. 
Simp.son,  and  with  two  of  his  sons  formed  the  new  company  of  R. 
Wallace  &  Sons  Manufacturing  Company,  one  third  of  the  stock  being 
held  by  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company.  The  factory  had  now  added 
a  long  list  of  articles  to  those  already  manufactured,  and  in  great  va- 
riety of  design — sterling  goods,  high  grade  nickel-silver  plated  ware, 
both  flat  and  hollow,  and  a  variety  of  novelties. 

But  there  was  still  another  advance  to  be  made.  Might  there  net 
be  found  a  less  bulky,  lighter,  but  firmer  and  more  elastic  basis  for 
silver  plated  ware.  What  of  steel?  And  after  patient  experiment 
Mr.  Wallace  made  it  work.  A  new  company  was  formed,  still  work- 
ing within  the  old,  of  himself,  his  sons  and  sons-in-law,  under  the  style 
of  Wallace  Brothers. 

The  factory  is  now  the  largest  in  the  world  devoted  to  the  manu- 
facture of  flat  table  ware.  In  all  its  departments  it  consumes  from  two 
and  a  half  to  three  tons  of  steel  per  day,  and  about  one  and  one-half 
tons  of  nickel  silver.  It  has  selling  houses  in  New  York  and  Chicago, 
and  is  never  idle  for  the  want  of  orders  to  fill.    The  officers  who  man- 


;■:% 


,^..  / 


r-s 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  451 

age  its  business  have  been  schooled  by  the  founder  of  the  great  in- 
dustry, and  are,  in  fact,  members  of  his  own  family. 

Mr.  Wallace  has  given  an  example  of  sterling  integrity,  business 
enterprise,  perseverance,  indomitable  will  and  keen  forethought  to  his 
townsmen,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  them.  He  has  a  warm,  gen- 
ial temperament,  that  may  flash  for  a  moment  into  vivid  pyrotechnics 
and  startle  the  workmen,  but  the  next  hour  be,  as  in  general,  velvety 
as  a  fresh  lawn.  The  appeals  for  charity  are  never  turned  aside.  His 
family  are  provided  with  sittings  in  church  and  urged  to  fulfill  zeal- 
ously the  duties  of  church  life  as  becoming  to  man  and  due  to  his 
Maker.  His  large,  well  furnished  home  on  Main  street,  Wallingford, 
is  always  open  to  his  friends,  and  he  is  happy  when  his  family  and 
they  are  happy. 

March  22d,  1839,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  Louisa  Moulthrop, 
of  North  Haven,  Conn.,  a  lady  singularly  suited  to  him  for  mutual 
companionship.  Previous  to  1879  he  lived  near  his  factor}',  but  in  that 
year  purchased  his  present  residence  on  Main  street,  and  there  Mrs. 
Wallace  died,  January  19th,  1884,  beloved  by  friend  and  neighbor. 
A  family  of  ten  children  have  been  born  to  them,  of  whom  eight  are 
living.  One  son  died  in  infancy,  and  another,  William  J.,  at  thirty 
years  of  age.  The  living  are  Mrs.  Adeline  Morris  and  Mrs.  Nettie  A. 
Leavenworth,  of  Wallingford  ;  Robert  B.  Wallace,  of  Brooklyn  : 
Hattie  E.  Wallace  and  Henry  L.  Wallace,  of  Wallingford  ;  Mrs.  Adela 
•C.  Sisson,  of  New  York  ;  George  ^L  Wallace,  of  Chicago,  and  Frank 
A.  Wallace,  of  Wallingford. 

Dwight  Williams  died  in  1874,  aged  45  j'ears.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  for  two  years  prior  to  his  death  was  postmaster  at  East  Walling- 
ford, and  since  his  death  Mrs.  Williams  has  held  the  office.  Mr.Will- 
iams  married  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Captain  Horace  Lamphere,  of 
Branford.  Their  children  are:  Julia  (Mrs.  D.  i\L  Foot),  L  Bessie  (Mrs. 
J.  E.  Beller),  Horace  S.,  Sarah  E.  (Mrs.W.  A.  Stevens),  Julius  D.,  Meta 
F.  (who  has  been  station  agent  at  East  Wallingford  since  August, 
1885),  and  Grace  W.  One  daughter,  Lizzie  A.,  died  the  same  week 
that  her  father  died. 

Newton  C.  Wooding,  son  of  David  A.  and  Flora  Wooding,  grand- 
son of  David,  and  great-grandson  of  John  Wooding,  was  born  in  1831. 
He  was  a  contractor  and  builder  from  1866  until  his  death.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Fenn  &  Wooding  until  1884.  when  Mr.  Fenn 
died.  Mr.Wooding  died  May  12th,  1891,  and  the  business  is  continued 
by  his  son.  Charles  F.  Wooding.  Newton  C.  Wooding  was  a  member 
of  Accanant  Lodge,  No.  71,  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  was  a  trustee  in  the 
Baptist  church  for  fifteen  3'ears.  He  married  Julia  Fenn.  Their 
•children  are:  John  N.,  Fannie  J.,  Nellie  E.,  Charles  F.,  Mary  E.  and 
Benjamin  H. 

Charles  D.  Yale  was  born  in  Meriden.  Conn..  April  23d,  1810. 
A  long,  honorable  and  successful  career  came  to  its  ending  March 


452  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

30th,  1890,  when  Mr.  Yale  departed  this  life.  He  was  widely  known, 
but  principally  in  the  two  states  of  Connecticut  and  Virginia,  where 
political  relations  brought  him  into  public  notice  and  acquaintance 
with  many  leading  minds.  When  he  died  a  nature  of  no  ordinary 
quality  ceased  its  activities.  The  grief  occasioned  by  this  sad  event 
was  general  and  profound. 

He  was  the  son  of  Charles  Yale,  a  pioneer  in  the  manufacture  of 
Britannia  and  tin  ware.  Several  men  who  at  this  writing  (1891)  are  of 
the  older  people  of  the  two  communities,  Wallingford  and  Meriden, 
■were  boys  then,  and  in  his  factory  learned  the  art  of  manufacturing 
Britannia  ware.  Soon  after  the  year  1810  this  pioneer  manufacturer 
purchased  the  old  mills  at  the  upper  falls  on  the  Quinnipiac  river, 
known  as  Tyler's  Mills.  He  remodelled  the  inner  construction  of 
the  old  mills,  and  repaired  them  for  the  manufacture  of  Britannia  and 
tin  ware,  and  changed  the  name  of  the  district  to  Yalesville,  a  well 
known  village  about  three  miles  south  of  the  city  of  Meriden.  Here 
Charles  D.,the  .son  of  Charles  Yale,  spent  the  early  part  of  his  boyhood 
days,  attending  school.  His  education  was  pur.sued  in  the  common 
school  and  academy  and  high  school. 

But  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen  years  it  was  deemed  best  that  he 
should  go  to  Richmond.Va.,  to  assist  in  the  management  of  his  father's 
business  in  that  city.  At  a  later  period  he  entered  business  on  his  own 
account  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  and  there  opened  a  store  for  general 
merchandise  and  the  sale  of  a  variety  of  goods  of  his  own  manufac- 
ture. Success  attended  his  efforts  from  the  .start.  In  the  year  1860  he 
had  built  and  occupied  one  of  the  largest  warehouses  in  that  city. 
When  the  war  commenced  ]Mr.  Yale  had  amassed  a  competence,  and 
in  an  eminent  degree  he  possessed  the  confidence,  respect  and  esteem 
of  his  fellow  citizens  for  his  integrity  of  character,  rare  intelligence 
and  fine  business  ability.  He  continued  his  residence  in  Richmond 
during  the  terrible  struggle  of  the  war,  the  close  of  which  found  him 
prepared  to  promptly  resume  active  business  again  in  his  store.  He 
was  a  prominent  business  man  in  the  city  and  in  the  state. 

And  now,  in  the  events  succeeding  at  the  close  of  the  war,  in 
which  Mr.  Yale  was  a  prominent  actor,  we  can  see  quite  distinctly  his 
individuality.  He  became  a  member  of  the  council  of  the  city  of 
Richmond,  and  as  both  his  nature  and  cultured  manhood  were  appar- 
ent he  was  put  forward  and  counselled  with  for  the  best  interest  of  the 
city  and  state.  Besides,  by  birth  and  general  makeup  he  was  suited 
to  those  mediations  needful  to  the  trying  times  of  reconstruction  in 
Virginia.  He  was  a  democrat  in  politics,  but  born  in  the  North,  and 
his  democracy  was  of  the  best  patriotic  type.  And  as  to  his  tempera- 
ment and  address,  he  was  eminently  a  leader  of  men,  and  a  peace- 
maker between  parties  at  variance.  He  was  such  a  man  as  all  parties 
want  on  their  side,  and  while  only  one  could  have  him,  others  seem  to 
think  scarcely  any  the  less  of  him   for   that.      He  was  as  broad  in 


I 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  453 

opinion  and  charity  and  as  genial  in  manner  as  he  was  engaging  in 
presence.  Hence,  he  was  one  of  the  men  placed  on  frequent  com- 
mittees mediating  between  Wa.shington  and  Virginia,  while  Virginia 
was  working  back  into  full  reconstruction  in  the  Union.  And  when 
leaders  in  political  life  in  Virginia  were  sharing  a  common  anxiety  for 
the  welfare  of  the  state,  lest  the  political  adventurers  who  were  plen- 
tiful in  those  days  should  get  control  of  the  government,  Mr.  Yale 
was  the  man  of  all  others  to  stand  on  the  steps  of  the  Capitol  in  Rich- 
mond, in  the  presence  of  a  great  multitude  of  citizens,  and  in  an  elo- 
quent, graceful  speech  introduce  Honorable  Gilbert  C.  Walker  as  a 
candidate  for  governor  of  the  state.  Mr.  Walker  was  not  only  nomi- 
nated, but  elected.  This  election  was  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  Vir- 
ginia, for  it  was  the  first  election  of  state  officers  by  the  people  of  the 
state  after  the  close  of  the  war.  The  reconstruction  of  Virginia  to 
complete  federal  relations  soon  followed  this  event,  and  was  in  direct 
consequence  of  it. 

Mr.  Yale  was  also  for  several  months,  by  appointment  of  Chief 
Justice  Chase,  foreman  of  the  grand  jur}-  of  the  United  States  District 
Court  of  Virginia.  He  was  also  treasurer  of  the  committee  in  behalf 
of  the  Peabody  fund  for  the  establishing  of  normal  schools  in  the 
city  of  Richmond,  and  to  him  much  credit  is  due  for  his  services  in 
the  establishment  of  the  public  school  system  of  Richmond. 

Mr.  Yale  lingered  in  Virginia  long  enough  to  see  the  old  state 
brought  back  into  the  Union.  Then  he  began  to  think  of  gathering 
together  a  part  of  his  property  and  returning  to  his  home  state  to  live 
among  his  early  friends  and  old  associations.  He  moved  to  Walling- 
ford.  Conn.,  in  1871.  There  he  found  business  relations.  The  silver 
plate  company  of  Simpson,  Hall,  Miller  &  Co.  had  been  organized. 
The  opportunity  was  given  Mr.  Yale  to  purchase  a  considerable 
amount  of  the  capital  stock  of  the  compan3%  and  he  did  so.  Mr.  Yale 
was  treasurer  of  the  company  from  1871  until  the  early  part  of  1887, 
when  he  retired  from  active  business  life.  His  two  sons,  Charles  B. 
Yale  and  G.  Selden  Yale,  had  charge  of  the  store  of  the  company  in 
New  York  city  until  the  latter  part  of  1886. 

Mr.  Yale  was  for  several  years  president  of  the  Silver  Plated  Ware 
Manufacturers'  Associations;  and  in  their  meeting  at  Meriden,  Conn., 
May  15th,  1890,  the  associations  expressed  their  regard  for  his  memory 
in  these  words: 

"  Voted:  That  the  Silver  Plated  Ware  Manufacturers"  Associations 
have  learned  with  regret  of  the  death  of  their  former  President, 
Hon.  Charles  D.  Yale  of  Wallingford,  Conn.,  and  that  they  recall 
with  pleasure  the  many  pleasant  characteristics  that  endeared  him 
to  all  members,  and  desire  to  record  their  high  appreciation  of  his 
character  as  an  associate  in  business  and  as  a  Christian  gentleman. 

"  Voted:  That  the  above  resolution  be  placed  on  the  minutes  and 
a  copy  thereof  sent  to  the  sons  of  the  deceased." 


454  HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

In  Wallingford  society  Mr.  Yale  distinguished  himself  as  he  had 
done  in  Richmond  society.  It  was  not  his  wealth  which  gave  him 
position,  but  his  noble,  attractive,  genial  manhood.  His  courtly 
affability  everywhere,  and  his  evident  breadth  and  practicalness  of 
idea,  made  him  known,  and  the  more  widely  he  was  known,  the  more 
widely  he  was  loved.  Nature  had  bestowed  upon  him  rich  gifts  of 
intellect,  as  of  soul,  language,  speech,  the  power  to  collocate  words  in 
elegant  sentences  to  clothe  ideas,  an  abundance  of  which  he  never 
lacked,  in  the  rich,  royal  garb  of  choice  rhetoric,  delightful  to  hear, — 
a  gift  he  possessed  in  unusual  degree.  Hence  he  could  make  a  speech 
of  the  finished,  eloquent  sort,  or  write  an  elegant  letter.  He  made  an 
admirable  presiding  officer  at  public  gatherings. 

In  the  town  politics  of  Wallingford,  Mr.  Yale  was  frequently  called 
out  to  serve  his  townsmen  in  office.  He  represented  them  in  the  gen- 
eral assembly  in  the  years  1874  and  1878.  He  also  represented  the 
Sixth  Senatorial  District  in  the  state  senate  in  the  years  1875,  1883 
and  1884.  He  was  chairman  of  important  committees  in  the  senate 
and  in  the  house.  In  1884  he  was  his  party's  candidate  for  president 
pro  tein.  of  the  senate.  Mr.  Yale  took  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
these  sessions,  in  shaping  legislation,  and  was  ever  ready  and  effective 
in  the  advocacy  and  debate  of  all  measures  he  deemed  essential  to 
the  welfare  of  the  people.  His  services — able  and  distinguished — in 
both  branches  of  the  state  legislature  received  the  most  cordial  appre- 
ciation of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Yale  was  a  religious  man,  and  constant  in  his  practice  of  reli- 
gious duties.  While  in  Richmond  he  was  a  member  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church.  In  Wallingford  he  united  with  the  First  Con- 
gregational church,  and  lived  his  faith  to  its  honor. 

"  Type  of  the  wise  who  soar  but  never  roain  ; 
True  to  the  kindred  points  of  Heaven  and  Home." 

Hence  he  was  a  gentleman  of  pure  and  strong  character.  Nothing 
would  hurt  him  more  than  to  have  his  honor  and  integrity  called 
in  question,  and  he  would  go  to  almost  any  length  to  vindicate 
them.  Three  things  he  loved  supremely — integrity,  truth,  righteous- 
ness. 

He  was  married  December  3d,  1834,  to  Miss  Mary  Culver,  formerly 
of  Wallingford,  then  of  Saratoga  county.  New  York.  Mrs.  Yale  died 
about  two  years  earlier  than  her  husband.  In  answer  to  a  letter  of 
sympathy  for  his  bereavement  from  a  friend,  he  wrote  as  follows:  "  I 
first  met  Mrs.  Yale  54  years  ago.  I  was  with  a  gay  young  party.  The 
first  words  of  her  that  ever  met  my  ears  were  words  of  reproof  to  one 
of  the  party  who  had  made  light  of  solemn  words.  Forty-nine  years 
she  and  I  walked  to  the  same  house  of  God  together,  sat  at  the  same 
communion  table  and   had  a  common  faith.     .She  has  been  to  me  an 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  455 

earnest  Christian  wife,  and  left  to  our  children  the  inheritance  of  an 
undeviating,  courageous  Christian  mother." 

Two  sons  were  born  to  them,  Charles  B.  Yale  and  G.  Selden  Yale. 
This  family  of  four  persons  were  unusually  devoted  to  each  other  and 
happy  in  their  family  life.  The  sons  delighted  to  minister  personally 
to  the  comfort  of  their  parents  in  their  declining  years,  and  now  the 
memory  of  both  their  father  and  mother  is  a  legacy  of  undying  worth 
to  both  the  sons. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


TOWN  AND  CITY. OF  MERIDEN. 


Location  and  Description.— Early  Settlement.— Ecclesiastical  Organization.—  Civil 
Organization.— Town  Officers.  — Town  Buildings.— South  Meriden.— East  Meriden. 
—The  City  of  Meriden.— Location  and  Surroundings.— Early  Growth.— Municipal 
Affairs.— Police  Department.— Street  Improvement.— Public  Parks.— Water  Depart- 
ment.— Fire  Department.— Gas  Light  Company.— Railway  Interests.— Manufactur- 
ing Interests.— Banking  and  Other  Monetary  Institutions.— General  Business  In- 
terests.— Inns  and  Hotels. — Post  Office. 


THE  town  of  Meriden  occupies  the  northeastern  section  of  the 
county,  being  bounded  on  the  south  by  Wallingford,  from 
which  it  was  set  off  as  a  separate  corporation  in  1806.  North 
and  east  are  the  counties  of  Hartford  and  Middlesex,  the  divi- 
sion lines  being  marked  by  the  Hanging  hills,  Mt.  Lamentation  and 
the  Totoket  hills.  Much  of  the  surface  presents  a  broken  aspect, 
some  parts  being  of  a  mountainous  nature.  In  other  parts  are  low- 
lands, separated  by  high  hills  of  a  sandstone  nature,  having  a  south- 
westerly trend.  Drainage  is  afforded  by  the  Quinnipiac  river  and 
affluent  brooks,  the  principal  one  being  Harbor  brook.  The  former 
breaks  through  a  trap  rock  hill,  two  miles  southwest  of  the  city  of 
Meriden,  taking  thence  a  direct  eastward  course  from  the  Farmington 
valley  to  South  Meriden,  from  which  place  it  flows  .south,  after  having 
taken  the  waters  of  Harbor  brook.  The  latter  flows  from  the  north- 
east, after  being  fed  by  a  branch  flowing  from  the  south  and  other 
smaller  streams  from  the  east. 

These  hills  and  streams  formed  natural  subdivisions  of  the  present 
town,  which  were  early  designated  by  the  names  of  Meriden,  Dog's 
Misery,  Pilgrim's  Harbor,  Falls  Plain,  etc. 

The  name  of  the  parish  and  of  the  town  was  taken  from  the  sec- 
tion which  was  located  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  what  is  now 
Meriden.  In  this  locality  grants  of  lands  had  been  made  by  the  gen- 
eral court  of  Connecticut  in  1661  and  the  following  year,  to  Jonathan 
Gilbert,  an  innkeeper,  of  Hartford,  and  Captain  Daniel  Clerke,  all  of 
which  soon  became  the  property  of  Gilbert.  From  the  latter  470  acres 
passed  to  Captain  Andrew  Belcher,  a  merchant  of  Boston,  Mass.,  who 
made  the  first  improvements  thereon,  some  time  about  1664.  These 
consisted  mainly  of  a  stone  house,  with  port  holes  in  the  walls  for 
defense  against  the  Indians,  who  might  be  led  to  attack  travelers 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  457 

passing  from  one  colony  to  another,  on  the  highway  (Old  Colony  roadj 
leading  through  this  tract.  On  condition  of  stocking  the  house  with 
arms  and  ammunition,  those  living  in  the  house  were  to  have  the 
privilege  of  keeping  "  tavern  forever."  This  tract  of  land  and  the 
stone  house  received  the  name  of  Meriden  from  the  native  place  of 
the  Belcher  family  in  Warwickshire,  England. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Belcher  tract  and  the  lands 
south  of  it  were  not  included  within  the  bounds  of  the  New  Haven 
village,  which  became  Wallingford  in  1670,  but  were  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Connecticut  colony,  with  no  connection  with  Walling- 
ford, on  the  south  (whose  north  bound  was  near  the  present  railway 
depot  at  Meriden),  or  with  the  old  town  of  Farmington  on  the  north. 
But,  in  a  general  way,  those  settling  upon  these  lands  inclined  toward 
the  church  and  society  of  Wallingford,  and  on  petition  to  that  corpor- 
ation were  admitted  to  its  privileges,  and  also  passed  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  town  of  Wallingford,  whose  jurisdiction  over  this  locality 
was  more  clearly  recognized  in  later  years. 

According  to  Doctor  Davis,  in  his  "  History  of  Wallingford."  the 
early  proprietors  in  this  section  were  the  Belcher's  Meriden  tract,  in 
the  extreme  north;  Nathaniel  Roys,  south  of  that  grant;  Henry  Coles, 
south  of  the  latter;  Bartholomew  Foster,  south  and  west  of  the  latter; 
and  south  and  east  the  300  acre  tract  of  John  Merriam,  purchased  in 
1716.  The  Foster  tract  contained  360  acres,  and  was  sold  by  the  Wal- 
lingford committee  in  1710.  Descendants  of  the  latter  two  still  live 
in  this  part  of  the  town.  The  inhabitants  of  this  section  increased, 
and  we  learn  from  their  petition  for  a  pound,  "  at  Meriden  or  Stone 
House,"  submitted  to  the  general  court  in  October,  1724,  that  there 
were  at  that  time  citizens  living  there  by  the  names  of  N.  Merriam,  N. 
Merriam,  Jr.,  William  Merriam,  Tim  Foster,  T.  Foster,  J.  Robinson, 
T.  Gerrum,  J.  Parsons,  Eleazer  Aspinwall,  J.  Merriam,  Jr.,  B.  Foster, 
T.  Andrews,  D.  Rich  and  J.  Scofel. 

"Pilgrim's  Harbor"  was  a  term  applied  to  the  section  of  country 
south  of  most  of  the  above  described  and  embracing  what  is  now  the 
principal  part  of  the  city  of  Meriden.  The  term  was  used  prior  to 
1661  in  a  letter*  in  which  this  part  of  the  country  is  designated  as 
"Pilgroomes  Harbour."  But  there  is  a  popular  tradition  that  the  name 
was  derived  from  the  fact  that  when  the  fugitive  regicide  judges,  Ed- 
ward Whalley  and  William  Goffe,  passed  through  here  on  their  way 
to  Hadley,  Mass.,  after  October  13th,  1664,  in  their  flight  from  Mil- 
ford  (where  they  had  been  secreted  two  years),  they  found  a  refuge  in 
the  dense  wildwood  of  these  swamp  lands.  Here  they  rested  several 
days,  securely  sheltered  or  harbored  from  possible  pursuit — pilgrims 
in  a  strange  land.  Thus  was  bestowed  the  name  "Pilgrim's  Harbor" 
to  the  locality,  and  the  stream  flowing  through  it  received  the  n.ime 
of  Pilgrim's  Harbor  brook,  or  more  frequently  Harbor  brook.  This 
*  Written  by  Daniel  Clarke.     See  Doctor  Davis,  p.  128. 


4/58  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

brook  was  made  passable  for  man  and  horse  as  earl}^  as  1G66,  by  Ed- 
ward Higby,  who  was  compensated  therefor  by  having  his  rates 
abated. 

While  the  lands  along  the  brook  and  the  swamps  adjacent  thereto 
were  valueless  for  agricultural  purposes,  they  were  much  sought  after 
on  account  of  being  "  hoop  growing  ground;"  and  allotments  of  two, 
three,  four  or  more  acres  were  made  as  early  as  1677  to  the  original 
proprietors  of  Wallingford.  This  of  course  had  the  effect  of  dispos- 
ing of  the  territory  without  developing  its  settlement.  The  lowlands 
along  the  south  branch  of  Harbor  brook  received  the  unpoetical  name 
of  "Dog's  Misery."  The  principal  part  of  this  section  was  south  of 
the  old  Middletown  turnpike,  and  extending  toward  the  head  of  the 
brook,  nearl}'  a  mile.  Here  the  swamp  was  originally  so  miry  and 
the  wildwood  so  tangled  and  dense  that  dogs  following  wild  animals, 
which  often  took  refuge  there,  were  killed  in  their  attempts  to  reach 
the  hidden  prey  in  this  jimgle;  hence  the  name.  This  land  has  been 
reclaimed  and  is  valuable  in  its  present  uses;  but  even  in  its  forbid- 
ding aspects,  two  hundred  years  ago,  it  was  so  much  esteemed  that 
the  town  (Wallingford)  was  eagerly  besought  to  make  allotments.  In 
1679  Nehemiah  Royce,  Nathaniel  Royce,  David  Hall,  Thomas  Hall, 
Isaac  Curtiss,  Nathaniel  How,  Daniel  Mix,  Joseph  Holt,  Thomas  Yale 
and  Isaac  Royce  becarhe  land  owners  in  this  locality;  in  1685  Walter 
Johnson,  on  "  long  hill  towards  Dog's  Misery;"  in  1683,  Daniel  Hooper; 
in  1713,  Jeremiah  Hull;  and  in  171n,  Jonathan  Atwater. 

Some  of  these  probably  settled  the  year  they  received  their  lands 
and  in  1677  a  public  watering  place  for  cattle  was  reserved  near 
Nathaniel  Royce 's  land,  which  was  afterward  claimed  by  him  as  his 
property.  In  1696  his  neighbors  so  strongly  protested  against  this 
claim  that  he  was  forced  to  surrender  his  right  to  the  watering  place, 
which  was  again  turned  to  the  use  of  the  public.  In  1724  the  whole 
number  of  families  at  "  Dog's  Misery  "  and  "  Pilgrim's  Harbor  "  was 
35,  most  of  whom  bore  the  names  of  those  above  given,  as  original 
landowners. 

The  "  Falls  Plain"  section  now  bears  the  name  of  South  Meriden. 
Grants  of  lands  in  that  .section  were  made  in  1077  to  Nehemiah  Royce 
and  Samuel  Royce,  and  in  1680  to  Samuel  Hough.  In  1689,  as  is  else- 
where related,*  a  village  was  projected  on  the  plain  below  the  falls, 
the  lots  in  the  same  being  assigned  to  the  proprietors  of  Wallingford 
by  casting  lots.  In  1694  John  Peck  was  granted  lands  in  the  same 
locality,  and  other  allotments  were  made  at  a  later  day.  East  of  this 
section  lands  were  allotted  to  Levi  Fowler  and  others  as  early  as  1676. 

In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  present  town,  called  the  "  Swamp  " 
or  "  Little  Plain,"  settlement  was  projected  by  the  town  of  Walling- 
ford as  early  as  December  16th,  1679.  The  same  year  allotments  were 
made  to  Samuel  Royce,  Goodman   Lewis,  Thomas  Yale  and  others 

*  See  account  of  South  Meriden. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  459 

After  the  country  was  cleared  up,  here  were  made  some  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  northern  part  of  the  old  town  and  the  locality  very  ap- 
propriately took  the  name  of  "  Farms  "  section  or  district. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1728,  the  inhabitants  living  in  the  above  sections 
petitioned  the  governor  and  the  general  court  to  be  established  as  a 
village  or  a  parish,  which  prayer  was  granted  and  the  new  parish 
called  Meriden.  The  new  society  flourished  and  having  a  successful 
ecclesiastical  government  soon  longed  for  its  own  civil  administration. 
This  privilege,  however,  was  not  granted  until  1806,  when  the  follow- 
ing were  reported  as  "  North  Farmers."  or  freemen  living  in  this 
section:  Benjamin  Ives,  Nathaniel  Merriman,  Benjamin  Whiting, 
Joseph  Coles.  Samuel  Ives,  Samuel  Cutler,  John  Ives,  Joseph  Merriam, 
Timothy  Merriam,  Michael  Mitchell,  William  Hough.  William  Mer- 
riam, John  Merriam,  John  Way,  Thomas  Andrews,  Robert  Roice, 
Isaac  Roice,  John  Merriam,  James  Scovill,  William  Andrews,  Jonathan 
Seymour,  Josiah  Roice,  Ebenezer  Prindle,  Thomas  Yale,  Israel  Hall, 
William  Coles,  Elick  Roberts,  Nathaniel  Roice.  Abell  Roice,  Ezekiel 
Roice.  Jacob  Parsons,  Ebenezer  Cooper,  Eleazer  Peck,  Nehemiah  May, 
Bartholomew  Foster,  Josiah  Robeson,  Samuel  Andrews.  Theophilus 
Mix.  Amos  Camp,  Timothy  Foster. 

In  181(1,  when  the  first  di.stinct  census  of  the  town  was  taken,  the 
population  was  1,249:  in  1830  it  was  only  1.708:  in  1840  but  1.880.  But 
from  this  time  on  the  population  increased  rapidly,  being  3,.559  in 
1850,  and  7,426  in  1860.  A  large  proportion  of  this  increase  was  in 
the  city  of  Meriden. 

The  town  of  Meriden  was  erected  by  an  act  of  the  general  assem- 
bly, pas.sed  in  1806  at  the  May  session,  which  authorized  the  division 
from  the  town  of  Wallingford,  and  provided  that  the  limits  should  be 
the  same  as  those  of  the  old  parish  of  Meriden.  A  petition  for  these 
corporate  privileges  had  been  placed  on  file  February  14th,  1804,  which 
was  signed  by  Phineas  Lyman  and  many  others,  who  urged  their  claims 
that  the  parish  had  more  than  one-third  of  the  population  and  a  like 
proportion  of  the  property  of  the  town  of  Wallingford,  and  should  be 
given  the  same  privileges  and  immunities  as  other  towns  in  the  state. 
These  claims  had  been  urged  on  previous  occasions,  and  for  more  than 
thirty  years  had  the  old  town  successfully  protested  against  the  dis- 
memberment of  its  territory.* 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  act  the  citizens  of  the  new  town  assem- 
bled at  the   Center  meeting  house.  Monday,  June  16th,  1806,  when 

*The  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Meriden  at  Belcher's  farm  petitioned  the 
general  assembly  to  be  annexed  to  the  town  of  Farmington,  in  Hartford  county. 
May  17th,  1773,  Wallingford  voted  to  appoint  an  agent  to  protest  against  the  me- 
morial. In  May,  1786,  the  parish  of  Meriden  petitioned  the  assembly  to  be  an- 
nexed to  the  county  of  Middlesex;  also  in  1794,  both  petitions  being  strentiously 
opposed  by  Wallingford.  A  petition  to  the  towTi  of  Wallingford.  asking  for  town 
privileges,  was  voted  down  in  September,  180.3,  by  the  parish  of  Wallingford, 
Meriden  parish  not  voting. 


460  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

George  W.  Stanley  moderated  and  the  following  officers  were  chosen: 
Selectmen,  Captain  Ezekiel  Rice,  Ambrose  Hough,  Stephen  Bailey; 
town  clerk,  Amos  White;  treasurer,  Samuel  Yale;  collector,  Abner 
Griswold;  constables,  Jared  Benham,  Eli  Barnes;  grand  jurors,  Enos 
Hall,  2d,  Giles  O.  Griswold,  Joseph  Hall;  surveyors  of  highways,  Sam- 
uel Yale,  Asahel  Yale,  Jehiel  Preston,  Harvey  Andrews,  Aaron  Mer- 
riman,  Benjamin  Merriman,  2d,  Levi  Hall;  fence  viewers,  Nathaniel 
Yale,  Stephen  Perkins,  Ensign  Hough;  listers  of  town,  Seth  D.  Plum, 
Titus  Ives,  Asahel  Merriman;  sealer  of  leather,  Captain  William  Olds; 
sealer  of  weights,  Samuel  Yale;  sealer  of  dry  measures,  Daniel  Yale; 
pound  keepers,  Nathaniel  Yale,  Levi  Foster,  Israel  Hall,  Elisha  Mer- 
riman. 

Captain  Ezekiel  Rice,  Ambrose  Hough,  Stephen  Bailey  and  Eli 
Barnes  were  appointed  a  committee  to  settle  and  adjust  all  business 
between  the  town  of  Wallingford  and  the  new  town,  and  September 
16th,  1806.  Brenton  Hall,  Esq..  was  appointed  the  agent  of  the  town 
in  the  matter  of  the  boundary  lines  between  the  two  towns. 

"  Voted,  to  levy  a  tax  of  five  mills  on  the  dollar  for  town  pur- 
poses." 

"  Voted,  that  geese  shall  not  be  suffered  to  run  at  large  on  the  high- 
ways, unless  they  are  well  yoked." 

At  subsequent  meetings  the  affairs  of  the  town  were  fully  consid- 
ered, and  the  necessary  rules  made  to  carry  them  on  in  a  business-like 
manner.  Action  in  regard  to  the  roads,  poor  farm  and  the  town  hall 
is  elsewhere  noted. 

Since  Meriden  became  a  town  the  following  have  been  the  agents 
or  first  selectmen,  and  the  years  in  which  they  served  follow  their 
names:  Ezekiel  Rice  and  John  Hall,  1806;  Theophilus  Hall,  1807; 
Marvel  Andrews,  1808-9;  Patrick  Clark,  1810-14;  Othniel  Ives,  1815- 
16;  Elisha  Curtis,  1817-18;  Asahel  Merriman,  1819-21;  Seth  D.  Plum, 
1822-5;  Moses  Baldwin,  1826-8;  Elisha  Curtis,  1829-31;  Orrin  Hall, 
1832;  Eli  C.  Birdsey,  1833;  Benjamin  Upson,  1834;  Calvin  Coe,  1865-6, 
1844,  1849;  Noah  Pomeroy,  1837,  1841-3;  Stephen  Atkins,  1838;  James 
S.  Brooks,  1839;  Moses  Andrews,  1840;  Levi  Yale,  1845-8,  1852-5;  Joel 
Miller,  1850-1;  Joel  I.  Butler,  1856;  Othniel  Ives,  1857-60,  1865-6; 
Humphrey  Lyon,  1861;  Bela  Carter,  1862-4;  S.  C.  Paddock,  1867;  George 
Gay,  1868-72;  Oliver  Rice,  1873;  E.  D.  Ca.stelow,  1874-7;  D.  S.  Will- 
iams, 1878-81;  George  W.  Miller,  1882;  C.  C.  Kinne,  1883-5;  H.  E. 
Hubbard,  1886;  Le  Grand  Bevins,  1887-90. 

The  town  clerks  elected  in  the  same  period  have  been  the  follow- 
ing: June,  1806,  Amos  White;  November,  1806,  Isaac  Lewis;  1823, 
Patrick  Lewis;  1826,  Amos  Curtis;  1830,  Patrick  Lewis;  February,  1834, 
Albert  R.  Potter;  October,  1834,  Eli  C.  Birdsey;  1843,  James  S.  Brooks; 
1844,  Joel  Miller;  1845,  Lyman  Butler;  1849,  Hiram  Hall;  1854,  Linus 
Birdsey;  1854,  John  Ives;  1857,  Russell  J.  Ives,  assistant;  1860,  Charles 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  461 

L.  Upham,  assistant;  1865,  Levi   E.   Coe;  1866,  John  N.  Bario;  1879, 
Selah  A.  Hull;  1886,  Herman  Hess. 

Meriden  became  a  separate  probate  district  in  June,  1836,  and  the 
first  court  was  held  August  20th,  that  year.  The  judges  of  the  district 
have  been  as  follows:  1836-44,  James  S.  Brooks;  1844-6,  Benajah 
Andrews:  1847,  Reverend  John  Parker;  1848-50,  Benajah  Andrews 
1851-2,  Hiram  Hall;  1852-7,  Orville  H.  Piatt;  1857-60,  Hiram  Foster: 
1860-6,  George  W.  Smith;  1867,  Levi  E.Coe;  1868-9,  George  W.  Smith 
1870-2,  E.  A.  Merriman;  1873,  George  W.  Smith;  1874-5,  E.  A.  Merri- 
man;  1876,  J.  T.  Pettee;  1877-82,  Emmerson  A.  Merriman;  1883-90, 
George  W.  Smith;  1891,  Wilbur  F.  Smith. 

The  project  of  building  a  town  hall  was  agitated  as  early  as  1840, 
but  a  dozen  j'ears  elapsed  before  decisive  action  was  taken.  The 
plans  for  a  hall,  prepared  by  Sidney  M.  Stone,  were  approved  Septem- 
ber 17th,  1853,  and  the  first  town  meeting  in  it  was  held  in  April,  1856. 
It  was  a  spacious  brick  edifice,  with  a  large  tin  covered  dome  in  its 
center.  In  this  a  clock  was  placed  in  1861.  When  the  site  for  this 
hall  was  selected  some  difficult}- was  experienced,  both  Meriden  Center 
and  West  Meriden  claiming  the  hall.  The  lot  on  which  it  stood  was 
finally  selected  as  a  compromise  site  and  the  building  was  put  up  by 
a  committee  composed  of  Levi  Yale,  Joel  Miller,  Ward  Coe,  John 
Parker,  Philo  Pratt  and  Eli  Butler.     The  cost  was  about  $30,000. 

The  hall  contained  the  town  offices  and  after  1879  the  city  offices. 
In  the  auditorium  were  held  the  general  assemblages  of  the  town.  In 
recent  years,  however,  owing  to  the  rapid  increase  of  population,  this 
hall  became  too  small  and  it  was  determined  to  enlarge  and  remodel 
the  old  hall. 

At  a  meeting  held  :SIarch  20th,  1889,  it  was  voted  to  expend  $60,000 
in  making  these  improvements  and  plans  were  solicited.  October  14th, 
1889,  the  draughts  for  improvement  submitted  by  Warren  R.  Briggs, 
of  Bridgeport,  were  approved  and  $10,000  more  appropriated,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  above  amount.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  proceed  to 
make  the  necessary  contracts  and  to  superintend  the  construction  of 
the  hall.  These  were  E.  B.  Manning,  chairman;  H.  E.  Hubbard,  John 
Ives,  Levi  E.  Coe,  Morris  O'Brien  and  the  the  board  of  .selectmen;  Le 
Grand  Bevins,  George  O.  Higby  and  George  W.  Aliller,  the  latter  as 
the  successor  of  John  Nagel,  selectman  in  1889.  In  December,  1889, 
the  contract  for  remodelling  the  building  was  awarded  to  D.  J.  Curtis, 
of  Springfield,  ^lass. 

The  plan  of  the  remodelled  town  hall  contemplated  a  large  and 
impo.sing  edifice,  to  be  as  near  as  possible  fire  proof,  three  stories  high 
and  relieved  by  attractive  towers.  The  material  of  the  outer  walls  is 
Philadelphia  pressed  brick,  with  New  England  brown  stone  trim- 
mings, arranged  after  a  pleasing  style  of  architecture. 

The  building  was  occupied  in  the  summer  of  1891  and  is  very  com- 
plete in  its  appointments,  being  one  of  the  best  arranged  municipal 


462  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY. 

buildings  in  the  state.  It  contains  town  and  city  offices,  and  rooms 
for  the  various  courts  of  Meriden.  Much  of  the  basement  is  used  by 
the  police  department,  which  is  here  provided  with  a  station  house, 
cells,  etc.  Access  is  afforded  to  the  latter  by  a  driveway  which  will 
permit  the  entrance  of  the  patrol  wagon.  The  grand  assembly  hall  is 
in  the  third  story  of  the  building,  and  contains  a  stage  60  feet  long, 
with  modern  scenic  arrangements.  This  room  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  state  and  will  serve  the  wants  of  the  town  for  many  years  to 
come. 

Meriden  has  a  neat  little  farm,  along  the  base  of  the  East  Peak,  near 
the  Cold  Spring,  on  which  is  an  almshouse,  where  are  kept  many  of 
the  town's  indigent  poor.  The  original  buildings  w"ere  erected  by 
■George  B.  Conklin,  some  time  after  1840,  for  a  popular  resort  and  a 
summer  hotel.  In  the  fall  of  1860  the  town  purchased  it  for  its  pres- 
ent purposes.  In  1868  the  farm  was  enlarged  by  four  acres,  bought  of 
the  Butler  estate.  The  buildings  have  been  improved  and  a  hospital 
has  been  erected.  In  1880  the  valuation  of  the  property,  with  its 
system  of  water  works,  was  §1 2,000.  The  inmates  of  the  almshouse 
are  supported  at  a  yearly  outlay  of  about  $5,000,  and  more  than 
$10,000  additional  is  expended  annually  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
outside  poor. 

South  Meriden. — In  the  early  settlement  of  Wallingford  this  place 
was  designated  as  "Falls  Plain,"  or  as  "the  head  of  the  plains" — a  name 
appropriate  in  every  respect,  for  here  the  level  lands,  stretching 
northward  along  the  Quinnipiac,  end,  and  the  hilly  country  of  the 
trap-rock  region  begins.  It  is  a  locality  of  great  natural  beauty,  and. 
in  connection  with  the  fine  water  power  available,  would  readily  sug- 
gest itself  as  a  natural  site  for  a  village.  These  advantages  were 
recognized  as  early  as  1689  by  the  town  of  Wallingford,  when  it  platted 
a  tract  of  land  into  .streets  and  blocks,  which  were  distributed  to  the 
planters  on  the  19th  of  February,  1690,  by  casting  lots  for  the  same. 
The  main  street  of  this  projected  village  was  nearly  coincident  with 
the  course  of  the  present  north  and  south  street,  in  the  western  part 
of  South  Meriden,  except  that  it  ran  up  to  the  river.  On  the  west  side 
the  lots  extended  to  the  hills  and  on  the  east  to  the  river.  The  65 
lots  of  this  embryo  village  were  drawn  by  numbers,  each  planter  re- 
ceiving the  lot  indicated  by  the  numerals  set  opposite  his  name  in  the 
following  list,  which  shows,  also,  who  were  the  leading  citizens  of 
Wallingford  at  that  period:  "  Mr.  Street,  49;  Lieut.  Merriman,  24;  Mr. 
Mosse,  12;  Ens.  Yaile,  11;  Mr.  Brockett,  44;  Dr.  Hulls,  52;  Ens.  An- 
drewys,  4;  Seirant  Doolittle,  62;  —  Preston,  20;  Nathaniel  Royse,  40; 
Samll  Royse,  33;  Samll  Hull,  03;  John  Ives,  39;  Samll  Doolittle,  51; 
Daniel  Mix,  59;  Joseph  Doolittle,  42;  Eben  Lewis,  48;  Joseph  Houlte, 
61;  John  Doolittle,  37;  Joseph  Benham,  Jun.,25;  Eleazer  Peck,  19;  John 
Merriman,  58;  John  Parker,  01;  John  Hall,  senr,  60;  Samll  Cook,  senr, 
.28;  Tho  Curtis,  58;  Tho  Hall,  30;   David   Hall,  65;  Joshua  Culver,  32; 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  463 

Nathaniel  How,  09;  Samll  Brockett,  55;  Roger  Tyler,  38;  Samll  Thorp, 
06;  John  Hitchcok,  02;  Samll  Merriman,  53;  Abraham  Doolittle,  13; 
Samll  Browne,  29;  Ebenezer  Clark,  18;  Samll  Street,  07;  Samll  An- 
drews, Jun.,  57;  Simon  Tuttle,  14;  Benjamin  Houlte,  10;  Edward  Fen, 
08:  John  Morse,  26;  Hennery  Cook,  31:  Joseph  Beenham,  sen.  63;  Samll 
Street,  35;  Nathan  Andrewes,  16;  John  Peck,  50;  Jeremiah  Howe,  17; 
Samll  Cook,  jun.  15;  Joseph  Thomson,  21;  Hugh  Chappel,  22;  James 
Westwood,  05;  Wm.  Cole,  23;  John  Beach,  64;  Tho  Beach,  54;  Joseph 
Royse,  47;  Rush  Lothrop,  43;  William  Ebernath,  46;  Samll  Munson, 
41;  Walter  Johnson,  36;  John  Atwater,  34;  Isak  Beach,  45;  Nehemiah 
Royse,  27." 

For  some  cause  which  has  not  been  recorded  the  village  was  never 
built  up,  and  this  section  was,  for  more  than  a  century,  given  over  to 
farm  pursuits.  Nehemiah  and  Samuel  Royce  received  grants  of 
lands  here  as  early  as  1677,  and  in  1680  a  grant  of  an  adjoining  tract 
was  made  to  Samuel  Hough.  Later,  John  Peck  received  a  tract  of 
land  along  the  river,  farther  south  ;  and  these  and  their  descendants 
were  the  citizens  of  this  section  until  the  interests  of  the  present 
century  were  developed,  mainly  by  the  manufactories  here  estab- 
lished. 

Aside  from  some  minor  use  of  the  water  power,  the  first  interest 
of  importance  was  the  manufacturing  business  of  Deacon  N.  C.  San- 
ford  &  Co.,  sometimes  called  the  Hanover  Company.  This  was  organ- 
ized in  the  fall  of  1826,  and  the  following  summer  the  manufacture  of 
augers  was  commenced,  near  where  are  now  the  Bradley  &  Hubbard 
shops,  at  Meriden.  Not  having  .sufficient  water  power  at  that  place, 
the  company  purchased  the  water  privilege  and  lands  along  the  Ouin- 
nipiac  at  the  Falls  Plain  bridge,  in  order  to  establish  a  new  plant. 
Work  upon  this  was  commenced  April  23d,  1832,  and  as  the  locality 
had  no  particular  name,  that  of  Hanover  was  finally  selected  by  the 
firm.  At  the  raising  of  the  company's  boarding  house,  June  6th. 
1832,  this  name  was  announced  to  the  assembled  populace  by  Doctor 
Hough.  The  hamlet  which  sprung  up  retained  the  name  of  Hanover 
until  within  the  past  ten  years,  when,  on  account  of  the  suburban 
relation  to  the  city  of  Meriden,  only  a  little  more  than  a  mile  distant, 
and  the  overshadowing  importance  of  that  place,  the  name  of  South 
Meriden  was  adopted,  and  has  become  fixed  in  the  post  office  here 
established. 

The  industry  of  Sanford  &  Co.  and  later  of  Sanford,  Parmalee  & 
Co.,  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  angers,  bits,  skates  and  small  goods 
of  steel,  gave  employment  to  about  fifty  men,  and  the  enterprise  at 
that  time  begun  has  been  continued  in  that  part  of  the  county,  a  new 
plant  being  later  established  lower  down  the  river. 

In  1845  the  manufacture  of  table  cutlery  was  begun  at  Hanover 
by  the  firm  of  Pratt,  Ropes,  Webb  &  Co.,  the  active  mauager  being 
D.  N.  Ropes.     This  firm  was  the  union  of  interests  carried  on  in  other 


464  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

localities,  ten  years  earlier,  and  the  experience  brought  to  the  new 
plant  insured  success.  Soon  75  men  were  employed.  In  1855  the  bus- 
iness of  the  firm  passed  to  the  Meriden  Cutlery  Compan}-,  which  be- 
came a  corporation  July  10th  of  that  year.  The  industry  was  soon  ex- 
panded. The  water  power  was  further  improved,  a  splendid  stone  dam 
in  the  shape  of  a  horse  shoe  being  built  across  the  stream.  The  build- 
ings have  been  increased  from  time  to  time  until  four  acres  are  covered. 
The  main  works  are  four  stories  high  and  several  hundred  feet  long, 
and  the  other  buildings  are  convenient  for  their  uses.  Water  continues 
to  be  the  exclusive  power.  The  fine  dam  on  the  Oumnipiac  forms  a 
large  and  beautiful  sheet  of  limpid  water,  which  is  locally  known  by  the 
name  of  South  Meriden  lake.  It  yields  about  200  horse  power.  The 
natural  advantages  of  this  plant  are  among  the  best  in  the  state,  and 
the  cutlery  company  has  continued  to  be  the  principal  interest  in  the 
village.  The  works  of  .Sanford  &  Co.  were  transferred  to  Yalesville 
station,  and  other  industries  in  the  locality,  such  as  comb,  button  and 
scale  making,  have  passed  away,  after  a  short  existence. 

The  products  of  the  Meriden  Cutlery  Company,  although  very 
varied,  are  of  a  superior  quality,  embracing  hundreds  of  styles  of  table 
cutlery,  mani:factured  out  of  the  best  steel.  Here  steel  knives  were 
first  successfully  electro-plated,  and  the  company  has  since  kept  its 
wares  in  the  front  rank  of  cutlery  manufactures.  Fine  carving  sets 
are  made  a  specialty,  and  many  elegant  designs  are  produced. 

In  1890  the  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  $400,000,  and  its  prin- 
cipal officers  were:  A.  L.  Collins,  president;  H.  A.  Curtiss,  secretary; 
George  M.  Howell,  treasurer;  Edwin  Cady,  superintendent. 

Outside  of  the  works  proper,  the  cutlery  company  has  built  up  the 
village,  putting  up  tenements  for  more  than  60  families.  In  1890  the 
entire  real  estate  was  valued  at  $132,950.  Some  of  the  original  build- 
ings have  been  improved  by  private  owners,  and  on  additions  to  the 
village  plat  some  fine  residences  have  been  erected.  In  1890  South 
Meriden  had  a  population  of  about  1,000  and  the  usual  interests  of  a 
thriving  village. 

At  a  stand  where  Hensel  Rice  formerly  merchandised  E.  B.  Clark 
has  been  in  trade  since  1864,  and  is  also  the  postmaster  of  the  South 
Meriden  office,  which  has  daily  mails  to  Meriden,  communicating  by 
stage  lines.  Several  public  houses  offer  entertainment;  the  Lawn 
Hotel  of  John  Cassidy,  on  the  lake,  being  an  attractive  re.sort.  There 
is  a  public  hall  and  a  neat  room  for  the  meeting  of  Hanover  Lodge  of 
Odd  Fellows.  A  village  improvement  society  was  organized  in  1887, 
and  the  place  is  yearly  being  beautified. 

The  Third  Congregational  Church  in  Meriden,  also  called  the  Han- 
over Congregational  Church,  was  organized  February  13th,  1853,  of 
25  members,  who  were  dismissed  from  the  Meriden  church  to  form 
this  new  body.  Previous  to  this  a  chapel  had  been  erected,  mainly 
through  the  efforts  of  Walter  Webb  and  Deacon  N.  C.  Sanford,  Ezekiel 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  465 

Hall,  Reuben  Waterman,  L.  Griswold  and  a  few  others,  which  the 
congregation  occupied  as  a  place  of  worship.  It  is  a  frame  building, 
with  several  hundred  sittings.  In  the  past  few  years  it  has  been  little 
used,  the  society  no  longer  maintaining  regular  worship. 

In  December.  ISoB,  Reverend  James  A.  Clark  became  the  first 
pastor,  serving  until  April,  18.^5.  Reverend  Jacob  Eaton  was  next 
inducted  into  the  pastorate.  May  18th,  1857,  and  continued  until  1801, 
when  he  left  to  become  the  chaplain  of  the  7th  Connecticut  Regiment. 
Soon  after  his  accession  a  revival  of  remarkable  power  took  place, 
which  continued  until  32  members  were  added  to  the  congregation. 
The  pulpit  of  the  church  was  filled  by  supplies  until  the  fall  of  1870, 
when  J.  Howe  Voice  was  installed  pastor  and  served  until  April  3d, 
1873.  The  New  Haven  East  As.sociation,  to  which  the  church  belongs, 
now  supplied  the  pulpit,  those  servingayear  or  more  being  recognized 
as  "acting  pastors."  That  relation  was  sustained  in  1876-7,  by  E.  B. 
Crane;  in  1880,  by  M.  C.  Wood;  in  1882,  by  J.  G.  Griswold.  In  the 
past  few  years  there  has  been  but  little  preaching  on  account  of 
diminished  membership.  Elias  Sanford  and  B.  C.  Eastman  were  the 
last  deacons;  and  Daniel  H.  Willard,  the  treasurer  and  .superintendent 
of  the  last  Sunday  school. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  South  Meriden  was  organized 
in  1851.  A  few  Methodist  members  met  for  occasional  worship  in  the 
village  as  early  as  1839,  the  meetings  being  held  in  the  school  hou.se. 
March  12th,  1851,  the  first  organized  effort  was  made  to  establish  a 
church.  On  that  day  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Evans, 
when  it  was  determined  to  form  an  ecclesiastical  society  to  be  called 
the  "  M.  E.  Society  of  the  Hanover  District."  John  D.  Parmalee  was 
chosen  chairman  and  John  Evans,  secretary.  John  Davidson,  Roger 
Smith  and  Luman  A.  Atkins  were  appointed  a  building  committee  of 
the  "  Methodist  Preaching  House,"  which  it  was  decided  to  erect.  In 
the  fall  of  the  year  this  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $1,333.  It  was  a 
two-story  building,  the  lower  part  being  a  tenement,  the  upper  story 
a  hall  and  preaching  place.  For  a  period  of  more  than  twent}'  years 
this  was  used,  the  preachers  being  Reverend  John  Parker,  of  Meriden, 
and  students  from  Middletown.  In  1871  Reverend  William  W.  Hurd 
was  appointed  as  a  regular  minister  and  the  same  year  the  present 
church  edifice  was  begun,  being  completed  the  following  summer,  at 
a  cost  of  more  than  $9,000.  Of  this  amount  George  Bristol  contributed 
$2,000,  John  Evans  §1,000,  Charles  Parker  $400.  and  the  balance  was 
raised  by  the  society  and  its  friends.  The  church  was  dedicated  Sep- 
tember 25th,  1872,  by  Reverend  C.  N.  Foss. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Doctor  H.  A.  Archer,  who  became  a  member 
of  the  church  in  1888,  the  enlargement  of  the  house  of  worship  was 
begun  under  the  direction  of  a  committee  composed  of  the  pastor. 
Doctor  H.  A.  Archer,  Silas  Bradley,  Frank  Rollins,  C.  A.  Hollister, 
William  Baker  and  E.  B.  Clark.  A  lecture  room  was  built  in  the  rear 
29 


466  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

of  the  church,  which  was  also  renovated,  and  it  was  dedicated  March 
loth,  1889,  free  of  debt.  The  church  is  now  commodious  and  attrac- 
tive, being-  alike  creditable  to  the  society  and  the  community.  Its 
value  and  that  of  the  pansonage  is  about  $14,000.  There  are  50  mem- 
bers and  a  vSunday  school  of  170  members. 

The  pastors  of  the  church  have  been,  since  the  Reverend  Hurd,  as 
follows:  1874-6,  Otis  J.  Range;  1877-S,  .student  supplies;  1879-80,  Rev- 
erend A.  H.  Alead;  1881,  R.  S.  Eldridge;  1882,  A.  V.  R.  Abbott;  1888, 
A.  M.  Northrop  (He  freed  the  church  from  a  $2,000  debt,  Mrs.  John 
Evans  donating  $1,000.,  In  September,  1888,  he  died  and  the  pulpit 
was  supplied  by  Reverend  J.  G.  Griswold;  of  Meriden);  1884-6,  W.  F. 
Markwick,  who  in  April,  18S5,  moved  to  South  Meriden,  and  became 
the  first  resident  pastor,  serving,  also.  Trinity  church  at  Meriden; 
1887,  T.  W.  Maynard;  1888-9,  W.  M.  Warden;  1890,  G.  W.  Phillips. 
William  Baker  is  the  treasurer  of  the  society;  and  J.  W.  Bennett, 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 

The  Church  of  the  Holy  Angels  (Roman  Catholic)  was  built  in  1887, 
as  a  mission  of  St.  Rose  of  Lima,  of  Meriden,  which  had  maintained 
Catholic  services  at  South  Meriden,  several  years  previous.  The  cor- 
ner stone  was  laid  April  3d,  1887.  It  is  an  attractive  gothic  chapel, 
30  by  60  feet,  and  has  fine  stained  glass  windows.  On  the  same  lot  a 
large  modern  .style  parsonage  was  erected  in  1888,  and  the  combined 
value  of  the  property  is  $15,000.  The  corporation  is  composed  of  the 
resident  priest.  John  Fay  and  Thomas  McLaughlin. 

The  parish  of  South  Meriden  (including  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Angels,  Yalesville  and  the  mission  of  Cheshire)  was  established  Jan- 
Bary  10th,  1888,  when  R.  F.  Moore,  A.  M.,  was  settled  over  it  as  the 
first  priest.  At  that  time  the  membership  at  South  Meriden  was  in- 
cluded in  .57  families.  This  has  since  been  increased  to  65  families 
and  the  influence  of  the  parish  has  grown  proportionately. 

Connected  with  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Angels  are  a  Sunday 
school,  having  95  members;  a  Guild  with  45  members;  and  a  Rosary 
Society  of  60  members. 

East  Merhjen  is  the  name  applied  to  the  hamlet  and  locality, 
along  the  Middletown  turnpike,  two  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Meriden. 
Here  are  some  of  the  oldest  homesteads  in  the  town  and  a  number 
of  residences  of  more  modern  appearance,  sheltering  several  hundred 
inhabitants.  There  are  also  a  Baptist  chapel,  built  in  1886,  and  the 
spoon  works  of  the  Charles  Parker  Company.  The  latter  embrace 
several  large  shops  of  stone  and  brick,  in  which  is  carried  on  the  only 
industry  of  the  place.  All  other  interests  sustain  a  suburban  relation 
to  the  cit}-. 

Formerly  there  were  a  number  of  small  industries  at  this  place, 
some  of  which  were  carried  on  by  the  water  power  afforded  by  a  long 
race  way,  from  a  dam  in  the  mountain  gap,  which  has  been  superseded 
by  steam,  at  Parker's,  and  the  small  shops  have  passed  away.     Among 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  467 

these  were  the  tin  shops  of  Noah  Pomeroy  and  his  sons,  begun  in 
1818  and  continued  many  years;  the  shops  of  Samuel  Cook  and  the 
Britannia  shops  of  Isaac  C.  Lewis  and  his  associates,  George  Cowles, 
Lemuel  J.  Curtis  and  Daniel  B.  Wells. 

For  many  years  this  locality  bore  the  name  of  Bangall,  a  title 
which  was  suggested  by  an  incident  which  occurred  at  the  popular 
public  house  of  Captain  Benjamin  Hall.  A  large  party  had  a  hilarious 
time,  continued  far  into  the  night,  in  which,  as  the  landlord  expressed 
it,  "  they  banged  all  creation."  From  his  house,  the  place  of  "  Bangall," 
the  name  was  derived. 

The  City  of  Meriden  is  located  north  of  the  central  part  of  the 
town,  and  is  mainly  in  the  valley  of  Harbor  brook'.  It  is  about  18 
miles  north  of  New  Haven  and  near  the  same  di.stance  south  of  Hart- 
ford. From  Waterbury,  by  way  of  the  Connecticut  River  railway,  it 
is  14  miles;  and  less  than  that  distance  from  Middletown.  The  area 
comprised  within  the  city  limits  is  large  and  presents  a  varied  surface 
of  bills  and  lowlands,  being  admirably  adapted  for  the  manifold  uses 
of  business  and  for  residence  purposes.  Many  beautiful  homes  crown 
the  heights  of  the  principal  hills,  and  upon  one  is  the  handsome  vState 
Reform  School,  embracing  a  dozen  buildings.  On  the  lowlands  and 
hillsides  are  huge  shops  and  factories,  Meriden  being  one  of  the  lead- 
ing manufacturing  centers  of  New  England,  and  by  reason  of  its  prod- 
ucts is  not  inappropriately  styled  the  "Silver  City"  of  the  Union. 
The  public  buildings  are  numerous,  embracing  an  elegant  new  town 
hall,  one  of  the  finest  hotels  in  the  state,  costly  and  attractive  churches 
and  a  handsome  high  school  building.  The  business  houses  are 
large  and  on  every  hand  may  be  seen  the  evidences  of  an  active,  thrifty 
population,  who  have  reared  homes  of  comfort  and  plenty  and  sur- 
rounded them  with  all  the  best  features  of  a  progressive  American 
city. 

The  scenic  attractions  of  Meriden  are  said  to  be  the  finest  in  the 
state.  It  is  nearly  .surrounded  by  mountains  and  hills  of  the  trap-rock 
formation,  some  of  them  affording  specimens  of  volcanic  action,  which 
have  attracted  the  attention  of  many  scientists.  On  every  hand  are 
varied  and  beautiful  aspects,  but  those  afforded  by  the  Hanging  hills 
and  Mt.  Lamentation  are  to  an  unusual  degree  impressive.  Concern- 
ing the  former  and  their  relation  to  Meriden  and  the  surrounding 
country.  Reverend  J.  T.  Pettee  has  given  the  following  beautiful  de- 
scription in  his  poem,  "  West  Peak,"  a  part  of  which  is  here  given. 
He  says:  "  West  Peak  is  the  name  which  we,  Meridenites,  give  to  the 
most  westerly  of  our  'Hanging  Hills.'  It  is,  by  Prof.  Guyot's  survey, 
995  feet  above  the  waters  of  the  vSound,  and,  though  far  from  being 
the  highest  mountain  in  the  State  (Mt.  Brace  in  Salisbury  being  2.225 
feet  high),  is,  by  considerable,  the  highest  of  the  trap  dikes  of  the 
Connecticut  Valley.  Geologists  are  agreed,  I  believe,  in  thinking  that 
the  valley,  which  stretches  from  Hartford  to  New  Haven,  was  once 


468  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

an  estuary  or  arm  of  the  sea,  and  Percival,  the  distinguished  geologist 
of  Connecticut,  was  the  first  to  show  how,  by  the  eruption  of  the  trap 
across  the  valley  in  JNIeriden,  the  Connecticut  River  was  made  to 
change  its  course,  and  empty  at  Saybrook  mstead  of  New  Haven.  By 
a  poetic  license  which,  I  think,  perfectly  pardonable,  I  have  taken  a 
part  for  the  whole,  and  spoken  of  West  Peak  as  being  formed  under 
the  ocean." 

"  For  ages,  when  the  world  was  young, 
I  slept  upon  my  lava-bed, 
While  sandstones  formed,  and  oceans  sung 
Their  solemn  anthems  o'er  my  htead. 

"  Ages  on  ages  rolled  away, 

The  wrinkled  earth  itself  grew  old ; 
And  still  upon  my  bed  I  lay. 

Oppressed  by  weight  and  years  untold. 

"  The  ocean  still  above  me  rolled, 

• 

The  sandstone  strata  thicker  grew ; 
I  lay  and  groaned  beneath  the  Old, 

Crushed  and  encumbered  by  the  New. 

"  Then  in  a  glad  auspicious  hotir. 

Which  made  my  rocky  heart  rejoice, 
I  felt  a  resurrection  power — 
I  heard  a  resurrection  voice. 

"  It  said  '  O  mountain,  'wake,  arise  ; 

Throw  off  the  sandstone  from  thy  breast ; 
Roll  back  the  seas,  and  'neath  the  skies 
Show  the  bold  frontage  of  thy  crest.' 

"  I  woke  as  from  a  troubled  dream ; 

Threw  off  the  weight  by  powerjdivine  ; 
Rose  to  the  sun's  refulgent  beam, 

And  stellar  orbs  that  round  me  shine. 

"  The  frighted  waters  sought  the  sea; 
The  rifted  sandstone  opened  wide, 
And  I,  aglow  with  light  of  day. 
Rejoiced,  a  Mountain  in  my  pride. 

"  Nor  I  alone  :  On  every  hand 

Around  me  peak  like  mountains  stand, 
Which  heard  the  voice,  and  felt  the  power, 
That  raised  me  in  my  natal  hour. 

"  South  Mountain,  Cat  Hole,  by  my  side. 
Almost  as  bold  and  steep  as  I, 
Majestic  in  their  mountain  pride. 
Point  their  tall  turrets  to  the  sky. 

"  High  Rock  and  Rattlesnake  arise ;  • 

Newgate  and  Talcott  farther  on  ; 
And  resting  on  the  northern  skies, 
Proud  peaks  of  Holyoke  and  Mt.  Tom. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  469 

"  Northeast  Mt.  Lamentation  stands, 
Higby  and  Besec,  Middletown, 
To  Durham  ranges  stretch  their  hands, 
Where  Tremont  towereth  all  their  own. 

"  Totoket  rises  farther  down  ; 
And  Pistapaug  and  Saltonstall 
Raise  to  the  skies  their  walls  of  stone, 
Their  mural  castles  gaunt  and  tall. 

"  Near  on  my  south  Mt.  Carmel  lies, 
A  giant  slumbering  in  his  might ; 
East  Rock  and  West  Rock  kiss  the  skies. 
And  Whitney  Peak  delights  the  sight. 

"  While  on  my  West,  in  peaks  less  bold. 
The  same  Plutonian  power  is  seen, 
Trappean  dikes  of  lava  cold. 
And  sandstone  tilted  thrown  between. 

"  These  lesser  heights,  whose  waving  lines 
Such  beauty  to  the  landscape  give. 
Tell  of  the  old  Triassic  times, 

And  to  my  tale  their  witness  give. 

"  The  voice  which  called  me  from  the  deep 
These  trappean  mountains  all  did  hear, 
And  rose  with  me  from  nature's  sleep, 
And  stand,  as  I  stand,  proudly  here. 

"  And  now  for  long  telluric  years, 
I've  stood  a  sentry  o'er  the  land, 
And  watched  with  varying  hopes  and  fears. 
The  changes  of  Time's  mighty  hand. 

"  I  saw  the  glacier  in  his  might 

Sweep  from  the  north,  a  frozen  sea. 
Ice  piled  on  ice  to  mountain  height. 
Moving,  methought,  resistlessly. 

"  I  felt  his  cruel  ice-bound  teeth 

Plough  in  my  flanks,  as  on  his  way. 
He  ground  and  crushed  my  rocks  beneath ; 
I  show  the  furrows  to  this  day. 

******* 

"  I've  seen  the  change  by  centuries  wrought 
Engraved  in  Progress'  deepest  lines ; 
To  us  with  greater  interest  fraught 
Than  those  of  old  Triassic  times. 

"  I've  seen  the  wilderness  subdued. 
Fair  villages  and  towns  arise  ; 
Cities  with  energy  imbued. 
And  art  and  skill  and  bold  emprise. 

"  A  hundred  such  around  me  rise  ; 

I  see  them  from  my  mountain  height ; 
Their  gilded  domes  and  cloud  capped  spires 
Lend  fair  enchantment  to  the  sight. 


470  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

••  Their  business  gongs  salute  my  ear, 
Their  tlirobbing  engines  jar  my  crest ; 
Their  mighty  industries  appear, 

Which  meet  no  check,  and  know  no  rest. 

•■  Of  all  the  towns  that  round  me  rise. 
Of  all  the  cities  that  I  greet. 
There's  none  seems  fairer  to  my  eyes 
Than  that  which  slumbers  at  my  feet. 

' '  Fair  city  of  the  Silver  Art, 

Still  slumber  in  thy  quiet  vale  ; 
With  rocky  fastnesses  begirt. 
May  naught  against  thy  peace  prevail. 

"  Long  will  I  guard  thy  schools  and  homes, 
And  hold  thy  precious  interests  fast, 
Watching  thy  good  for  years  to  come. 
As  I  have  watched  it  in  the  past." 

Near  the  summit  of  West  Peak  and  several  miles  distant  from  the 
city,  Percival  Park  has  been  projected  as  a  summer  resort,  and  easy 
roads  to  the  same  were  constructed  in  the  fall  of  1889.  In  other  direc- 
tions among'  these  hills  are  attractive  drives,  among  woodlands,  along 
streams,  which  afford  vistas  of  most  entrancing  nature.  Especially  is 
the  drive  through  Cat  Hole  pass,  between  the  East  and  Middle  hills, 
invested  with  peculiar  charms.  This  pass  is  about  a  mile  long  and 
very  narrow  in  some  parts,  the  rocks  on  either  hand  rising  to  almost 
perpendicular  heights.  Several  of  the  rocks  are  so  strongly  marked  as 
to  bear  some  resemblance  to  profiles  of  Washington  and  other  char- 
acters. In  this  gorge  ice  remains  almost  the  entire  year,  and  from 
the  lower  part  issues  "Cold  Spring." 

Less  rugged,  but  also  very  attractive  as  mountain  scenery,  are  the 
high  lands  on  the  east,  of  which  Mt.  Lamentation'--"  is  the  principal 
object. 

These  beautiful  environments  conduce  also  to  the  healthfulness  of 
the  city,  whose  death  rate  is  one  of  the  lowest  in  the  state,  being  but 
thirteen  for  every  thousand  of  population. 

The  beginning  of  the  city  was  nearly  one  mile  east  of  the  present 
center  of  business,  on  which  is  now  Broad  street,f  which  was  then 
called  Meriden  Center.  Its  progress  from  the  time  of  the  revolution 
until  1840  was  slow  and,  in  the  main,  uneventful.  At  the  latter  time 
there  were  three  churches,  half  a  dozen  stores,  several  public  houses, 
a  dozen  small  shops  and  about  sixty  residences,  chiefly  on  Market  and 
Colony  streets.  The  principal  families  bore  the  names  of  Andrews, 
Austin,  Booth,  Butler,  Benham,  Barnes,  Bailey,  Brooks,  Cowles,  Curtis, 

*  This  was  so  called  on  account  of  the  wailing  or  lamentation  made  while 
searching  for  an  early  settler  who  was  lost  in  these  wilds,  on  the  Middletown 
side. 

t  Formerly  called  Market  street. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  471 

Clark,  Collins,  Foster,  Farrington,  "Griswold,  Green,  Hall,  Holt,  Ives, 
Jordan,  Lewis,  Little,  Miller,  Merriam,  Parker,  Perkins,  Tyler,  Twiss 
and  Yale.  Descendants  of  many  of  these  families  are  among  the  most 
active  citizens  of  the  present  time. 

In  addition  to  Colony  and  Broad  or  Market  streets  there  were,  at 
the  period  above  given  (1840),  Main,  Liberty  and  Wall  streets,  each 
having  about  the  courses  which  they  now  po.ssess.  But  aside  from 
these,  nearly  the  entire  area  was  a  common  or  consisted  of 
unimproved  swamp  lands  along  the  brook,  which  for  many  years 
were  held  to  be  of  little  value.  In  1815  Jesse  Ives  bought  of 
Benjamin  Merriam  six  acres  of  land  lying  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Main  and  Colony  .streets,  for  which  he  paid  $100  per  acre,  which  was 
considered  as  money  wasted.  Near  the  same  time  twelve  acres  of 
land  south  of  Main  street  and  east  of  the  brook  was  not  reckoned 
worth  $800. 

The  building  of  the  Hartford  railroad,  in  1839,  changed  the  busi- 
ness life  of  the  village.  The  center  of  trade  was  transferred  from  the 
hill  to  the  Pilgrim  Harbor  section,  and  a  steady,  substantial  growth 
began,  which  was  greatly  quickened  when  the  dawn  of  manufacturing 
once  fairly  broke  over  the  place.  Since  that  time,  and  especially  since 
its  incorporation  as  a  city,  in  1867,  manifold  changes  have  taken  place, 
from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  new  buildings  being  erected  each 
year,  and  the  inhabitants  increasing  nearly  threefold.  The  rise  of 
property  was  gradual  in  the  city  and  the  town,  increasing  from  a  grand 
list  of  $2,.57(),797,  in  lS.-)5,  to  S10,690,432  in  1889,  upon  which  the  rate 
of  taxation  was  K)  mills. 

In  1877  the  first  complete  directory  of  the  city  was  made,  showing 
o,293  names;  in  1880  the  names  were  6,210,  and  the  population  15,540; 
in  1889  the  names  were  11,165,  and  the  population  about  21,000.  Doubt- 
less the  varied  interests  of  the  city  will  cause  a  continued  increase  for 
many  years  to  come. 

Meriden  was  incorporated  as  a  city  by  act  of  the  general  assembly, 
approved  July  11th,  1867.  One  of  the  sections  of  this  act  provided 
that  the  inhabitants  should  "  to  all  intents  and  purposes  remain  a  part 
of  the  town  of  Meriden."  July  24th,  1868,  the  charter  was  amended 
in  order  to  permit  the  construction  of  water  works  by  the  city. 

A  revised  charter  was  passed  by  the  general  assembly  and  approved 
March  28tb,  1879,  in  which  the  city's  territorial  limits  were  described 
to  be  the  same  as  those  in  the  original  charter,  to  wit:  "  Beginning  at 
a  point  on  the  north  line  of  the  road,  formerly  known  as  the  Middle- 
town  and  Meriden  turnpike,  106  rods,  20  links  easterly  from  the  junc- 
tion of  said  road  with  the  old  Hartford  and  New  Haven  turnpike,  and 
running  south  50°  west  328  rods;  thence  north  58^°  west  278  rods; 
thence  north  39f  °  west  203  rods;  thence  north  7^°  east  193  rods;  thence 
north  53|°  east  395  rods;  thence  north  S~i°  east  251  rods;  thence 
south  62°  east  258  rods;  thence  south  26°  west  454  rods  to  the  place  of 


472  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

beginning;  and  all  the  electors  of  this  state  dwelling  within  said  limits 
are  hereby  declared  to  be  and  shall  forever  continue  to  be  a  body 
politic  and  corporate  in  fact,  by  the  name  of  the  city  of  Meriden,  &c." 

This  charter  and  the  by-laws  based  on  it  have  been  frequently 
amended,  but  the  limits  remain  as  originally  fixed. 

The  first  meeting  under  the  city  charter  was  held  at  the  town  hall, 
August  12th,  1867,  and  Henry  C.  Butler  was  the  moderator.  A  ballot 
for  the  first  board  of  officers  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  followino-  • 
Mayor,  Charles  Parker;  clerk,  John  H.  Bario  ;  aldermen,  William  J. 
Ives,  Hiram  Butler,  George  W.  Lyon,  Jedediah  Wilcox  ;  councilmen, 
Lemuel  J.  Curtis,  Owen  B.  Arnold,  Charles  L.  Upham,  Charles  A. 
Roberts,  Hezekiah  H.  Miller,  Eli  Ives,  Augustus  C.  Markham,  Eli 
Butler,  Aaron  L.  Collins,  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  Jared  R.  Cook,  Jared  Lewis, 
Horace  C.  Wilcox,  Dennis  C.  Wilcox,  John  C.  Byxbee,  Walter  Hub- 
bard; treasurer,  Asahel  H.  Curtis;  collector,  Samuel  O.  Church;  aud- 
itor, Joel  H.  Guy. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  foregoing  were  leading  citizens  of  the  town, 
and  their  service,  in  the  office  indicated,  shows  what  interest  they  felt 
in  the  welfare  of  the  new  city.  In  the  main  this  interest  has  been 
continued,  and  the  principal  officers  have  been  representative  busi- 
ness or  professional  men. 

The  mayors  have  been  the  following:  1867-8,  Charles  Parker;  1869, 
Russell  S.  Gladwin;  1870-1,  Isaac  C.  Lewis;  1872-3,  Charles  L.  Upham; 
1874-5,  Horace  C.  Wilcox;  1876-8,  H.  Wales  Lines;  1879-80,  George  R. 
Curtis;  1881-5,  E.  J.  Doolittle,  Jr.;  1886-7,  Chas.  H.  S.  Davis;  1888-9, 
Wallace  A.  Miles;  1890,  Benjamin  Page. 

City  clerks :  1867-72,  John  H.  Bario;  1873  (six  months),  B.  Frank 
Pomeroy;  1873-5,  John  H.  Bario;  1876-85,  Selah  A.  Hull;  1886-,  Her- 
man Hess. 

Treasurers:  1867-76,  Asahel  H.  Curtis;  1877-86,  David  S.  Williams; 
1887-9,  William  Lewis;  1890,  W.  W.  Mosher. 

Auditors:  1867-70,  Joel  H.Guy;  1871-4,  A.  Chamberlain,  Jr.;  1875-7, 
Joel  I.  Butler  ;  1878-81,  Charles  L.  Rockwell ;  1882,  Fred.  R.  Derby  ; 
1883,  Herman  Hess;  1884-5,  Robert  H.  Curtis;  1886,  John  M.  Harmon; 
1887,  Frank  M.  Byxbee;  1888-9,  Chas.  J.  King;  1890,  John  M.  Harmon. 

City  surveyors:  1875-7,  Theodore  H.  McKenzie;  1878-87,  S.  C.  Pier- 
son;  1888-,  W.  S.  Clark. 

City  attorneys:  1867-77,  Ratcliffe  Hicks;  1878,  Frank  S.  Fay;  1879- 
James  P.  Piatt. 

Judges  city  court:  1867-8,  Andrew  J.  Coe;  1878-,  Levi  E.  Coe.  Of 
this  court,  John  0.  Thayer  is  the  assistant  judge  and  the  clerk. 

Presidents  pro  tem.:  1883,  Alderman  Robert  H.  Curtis;  1884-5,  Al- 
derman N.  L.  Bradley;  1886-7,  Alderman  Benjamin  Page;  1888-9, 
Alderman  Bertrand  L.  Yale;  1890,  Alderman  J.  C.  Twitchell. 

City  collector:  1890,  George  A.  Clark. 

In  1870  the  expenditures  in  the  city  for  all  purposes  were  $42,138- 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  473 

.61: 1872,  $86,434.41 ;  1873,  $120,734.45.  The  entire  expense  in  1884  was 
$102,747.43.  The  appropriations  for  1890  were  $165,403.16,  which  was 
estimated  to  accrue  from  various  sources  and  a  10-mill  tax  on  the 
grand  li.st,  to  yield  $06,500.  For  many  years  the  rate  of  taxation  was 
eight  mills  on  the  dollar.  The  city  debt,  of  more  than  $500,000  in 
1878,  has  been  yearly  reduced,  being  $305,320.59  on  the  first  of  De- 
cember, 1889.  The  finances  are  in  a  healthy  condition  and  the  affairs 
of  the  city  are  judiciousl}-  managed. 

The  police  department  was  not  fully  established  until  .several  years 
after  the  organization  of  the  city  government.  Williarn  N.  Beach 
was  the  first  chief  and  there  were  four  policemen.  In  June,  1870,  the 
force  was  increa.sed  by  the  addition  of  another  patrolman.  In  1872, 
560  arrests  were  made,  304  being  for  drunkenness.  In  1876  A.  L.  Otis 
became  the  chief  and  served  two  years.  In  1878  in  addition  to  the 
chief,  G.  F.  BoUes,  who  w-as  at  the  head  of  the  department  until  1883, 
George  Van  Nostrand  was  appomted  captain  and  has  since  sustained 
that  relation  to  the  force.  At  the  time  of  his  appointment,  the  force 
had  3  patrolmen  and  25  special  officers.  In  1883  Roger  M.  Ford  be- 
came the  chief  and  has  since  so  served. 

In  1884  the  patrolmen  numbered  0,  the  specials  28,  and  the  arrests 
661.  Those  charged  with  drunkenness  numbered  367.  The  depart- 
ment in  1889  consisted  of  the  chief,  the  captain,  1  day  patrolman,  8 
night  patrolmen  and  25  .specials;  742  arrests  had  been  made,  about 
one-half  being  for  intoxication.  The  police  court  paid  into  the  city 
treasury  $3,391.59  for  fines  collected  and  the  department  cost 
$11,056.25. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  city  authorities  the  improvement  of  the 
streets  began  to  assume  good  shape  as  early  as  1870,  when  A.  R. 
Boardman  was  the  commissioner.  That  office  was  held  in  1871  and 
1872  by  Almon  Andrews,  and  more  than  $50,000  was  expended  on  the 
streets.  Colony  street  was  Macadamized  from  Main  to  Columbia,  and 
Main  .street  was  graded  throughout  and  a  portion  Macadamized. 
Pratt  street  was  also  graded  and  the  gutters  on  Butler  street  were 
finished.  Broad  street  had  been  improved  earlier,  but  was  repaired 
from  north  to  south,  and  much  of  Crown  street  was  paved.  At  this 
time  the  city  had  ten  miles  of  paved  gutters,  ten  miles  of  blue  stone 
sidewalks,  and  one  hundred  cross  walks.  In  the  following  years  sev- 
eral miles  of  streets  were  graded  annually. 

In  1874  maps  and  profiles  of  the  streets  were  made  and  records 
opened.  The  following  year  profiles  of  67  streets  were  sent  to  D.  S. 
Chesbrough,  sewerage  engineer,  at  Albany,  to  enable  him  to  report  on 
the  advisability  of  constructing  sewers  in  the  principal  streets.  Later 
a  commission  was  appointed  which,  December  1st,  1877,  reported  that 
the  construction  of  sewers  in  the  streets  as  advised  by  Engineer  Ches- 
brough, be  defeiTcd  until  the  use  of  the  Harbor  brook  be  decided  in 
favor  of  the  city.     This  report  was  signed  by  I.  C.  Lewis,  William  J. 


474  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Ives,  Eli  Butler  and  Timothy  Healy.  In  1S7S  this  committee  made 
a  further  report  that  the  city  charter  must  be  amended  before  sewers 
could  be  constructed.  Later  the  right  to  use  the  brcok  for  sewerage 
purposes  being  conceded,  Andrew's  dam  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city 
was  condemned,  purchased  and  removed  in  1884,  in  order  to  carry  out 
a  system  of  drainage  so  long  projected.  Since  that  time  lateral  sew- 
ers have  been  constructed,  on  some  of  the  streets,  near  the  brook, 
which  is  made  to  serve  as  an  open  drain. 

At  a  .special  city  meeting  held  September  22d,  1891,  it  was  voted  to 
adopt  an  irrigation  plan  of  sewerage,  estimated  to  cost  $125,000;  100 
acres  of  land,  lying  between  South  Meriden  and  Yalesville  have  been 
purchased,  to  which  the  sewerage  will  be  conveyed  from  the  central 
part  of  the  city,  by  a  system  of  pipes,  etc. 

In  1879  the  city  had  nearly  forty  miles  of  streets,  whose  condition 
was  reported  to  be  equal  to  the  streets  of  other  cities  of  like  popula- 
tion. Since  that  time  new  streets  have  been  opened  and  about  §2.5.000 
has  been  expended  yearly  on  their  improvement.  In  1886  the  first 
iron  bridge  in  the  city  was  built,  over  Harbor  brook,  on  Hanover 
street.  The  Berlin  Iron  Bridge  Company  furnished  the  superstruc- 
ture, and  the  entire  cost  was  nearly  §4,800. 

In  1889  the  city  had  more  than  sixty  miles  of  streets  and  about 
forty-five  miles  of  sidewalks:  and  in  1890  the  amount  appropriated 
for  the  department  was  §31,564.66,  an  amount  large  enough  to  place 
the  streets  in  a  creditable  condition. 

The  commissioners  since  Almon  Andrews  have  been  the  following: 
1878,  A.  C.  Wetmore:  1874,  William  J.  Ives:  1875,  E.  A.  Rice;  1870-7, 
T.  H.  McKenzie;  187887.  Linus  F.  Dennison;  1888-9,  William  Baker; 
1890,  J.  H.  Sanford. 

The  streets  of  Meriden  are  well  lighted,  at  an  annual  expense  of 
more  than  §17,000,  three-fifths  of  which  is  paid  for  electric  lights.  At 
the  close  of  1889,  86  such  lamps  were  in  the  service  of  the  city,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  342  naphtha  lamps  in  use.  Electric  lighting  was  intro- 
duced as  early  as  1884,  when  the  Fuller- Wood  Company  put  up  some 
lamps  on  the  fire  alarm  poles,  and  gave  the  city  free  lights  for  a  short 
period.  The  first  paid  service  was  June  3d,  1887.  when  the  city  en- 
gaged the  use  of  30  lamps.  Gas  lights  were  introduced  in  1863,  and 
since  that  time  various  substitutes  have  been  used,  the  chief  ones 
being  gasoline  and  naphtha.  For  their  use  503  lamp  posts  were 
erected  in  various  parts  of  the  city,  many  now  being  unused. 

Prior  to  1883,  Meriden  had  no  public  park.  The  first  step  to  secure 
one,  aside  from  a  general  discussion  of  the  matter,  was  in  the  levying 
of  a  |-mill  tax  on  the  assessment  of  the  city  in  1881,  to  be  due  in  a 
year,  and  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  court  of  the  com- 
mon council,  by  a  .special  committee  of  aldermen  and  councilmen.  In 
January,  1882,  the  charter  of  the  city  was  amended  to  permit  the  pur- 
chase of  a  property  of  nine  acres,  lying  on  Camp,  Franklin  and  War- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW"    HAVEN   COUNTY.  475 

ren  streets,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  cit}',  the  cost  not  to  exceed 
$8,000.  The  property  thus  acquired  was  improved  in  1884  by  grading 
and  planting  ehn  trees  along  Franklin  street.  In  1885  two  acres  of 
land  additional,  on  Warren  .street,  were  added  to  the  area  of  the  park, 
at  a  cost  of  $1,500,  and  the  whole  was  beautified  in  1886  at  an  outlay 
of  nearly  $3,000. 

About  the  same  time  South  Broad  street  was  improved  to  give  it 
a  park-like  appearance,  and  the  small  square  in  front  of  the  Winthrop 
House  was  beautified,  making  it  a  pleasant  little  spot  in  that  part  of 
the  city.  About  $500  is  expended  yearly  in  the  care  and  further  im- 
provement of  these  park  interests. 

Soon  after  the  formation  of  the  city  government  measures  were 
taken  to  secure  what  was  deemed  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  water. 
The  construction  of  a  system  of  water  works  was  begun  by  the  city, 
under  the  direction  of  Engineer  Bishop,  of  Middletown,  and  Decem- 
ber 25th,  1869,  the  first  water  was  introduced  into  the  city.  The  sup- 
ply was  from  a  reservoir  of  70  acres,  constructed  between  two  hills, 
two  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  the  city.  Here  the  water  was  gath- 
ered from  the  shed  of  the  two  hills,  about  300  acres  being  thus  drained, 
and  from  springs  at  the  bottom  of  the  reservoir.  The  dam  joining 
the  hills  is  50  feet  wide  at  the  bottom,  12  feet  wide  at  the  top  and  300 
feet  long.  A  head  and  fall  of  250  feet  above  the  railroad  station,  in 
the  city,  was  thus  secured,  permitting  a  fiow  by  gravitation  at  a  pres- 
sure of  105  pounds  to  the  square  inch.  Compared  with  the  highest 
point  on  Broad  street,  the  elevation  of  the  reservoir  is  about  50  feet 
less  than  the  above,  with  a  corresponding  decrease  in  the  pressure. 

The  main  pipes  first  laid  were  12  inches  in  diameter,  the  distri- 
buting pipes  being  from  4  to  8  inches  in  diameter.  At  the  end  of 
four  years,  more  than  20  miles  of  pipes  were  in  use,  and  the  consump- 
tion of  water  steadily  increased.  In  1874  a  canal  was  built  from  the 
east,  half  a  mile  long,  to  increase  the  drainage  into  the  reservoir.  In 
1877  the  supply  was  further  increased  by  building  a  canal  a  mile  long, 
from  the  northwest,  and  draining  700  acres  more  of  land.  In  1885 
title  to  this  land  and  right  of  water  privilege  were  secured,  giving  the 
reservoir  a  drainagre  area  of  1,000  acres.  The  length  of  these  canals 
has  been  increased,  giving  still  better  drainage.  In  1877  the  service 
to  the  city  was  also  improved  by  laying  an  iron  main  10  inches  in 
diameter  from  the  reservoir  to  Harbor  brook,  near  Main  street,  thus 
affording  two  outlets.  By  the  end  of  the  year  the  cost  of  the  works 
was  not  far  from  $340,000.  Since  that  time  about  ^50,000  more  has 
been  expended  on  the  works,  making  their  approximate  cost,  in  1890, 
nearly  $400,000. 

In  1880  the  keeper's  house,  at  the  reservoir,  was  built,  and  a  new 
iron  bridge  constructed  at  the  well  house.  The  earth  forming  the 
sides  of  the  reservoir  being  of  trap  rock,  considerable  water  is  lost 
through  filtration,  and  in  1888  a  new  dam  was  built  below  the  old  one 


476  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

with  a  view  of  arresting  the  leakage.  Within  the  re.se rvoir  from  eight 
to  twenty  feet  depth  of  water  are  .stored,  the  full  capacity  being  about 
360,000,000  gallons. 

In  1881  the  department  introduced  the  meter  system  of  selling 
water  to  manufacturing  establishments,  and  52  meters  were  placed  in 
position  that  j'ear.  In  1889  the  number  was  77.  The  largest  con- 
sumer was  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company,  using  about  35.000,000 
gallons  per  year.  At  this  time  there  were  220  public  hydrants,  for  use 
in  case  of  fire;  four  public  watering  troughs  and  five  stand  pipes.  The 
entire  number  of  services  was  2,788.  Of  the  water  takers  there  were 
4,000  families,  45  factories,  and  95  saloons.  The  receipts  of  the  depart- 
ment were,  in  1889,  $51,456.51,  and  the  net  earnings  $27,520.88. 

The  superintendents  of  the  water  works  have  been:  1879-86,  H.  L. 
Schleiter;  1887,  Oscar  Parker;  1888-9,  John  B.  Dunlop;  1890,  H.  L. 
Schleiter. 

In  1891  a  new  pumping  station  was  begun,  in  the  town  of  Berlin, 
3|  miles  north  from  the  city,  from  which  the  pure  water  at  that  point 
will  be  conveyed  directly  to  the  city,  by  means  of  large  distributing 
pipes.  The  public  supply  can  be  doubled  by  this  system,  which  will 
cost  $200,000. 

The  destructive  fire,  November  27th,  1846,  at  Julius  Pratt's  comb 
shop,  which  caused  the  loss  of  $60,000  worth  of  property  and  the  death 
of  W.  B.  Hall,  demonstrated  how  poor  was  the  protection  against  a 
general  conflagration.  The  town  was  aroused,  but  several  years 
elapsed  before  there  was  an  organized  effort  to  stay  the  fiery  element. 
In  1850  the  town  bought  a  small  gooseneck  hand  engine  and  a  few 
men  were  formed  into  a  company  to  man  it,  with  Robert  Oughton  as 
the  foreman.  After  a  few  years  the  company  lost  interest  in  the 
organization  and  the  machine  was  set  aside.  Many  years  later  it  be- 
came the  property  of  Charles  Parker,  for  use  in  his  shops. 

Cataract  Engine  Company,  No.  1,  was  organized  not  long  after  and 
placed  on  a  more  permanent  basis.  Of  this  company  Robert  Oughton 
was  also  the  foreman,  but  on  his  removal  he  was  succeeded  by  Azariah 
J.  Riggs.  This  company  enlisted  the  support  of  the  leading  people 
in  the  town  and  at  one  time  had  one  hundred  members.  Its  place  of 
meeting  was  in  a  building  on  the  opera  house  lot,  and  very  stringent 
rules  governed  its  affairs.  The  company  manned  an  engine  of  the 
piano-box  pattern,  which  had  been  purchased  in  New  York  by  Curtis 
L.  North,  who  took  a  great  interest  in  these  affairs.  This  engine  did 
good  service  until  it  was  burned  at  the  woollen  mills  fire,  in  I860. 
After  a  number  of  years  the  Cataract  Company  disbanded  and  the 
engine  was  manned  by  the  citizens  at  the  fires. 

Meantime,  in  1856,  a  '•  Bucket  Brigade"  had  been  gotten  up  by  T. 
J.  Coe,  which  was  also  in  service  several  years.  Its  equipments  con- 
sisted of  buckets  and  ladders,  carried  on  a  light  truck,  and  the  ap- 
paratus was  stored  at  the  same  place  as  the  old  engine.     In  this  period 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  477 

occurred,  March  9th,  1868,  a  conflagration  which  has  passed  into  the 
history  of  Meriden  as  the  "  Great  Fire."  All  the  buildings  north  of 
Mam  street  and  between  the  railroad  and  Colony  street,  up  to  what  is 
now  Winthrop  Square,  except  the  old  Byxbee  House,  were  swept  away. 
Five  years  later  the  Byxbee  House  was  also  burned.  This  fire  caused 
the  town,  at  its  meeting,  April  16th,  1864,  to  authorize  its  selectmen 
to  purchase  engines  and  to  construct  reservoirs  at  suitable  points. 
Before  this  time,  John  C.  Byxbee  and  others  had  formed  the  Colum- 
bian Engine  Company,  No.  1,  to  which  Selectman  Bela  Carter  had 
given  the  property  of  the  old  Cataract  organization.  Soon  after  this 
the  new  company  had  opportunity  to  purchase  the  equipments  of  the 
disbanded  Charter  Oak  Fire  Company,  of  Hartford,  which  were 
labelled  with  the  name  of  that  body.  Hence  it  was  decided  by  the 
Meriden  company  to  .substitute  that  name  for  the  Columbian,  that 
organization  now  becoming  the  Charter  Oak  Engine  Company,  No.  1. 
Of  this  new  company  Charles  H.  Warner,  Hiram  Knight  and  John 
C.  Byxbee  were  active  early  members.  The  Charter  Oak  Hose  Com- 
pany was  also  organized  in  186B  as  a  companion  to  the  engine  com- 
pany, and  George  O.  Higby  was  the  first  foreman.  The  latter  organi- 
zation is  still  maintained.  An  engine  house  for  these  companies  was 
secured  by  Selectman  Carter,  on  State  street,  near  Main,  being  the 
first  one  distinctly  so  used  in  the  city. 

Encouraged  by  the  action  of  the  town  in  1864  and  believing  that 
two  companies  would  be  beneficial  to  the  place,  John  C.  Byxbee, 
Thomas  King,  William  Judge  and  others  organized  Wa.shington 
Engine  Company,  No.  2.  It  was  soon  apparent  that  this  belief  was 
correct.  A  well-ordered  rivalry  sprang  up  between  the  two  com- 
panies, causing  them  to  frequently  practice  and  making  them  more 
efficient  in  service.  The  Washington  Company  had,  as  its  first  engine, 
the  first  machine  brought  to  the  town  and  which  had  been  so  long 
unused.  Becoming  dissatisfied  with  it,  thev  sold  it  to  Charles  Parker 
and  applied  the  proceeds,  with  other  moneys  raised,  to  the  purchase, 
at  Providence,  of  a  really  good  engine,  and  thoroughly  manned  the 
same. 

The  selectmen  being  authorized  to  build  another  engine  house, 
the  Pratt  street  station  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  1867.  The 
engine  of  the  Washington  Company  was  used  until  there  was  no 
further  need  for  hand  machines,  when  the  town  purchased  it  and 
after  using  it  some  time,  at  South  Meriden,  removed  it  to  the  alms- 
house for  service  at  that  place.  When  the  company  was  in  its  prime, 
in  1867,  the  engine  was  manned  to  throw  a  stream  of  water  218  feet, 
eclipsing  the  efforts  of  No.  1,  in  this  direction. 

Before  that  time,  the  two  companies  were  given  an  opportunity 
to  demonstrate  their  usefulness  at  the  woollen  mill  fire.  May  3d,  1865, 
when  the  large  frame  building  standing  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Wilcox  Silver  Plate  Works,  was  completely  destroyed.     The  loss  was 


478  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

about  $250,000,  and  Edward  Ten  Eyck  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  an 
eave  trough.  The  Charter  Oak  Company  in  its  ha.ste  to  get  a  stream 
of  water  on  ran  its  engine  so  near  the  flames  that  it  took  fire  and  had 
to  be  abandoned.  It  was  burned  so  much  that  it  could  no  longer  be 
used  and  Washington  Company  and  the  Hook  and  Ladder  Company 
did  the  remainder  of  the  work  at  that  fire.  The  Charter  Oak  Com- 
pany was  without  an  engine  about  two  years,  when  a  new  crane  neck 
engine  was  procured,  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  which  was  the  one  u.sed 
in  1867  and  was  in  the  service  of  the  company  until  after  the  water 
department  had  erected  its  hydrants  on  the  principal  streets  of  the 
city,  when  the  engine  companies  disbanded  and  this  engine  was  sold. 

In  connection  with  the  Washington  Company  a  hose  company 
was  organized  in  April,  1865,  which  was  in  existence  until  1870,  when 
it  consolidated  with  another  company,  becoming  the  present  Byxbee 
Hose  Company,  No.  2. 

After  the  heavy  fire  of  1865  the  town  was  impressed  with  the  need 
of  better  organization  and  June  1st,  1866,  appointed  O.  H.  Piatt, 
John  C.  Byxbee,  Ira  Twiss,  Isaac  C.  Lewis  and  Charles  Parker,  a  com- 
mittee to  devise  means  to  that  end.  The  selectmen  were  also  author- 
ized to  offer  a  reward  of  $1,000  for  the  apprehension  of  an  incendiary, 
guilty  of  the  crime  of  setting  any  fires  from  which  the  town  suffered. 
No  doubt,  the  discussion  of  this  matter  hastened  the  incorporation  of 
the  city,  in  1867,  and,  under  its  charter,  the  Volunteer  Fire  Depart- 
ment was  organized  the  same  year.  John  C.  Byxbee  was  appointed 
the  first  chief  engineer  and  was  succeeded,  in  1868,  by  J.  W.  Hiney, 
at  that  time  superintendent  of  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company's 
works.  Charles  H.  Warner  became  the  chief  engineer  in  1869  and 
served  more  than  two  years,  having  Arthur  J.  Hughes  as  his  first 
assistant.  He  first  introduced  a  methodical  system  of  alarms,  which 
was  a  great  improvement  upon  the  indiscriminate  method  before  used 
and  which  often  resulted  in  confusion.  Robert  Oughton  was  the 
next  chief  engineer  and  the  last  under  the  volunteer  system. 

In  this  period  the  department  was  practically  reorganized.  In  1871 
the  hand  engines  went  out  of  use,  and  those  companies  were  dis 
banded.  The  hose  and  hook  companies  were  strengthened  by  ad- 
ditions from  those  bodies,  as  nearly  a  hundred  men  had  passed  out  of 
service.  As  reorganized  there  were  the  following  companies:  Charter 
Oak  Hose  Company,  No.  1,  on  State  street;  Byxbee  Hose  Company, 
No.  2,  on  Pratt  street;  Parker  Hose  Company,  No.  3,  on  Center  street; 
Wilcox  Hose  Company,  No.  4,  on  Camp  street;  Ever  Ready  Hook  and 
Ladder  Companj',  No.  1,  on  Pratt  street.  Each  truck  carried  450  feet 
of  hose.  There  was  one  engineer,  two  assistant  engineers,  five  fore- 
men, ten  assistant  foremen,  and  73  men  in  the  ranks. 

In  1872  occurred  a  number  of  disastrous  fires,  among  them  being 
those  of  the  Malleable  Iron  Company,  March  llth,  loss  $40,000;  the 
Cook  and  other  blocks  on  Main  street,  April  29th,  loss  $25,000;  the 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    KAVEN   COUNTY.  479 

Aleriden  Britannia  Company,  September  2yth,  loss  §45,000.  The  ag- 
gregate losses  in  the  year  were  §153,550 — an  amount  so  large  that  the 
necessity  for  still  better  organization  was  forcibly  urged  upon  the 
court  of  common  council. 

The  Aleriden  Paid  Department  was  introduced  in  1873.  John  C. 
Byxbee  was  secured  as  the  chief  engineer,  and  served  two  years.  In 
the  first  year  of  this  department  the  losses  by  fire  were  §73,741;  more 
than  two-thirds  of  which  were  included  in  the  fire  at  Lyon  &  Billard's 
planing  mill  on  the  15th  of  July.  In  1874  the  losses  were  only  §27.- 
260.  In  1875  the  losses  were  somewhat  greater,  but,  all  things  con- 
sidered, there  has  been  an  encouraging  decrease  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  this  department.  In  1875  Edward  Roark  was  the  chief 
engineer;  in  1876-7,  John  F.  Butler;  and  from  1879  until  1887,  Isaac 
B.  Hyatt. 

Under  his  administration  the  efficiency  of  the  department  was 
greatly  promoted.  In  the  fall  of  188(1  the  Game  well  Fire  Alarm  sys- 
tem was  introduced,  at  a  cost  of  §4,200,  and  was  ready  for  use  June 
6th,  1881.  Eighteen  signal  stations  were  established,  fifteen  being 
street  boxes.  In  its  operation  eight  miles  of  wire  were  required,  work- 
ing on  seven  gongs  and  one  large  striker.  Three  thou.sand  dollars 
was  expended  in  the  erection  of  a  new  bell  tower  at  the  Pratt  street 
station,  in  which  was  placed  a  Jones  &  Co.  Troy  bell,  weighing  6,142 
pounds,  which  was  now  used  to  strike  the  alarms  instead  of  the  bell 
of  St.  Andrews  church,  formerly  used.  E.  B.  Baker  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  alarm  system,  and  served  until  1887,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  W.  G.  Riggs.  The  alarm  telegraph  has  proven  very 
serviceable,  and  the  system  has  been  perfected  and  extended,  there 
being  in  December,  1889,  24  street  boxes,  and  the  value  of  the  prop- 
erty connected  with  the  system  was  more  than  §9,000. 

In  1880  the  office  of  fire  marshal  was  created,  and  until  1888  the 
position  was  held  by  S.  C.  Pierson.  After  two  years'  service  by  M.  F. 
Fitzgerald,  David  Bloomfield  became  the  marshal,  in  1890.  At  the 
time  this  arrangement  was  made,  in  1880,  the  department  numbered 
72  men,  not  including  the  20  men  connected  with  Volunteer  Company 
No.  5.  In  1881  the  expense  of  the  department  was  §14,891.89.  Two 
fires  of  importance  occurred  this  year,  those  of  the  Meriden  House, 
January  12th,  with  a  loss  of  §17,000;  and  the  Charles  Parker  Company's 
shop,  §5,500,  on  the  23d  of  April. 

The  extension  of  the  city,  on  the  high  ground  along  Broad  street, 
where  there  is  not  sufficient  pressure  to  use  hose  service  only,  induced 
the  common  council  to  purchase  a  steamer  for  use  in  that  locality. 
Hence,  on  the  3d  of  July,  1884,  Steamer  No.  1  went  into  service.  It  is 
of  the  Sillsby  pattern,  third  size.  No.  2  grade,  and  cost  §3,700.  For  its 
accommodation  a  two-story  brick  addition  was  built  to  the  Parker 
Ho.se  house,  where  have  since  been  the  headquarters  of  those  man- 
ning it. 


480  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

In  188/5  the  total  losses  by  fire  were  $19,831.  One  of  the  most 
serious  was  March  5th,  which  threatened  the  destruction  of  the  C. 
Rogers  &  Bros,  works,  and  was  saved  by  the  timely  help  of  the  depart- 
ment, with  a  loss  of  $6,600.  In  1886,  the  entire  loss  was  $32,490,  of 
which  the  Meriden  Curtain  Fixture  Company  sustained  more  than 
$25,000,  on  the  first  of  April.  In  1887  the  burning  of  McCarthy's 
livery  stable,  on  the  11th  day  of  April,  when  the  barn  and  ten  horses 
were  consumed,  was  the  most  serious  loss.  Singularly,  the  burning 
of  the  hc^se  car  stables,  January  11th,  1888,  was  also  the  heaviest  loss 
that  year,  the  amount  being  $30,475,  of  a  total  of  $47,485.  Thirteen 
street  cars  and  78  horses  were  consumed,  the  fire  burning  with  such 
rapidity  that  the  department  was  powerless.  In  1889  there  were  38 
fires  and  alarms,  but  so  efficient  was  the  service  that  the  losses 
amounted  to  but  little  more  than  $17,000. 

In  1888  Owen  Horan  became  the  chief  engineer,  holding  that  posi- 
tion two  years,  when  Isaac  B.  Hyatt  was  again  placed  at  the  head  of 
the  department,  whose  maintenance  costs  nearly  $20,000  per  year. 
The  force  in  1889  consisted  of  88  men — 3  permanent  men,  65  call  men, 
and  20  volunteers.  The  value  of  the  property  owned  by  the  depart- 
ment approximated  $50,000.  The  companies  in  service  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Charter  Oak  Hose  Company,  No.  1,  on  Butler  street,  12  men; 
Byxbee  Hose  Company,  No.  2,  on  Pratt  street,  12  men;  Parker  Hose 
Company,  No.  3,  on  Ea.st  Main  .street,  12  men;  Wilcox  Hose  Company, 
No.  4,  on  Colony  street,  12  men;  Veteran  Volunteer  Hose  Company, 
No.  5,  on  Camp  street,  20  men;  E.  J.  Doolittle  Truck  Company,  No.  1, 
on  Pratt  street,  16  men;  Steamer  No.  1,  manned  by  Parker  Hose  Com- 
pany. The  hose  companies  carried  5,200  feet  of  hose,  and  the  num- 
ber of  fire  hydrants  was  220.  From  these  a  pressure  of  85  to  115  pounds 
per  square  inch  could  be  obtained. 

Briefly,  the  history  of  the  companies  constituting  the  department 
is  as  follows ; 

Charter  Oak  Hose,  No.  1,  organized  in  1863,  and  until  1871  con- 
temporary with  Charter  Oak  Engine  Company.  The  quarters  on 
Butler  street  are  commodious  and  attractive,  being  a  two-story  brick. 
Have  an  old  four-wheel  hose  carriage  and  a  "jumper."  Total  value  of 
property,  $4,855. 

Byxbee  Hose  Company,  No.  2,  was  organized  in  1865  as  the  Wash- 
ington Company.  In  1867  the  present  name  was  taken  in  compliment 
to  John  C.  Byxbee.  In  1870  it  joined  the  department,  and  has  since 
been  one  of  the  leading  companies  in  the  city.  In  July,  1885,  a  four- 
wheel  horse  hose  wagon,  with  a  horse,  took  the  place  of  the  com- 
pany's "jumper,"  and  was  placed  in  care  of  E.  J.  Corrigan,  driver,  who 
has  been  connected  with  the  department  twenty  years.  The  new 
apparatus  is  used  with  gratifying  results.  Value  of  the  company  prop- 
erty is  $6,825. 

Parker  Hose  Company,  No.  3,  was  organized  November  9th,  1869, 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  481 

and  it  has  since  been  the  reliable  company  of  the  Hill  district.  The 
first  house  was  on  Center  street,  opposite  Saint  Rose  church.  Since 
1877  it  has  had  the  quarters  on  East  Main  street,  which  are  large  and 
commodious,  when  used  for  hose  purposes  only.  It  is  supplied  with 
useful  and  handy  contrivances,  and  is  also  a  pleasant  social  retreat. 
A  "  four-wheeled  Spider"  is  used,  and  since  1884  the  company  also 
mans  the  steamer,  No.  1 .  The  value  of  the  property  controlled  is 
$9,8.50. 

Wilcox  Hose  Company,  No.  4,  began  as  a  volunteer  company,  on 
Camp  street,  in  1878,  but  in  a  short  time  became  a  part  of  the  regular 
force.  Since  1878  it  has  had  the  fine  house  on  Colon}'  street,  which 
has  been  fitted  up  with  ta.ste  and  supplied  with  many  conveniences, 
more  improvements  being  made  in  1888.  Richard  Shaw  has  been 
clerk  of  the  company  since  187G.  This  company  now  serves  a  district 
in  which  the  Americus  Hose  Company,  No.  6,  was  organized,  in  1870, 
but  which  held  together  only  a  short  time.  The  Wilcox  property  is 
valued  at  §.5,200. 

The  Veteran  Volunteer  Hose  Company,  No.  5.  The  removal  of 
No.  4  company  from  Camp  street,  in  the  fall  of  1878,  was  the  immedi- 
ate cause  which  led  to  the  organization  of  this  company,  January  Sth, 
1879.  Most  of  its  early  members  had  been  connected  with  the  depart- 
ment in  its  infancy,  and  the  company  soon  made  an  enviable  record, 
which  has  kept  its  ranks  filled,  although  still  a  volunteer  organization. 
The  headquarters  of  the  company  are  maintained  on  Camp  street,  the 
value  of  the  property  being  $2,200. 

E.  J.  Doolittle  Truck  Company,  No.  1,  was  organized  in  1808  as 
the  Ever  Ready  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  William  Haggerty  being 
the  first  foreman.  Its  headquarters  are  on  Pratt  street,  with  the 
Byxbee  Hose  Company,  and  are  well  equipped.  In  1886  the  old  truck 
was  sold  and  a  new  and  improved  truck  purchased  by  the  city  at  a 
cost  of  $1,750,  which  was  put  into  service  by  James  O.  Brainerd,  fore- 
man of  the  Doolittle  Company,  which  title  was  taken  in  compliment 
to  Maj'or  Doolittle.  The  truck  has  a  capacity  to  carry  318  feet  of 
ladders  and  is  drawn  by  a  span  of  trained  horses,  purchased  in  1887, 
and  having  Julius  Lego  as  the  driver.  The  total  valite  of  the  com- 
pany's property  is  $8,375. 

In  1873  an  effort  was  made  by  the  department  to  maintain  a  benev- 
olent association,  which  was  abandoned  in  the  course  of  a  few  years. 
But  in  June,  1882,  a  similar  movement  resulted  in  establishing  the 
Relief  Fund  of  the  Meriden  Fire  Department.  The  nucleus  of  this 
fund  was  the  proceeds  of  a  fireman's  picnic  held  at  Terrace  Garden, 
in  September,  1882,  and  it  has  since  that  time  been  properly  aug- 
mented. Timely  and  substantial  aid  has  been  given  to  disabled 
members  of  the  department,  and  the  wisdom  of  having  such  a  fund 
has  been  frequently  demonstrated  by  its  benevolent  effects  upon  the 
families  assisted. 
30 


482  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  Meriden  Gas  Light  Company  was  formed  in  1800  with  a  capital 
of  $3{),(J()(),  Eli  Butler  being  the  first  president  and  S.  Dodd,  Jr.,  the 
secretary  and  treasurer.  In  the  fall  of  1863  the  works  created  by  it 
were  placed  in  operation  under  the  superintendence  of  Charles  L. 
Fabian.  The  service  at  first  was  limited  but  in  1871  there  were  six 
miles  of  mains  m  operation.  In  1879  tlie  mains  measured  nine  miles 
and  in  1889,  twelve  miles. 

The  first  works  were  on  South  Colony  street,  but  after  ten  years 
use  they  were  abandoned  and  new  works  erected  on  Cooper  street, 
where  was  located  one  gasometer  and  another  on  Putnam  street.  The 
capacity  of  production  is  200,000  cubic  feet  per  day,  a  large  proportion 
of  which  is  used  for  fuel  purposes  by  manufacturing  establishments. 
The  works  are  in  good  condition  and  are  under  the  management  of 
J.  A.  Hadley,  the  superintendent  since  1866. 

After  the  death  of  Eli  Butler,  in  1881,  George  R.  Curtis  became 
the  president  of  the  company  and  still  so  serves.  S.  Dodd  has  been 
the  only  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  the  fall  of  1887  the  capital  of 
the  company  was  increased  from  $50,000  to  $175,000,  for  the  purpose 
of  absorbing  the  interests  of  the  Meriden  Electric  Light  Company. 
In  March,  1887,  the  first  electric  lighting  was  done  by  a  foreign  cor- 
poration,— the  American  Electric  Light  Company — which  had  a  small 
plant  on  .State  street.  This  property  passed  to  a  local  company,  with 
the  above  name,  which  soon  after  disposed  of  its  interests  to  the 
Meriden  Gas  Company.  Under  their  ownership  the  plant  was  moved 
to  South  Colony  street  and,  on  the  site  of  the  old  gas  works,  a  large 
and  finely  equipped  plant  has  been  erected  under  the  superintendency 
of  E.  A.  Fitzgerald.  The  motor  is  three  100-horse  power  engines, 
operating  five  arc  light  dynamos,  capable  of  illuminating  250  lights  on 
the  American  system.  There  are  also  incandescent  dynamos  to  pro- 
duce light  for  650  Thomson-Houston  lamps.  In  November,  1889,  the 
plant  furnished  electricity  for  85  city  arc  lights  and  65  arc  lights  in 
commercial  use.  On  the  16th  of  April,  1887,  electric  lights  were  first 
used  in  the  public  streets  on  contract  to  pay  for  the  same. 

From  1799  for  nearly  half  a  century  the  Hartford  &  New  Haven 
turnpike  seemed  to  supply  every  want  of  the  town  for  improved  means 
of  communication  north  and  south.  Hence,  when  a  railway  line  to 
run  parallel  with  this  popular  thoroughfare  was  projected,  much  oppo- 
sition was  aroused.  The  assembly  was  petitioned  for  a  charter  for  a 
railway  from  Hartford  to  New  Haven,  as  early  as  1835,  which  was 
granted  a  few  years  later,  and  the  work  of  surveying  a  line  was  begun. 
Three  distinct  lines  between  these  two  cities  were  suggested,  namely, 
via  Middletown,  Meriden  and  New  Britain;  and  claimants  in  each  of 
these  places  endeavored  to  secure  the  location  of  the  road  through 
their  town.  The  route  through  Meriden  had  been  pointed  out  by 
Doctor  J.  G.  Percival,  who  discovered  its  feasibility  while  making  his 
geological  survey,  and  its  merits  were  most  warmly  and  successfully 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  483 

urged  by  Major  Elisha  A.  Cowles.  As  originally  contemplated,  the 
railroad  would  have  been  built  on  the  lowlands  east  of  Broad  street, 
which  would  have  afforded  a  direct  and  natural  route.  But  the  farmers 
in  that  section  were  so  decidedly  opposed  to  the  railway  that  the 
present  route  through  West  Meriden  was  taken  at  the  earnest  solicita- 
tion of  James  S.  Brooks.  He  was  a  man  of  influence  and  owned  lands 
along  Harbor  brook,  which  thus  became  valuable,  as  the  business  of 
the  Center  was  ultimately  transferred  to  this  place.  In  the  light  of 
these  events  the  opposition  of  the  Center  farmers  appears  amusing, 
for  they  not  only  lost  their  home  market  for  "their  spare  corn  and 
hay,"  which  they  had  been  accu.stonied  to  .sell  to  teamsters  on  the 
turnpike,  but  they  also  had  no  market  to  sell  their  farms  as  town 
lots.  The  turnpike  was  an  unequal  competitor  of  the  railroad,  and  soon 
succumbed. 

The  New  Haven  &  Hartford  railroad  was  built  to  Meriden  in  1839, 
this  bemg  for  a  short  time  the  terminus  of  the  line  northward.  The 
first  depot  was  a  rude  shed-like  building,  2.5  by  25  feet,  which  served 
every  purpose  of  the  company.  It  stood  a  little  north  of  Main  street, 
and  Major  Elisha  A.  Cowles  was  the  depot  master.  Some  time  in  1840 
the  waiting  room  was  in  the  Rogers  House,  southwest  of  Main  street, 
where  it  remained  about  two  years.  After  the  Conklin  House  was 
built,  in  1842,  opposite,  and  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street,  a  ticket 
office,  waiting  room  and  railroad  restaurant  were  fitted  up  in  that 
building.  The  original  depot  on  the  east  side  of  the  track,  was 
used  for  freight  purposes  and  an  engine  room.  In  1854  a  new  depot 
was  built  east  of  what  is  now  Winthrop  Square,  which  was  burned  in 
1868,  and  the  same  year  a  new  one  was  erected  on  the  same  site. 
Meantime,  the  freight  depot  north  of  the  original  station  had  been  put 
up.  This  was  removed  farther  north  in  1881,  and  upon  its  site  the 
present  handsome  station  begun  the  same  year.  It  is  a  brick  structure, 
43  by  177  feet,  having  one  main  story  and  a  Mansard  .story,  which  is 
relieved  by  turrets,  the  center  one  bearing  a  flag  .staff.  In  the  interior 
are  found  large  waiting  rooms  and  the  conveniences  of  a  well-appointed 
modern  railway  station.  The  carriage  approach  is  on  the  east  side; 
and  on  the  west  side,  along  the  railway  track,  is  a  canopied  platform, 
23  feet  wide  and  503  feet  long,  supported  by  iron  columns.  This 
station  was  occupied  in  Jul}',  1882. 

The  freight  depot  was  also  completed  in  1882,  and  is  a  brick  build- 
ing, 30  by  360  feet,  or  three  times  the  size  of  the  old  one.  The  exten- 
.sion  of  .side  tracks  to  manufacturing  establishments  has  been  steadily- 
increased,  there  being  more  than  a  half  dozen  miles.  The  tonnage  of 
freight  has  kept  proportionate  increase,  being  more  than  double  what  it 
was  ten  years  ago.  In  1889  it  approximated  180,000  tons.  Twenty-eight 
passenger  trains  per  day  offer  speedy  transportation  to  points  north 
and  south,  few  cities  of  this  size  having  better  facilities  of  this  nature 
offered  by  one  line  of  road. 


484  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Although  having  excellent  facilities  for  transportation  north  and 
south,  the  manufacturers  of  Meriden  long  felt  the  need  of  hav- 
ing a  direct  east  and  west  line.  This  led  to  the  consideration  of  several 
projects,  including  a  railroad  to  Cheshire,  and  in  June,  1869,  the 
Meriden  &  Cheshire  Railroad  Company  was  chartered,  but  it  failed  to 
organize.  Better  results  followed  the  effort  to  build  a  railroad  to 
Cromwell,  on  the  Connecticut  river,  where  water  communication  to 
New  York  could  be  secured.  A  company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $300,- 
000,  was  organized,  which  built  a  road  which  was  opened  April  6th, 
1885.  The  total  length  of  the  track,  including  sidings,  and  the  exten- 
sion on  Center  street,  of  nearly  a  mile  in  length,  was  13.20  miles,  which 
was  all  laid  with  steel  rails  on  a  well-ballas'ed  bed.  This  road  was 
constructed  and  managed  by  home  enterprise  and  local  capital,  and 
had  an  encouraging  patronage. 

The  extension  westward  appearing  advantageous,  the  Meriden  & 
Waterbury  Railroad  Company  was  organized  by  members  of  the  above 
company  and  citizens  of  Waterbury,  who,  in  April,  1887,  raised  $125,- 
000  as  their  share  of  the  funds.  On  the  3d  of  May,  1887,  the  two 
companies  consolidated  their  interests,  and  May  18th  the  Meriden, 
Waterbury  &  Connecticut  River  Railroad  Company  was  organized 
and  directors  elected.  On  the  7th  of  July,  1887,  ground  was  broken 
on  the  Waterbury  extension,  and  the  work  of  construction  went  on 
apace  until  the  17  miles  of  roadway  were  completed.  In  its  length 
it  crosses  38  streets  and  highways,  being  carried  over  all  of  them  over- 
head. The  road  was  formally  opened  July  4th,  1888.  when  a  train  of 
nine  cars  was  run  between  the  two  cities  by  Conductor  Booth.  On 
the  15th  of  July  freight  trains  commenced  making  regular  trips.  In 
1889  the  tonnage  of  freight  carried  was  more  than  60,000  tons,  and  the 
number  of  passengers  was  over  70,000.  The  length  of  the  tracks, 
main  and  sidings,  was  30.34  miles.  The  running  stock  of  the  com- 
pany was  made  up  of  5  engines,  12  pas.senger  cars,  18  box  and  137 
gondola  freight  cars.     Ten  trains  per  day  are  maintained. 

In  1889  the  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  8500,000,  nearly  all 
of  which  was  held  in  the  two  cities,  and  the  affairs  were  controlled  by 
Horace  C.  Wilcox,*  president;  E.  D.  Steele,  vice-president:  George 
Rockwell,  secretary  and  treasurer;  H.  L.  Wade,  assistant  treasurer;  H. 
C.  Wilcox,  George  R.  Curtis,  Samuel  Dodd,  A.  Chamberlain  and  C.  L. 
Rockwell,  Meriden,  directors;  and  E.  D.  Steele,  A.  S.  Chase,  H.  A. 
Matthews  and  H.  L.  Wade,  Waterbury,  directors.  Charles  M.  Craw- 
ford is  the  superintendent  of  the  road  and  H.  L.  B.  Pond,  the  general 
freight  agent. 

The  offices  of  the    company  are   at    Meriden,  in    the    fine   depot 

btiilding,  on  West  Main  street.     The  structure  is  30  by  115  feet,  the 

main  part  being  two  stories  high,  with  roof  sloping  to  one  story  ends. 

The  south  end  of  the  building  is  relieved  by  a  tower.     The  material 

*  Died  August  2rth.  1890. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  48o 

is  Cromwell  brown  ston6  and  blue  and  red  slate.  The  depot  and 
offices  were  completed  for  occupancy  in  June,  1889.  Frederick  L. 
Smith  was  the  first  depot  master. 

This  road  has  terminal  facilities  at  Cromwell  and  Waterbury  with 
roads  east  and  west  and  will  ultimately  form  part  of  a  through  line 
from  the  Hudson  to  the  .sea  coast.  It  has  pleasant  scenic  attractions 
on  its  line  and  Laurel  Grove,  in  the  town  of  Prospect,  has  been  opened 
as  a  most  inviting  day  resort  and  excursion  ground. 

Along  the  railways  are  maintained  the  lines  of  the  Western  Union 
and  other  telegraph  companies,  giving  the  city  rapid  service.  In  the 
fall  of  1887  the  American  Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company  con- 
structed its  line  through  the  town,  west  of  the  center,  supplying  the 
city  with  a  loop.  Long  distance  telephone  communication  is  by  this 
line  offered  to  points  as  remote  as  Philadelphia  and  Boston. 

The  building  of  street  railway's  in  the  city  of  Meriden  was  agitated 
many  years  before  the  project  was  accomplished,  For  this  purpose 
charter  privileges  were  sought  as  early  as  1876  by  Charles  Parker  and 
others:  and  a  later  attempt  was  made  to  build  a  line  to  Hanover,  or 
what  is  now  South  ISIeriden.  On  the  80th  of  March.  1886,  the  general 
assembly  again  granted  charter  rights  to  a  number  of  public  spirited 
citizens,  to  build  lines  of  street  railways  both  in  the  city  and  the  town 
of  Meriden.  Under  this  charter  a  company  was  organized  with  a 
capital  of  $50,000.  George  R.  Curtis  was  elected  president:  Charles 
L.  Rockwell,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  Daniel  Barker  was  appointed 
superintendent.  The  contract  to  build  the  road  was  awarded  to  S. 
W.  Hutchinson,  and  about  five  miles  of  track  were  laid  and  a  horse 
and  car  barn  built  on  Pratt  street.  In  the  winter  the  work  was  inter- 
rupted, but  on  Monday,  March  21st,  1887,  the  Colony  street  line  was 
opened  for  regular  trips.  The  following  day  the  Pratt  and  Hanover 
street  cars  commenced  to  run,  in  connection  with  the  former,  and  on 
Main  street  early  in  April,  the  same  year.  The  equipments  of  the 
road  were  new  and  attractive  and,  being  a  recognized  public  conven- 
ience, the  company  was  well  patronized.  In  one  day,  in  1887,  as  high 
as  6,000  fares  were  taken.  On  the  first  of  January,  1888,  the  company 
had  IB  closed  and  2  open  cars;  90  horses  and  12  mules;  and  the  whole 
number  of  employees  was  35.  On  the  night  of  the  11th  of  January, 
1888,  a  fire  in  the  harness  room  of  the  barn  spread  so  rapidly  that  78 
horses  and  14  cars  were  burned,  causing  a  loss  of  more  than  $30,000. 
New  equipments  were  supplied  and  regular  trips  were  but  little 
interrupted. 

In  the  summer  of  1888  the  road  was  adopted  for  the  use  of  elec- 
tricity as  a  motor  and,  on  the  10th  of  July,  1888,  the  first  car  was  run 
by  that  agency,  which  is  now  used  on  all  but  the  Pratt  street  line. 
The  power  is  supplied  by  the  Daft  Electric  Light  Company  through 
the  double  trolley  system,  three  .'jO-horse  power  generators  being  used. 
A  good  plant  is  maintained  on  Pratt  street. 


486  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Since  May,  1889,  Norman  McD.  Crawford  has  been  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  railwaj'  company,  which  operated,  in  December,  1889, 
about  six  miles  of  track  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  city,  carry- 
ing an  average  number  of  2,200  passengers  per  day. 

To  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Meriden  maybe  attributed  what- 
ever prosperity  the  city  enjoys,  and  their  development  forms  one  of 
the  most  interesting  periods  in  its  history.  Beginning  in  a  small  way, 
several  decades  ago,  industry  after  industry  has  been  added,  until  the 
city  is  one  of  the  acknowledged  manufacturing  centers  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  one  that  is  especially  noted  for  the  excellence  of  its  goods. 
In  the  infancy  of  this  period,  it  gained  a  reputation  which  has  since 
been  greatly  enhanced,  as  one  of  the  principal  points  in  the  Union  for 
the  production  of  Britannia,  plated  and  silver  wares,  lamps,  gas  nnd 
kerosene  fixtures,  cabinet  and  builders'  small  hardware,  steel  and 
plated  cutlery,  shot  guns,  clocks,  pens,  fancy  tin  goods,  carriage  goods 
and  woolen  goods.  These  still  remain  principal  features,  and  the 
plants  devoted  to  their  manufacture  have  as.sumed  mammoth  propor- 
tions. In  these  establishments  other  goods  are  also  manufactured,  their 
products  having  become  much  diversified.  But,  in  addition,  new 
manufactures  have  been  introduced,  in  more  recent  years,  such  as 
musical  instruments,  harness  goods,  bronze  and  art  goods,  and  decor- 
ated wares,  whose  products  give  these  plants  a  creditable  place  among 
the  older  establishments,  and  have  added  new  luster  to  the  fame  of 
Meriden.  In  diversity  of  manufactures,  quality  and  quantity  of  the 
products,  few  places  of  the  same  size  make  a  better  showing  than  this 
city;  and,  what  is  still  more  creditable,  nearly  all  have  been  developed 
from  meager  beginnings,  by  men  of  small  capital,  but  having  a  wealth 
of  skill,  industry  and  perseverance,  who  still  control  these  vast  enter- 
prises, and  who  are  also  the  leading  citizens  in  advancing  the  other 
features  in  the  life  of  this  community. 

To  these  traits  of  character  of  its  manufacturers,  Meriden  largely 
owes  its  importance  as  one  of  the  foremost  of  the  young  cities  of  the 
East.  This  position  caused  it  to  be  selected  as  one  of  the  objects  of 
visit  by  the  South  American  delegates  to  the  International  American 
Congress,  October  10th,  1889.  On  that  occasion  an  exhibit  of  some  of 
the  manufactures  was  made,  and  an  epitomized  account  of  the  indus- 
tries was  prepared,  showing  that  the  factories  of  Meriden  produce,  out 
of  the  raw  material,  several  hundred  articles  used  in  every  family  in 
the  civilized  parts  of  the  globe.  It  also  indicated  that  here  are  em- 
ployed a  small  army  of  men,  among  them  being  hundreds  of  skilled 
mechanics,  whose  workmanship  is  nowhere  else  excelled.  Some  of 
the  goods  shown  were  characterized  by  beauty  of  design  and  artistic 
finish,  approaching  in  every  respect  a  state  of  perfection. 

In  its  early  history  the  town  had  the  usual  milling  and  mechanic  in- 
terests, one  of  the  most  notable  of  the  latter  being  the  shoe  shop  of 
Comfort  Butler,  as  early  as  1765;  and  later  the  shop  and  tannery  of 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  487 

his  son  John.  For  sixty  years  "Uncle  John"  was  the  principal 
tanner  in  the  town,  and  at  his  shoe  shop  employed  a  number  of  men. 
But  aside  from  these,  Samuel  Yale  is  credited  with  being  the  pioneer 
manufacturer  of  Meriden.  In  1791  he  began  making  cut  nails  in  a 
little  shop  on  the  hill,  near  the  Center  Congregational  meetinghouse, 
using  a  small  hand  machine.  This  required  each  nail  to  be  headed 
separately.  In  1794  he  added  the  manufacture  of  pewter  buttons, 
which,  though  coarse,  found  a  ready  sale.  In  this  work  he  had  the 
assistance  of  his  son,  Samuel,  who  was  so  long  one  of  the  leading 
manufacturers.  With  the  latter  was  afterward  associated  his  brother, 
Hiram,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  two  other  brothers,  Charles 
and  William,  became  interested,  and  they  manufactured  pewter  and 
Britannia  war.  Charles  and  Hiram  Yale  removed  to  Wallingford,  and 
at  Yalesville  demonstrated  the  possibility  of  manufacturing  Britannia 
goods  by  greater  power  than  that  of  foot  or  horse,  and  by  using  im- 
proved machinery.*  After  this  time  vSamuel  Yale  had  a  shop  on  Liberty 
street,  and  still  later  another  one  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Main 
streets,  where  he  made  tin  and  Britannia  goods. 

Following  the  example  of  the  Yales,  a  number  of  small  shops  were 
opened  in  what  is  now  the  city,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  in  which 
tin  and  pewter  or  Britannia  goods  were  made.  Some  of  these  devel- 
oped into  larger  establishments  and  did  a  flourishing  business  until 
the  decline  of  these  interests.  Others  were  abandoned  sooner  bj' 
reason  of  the  concentration  of  their  interests  to  form  a  single  corpora- 
tion, whose  line  of  manufacture  was  expanded  to  embrace  other  kinds 
of  goods.  In  this  way  passed  out  of  existence  the  Britannia  shops  of 
Lsaac  C.  Lewis,  William  W.  Lyman,  Lemuel  J.  Curtis,  James  A.  Frary, 
John  Munson  and  others,  when  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company  was 
formed,  in  1852. 

Another  pioneer  manufacturer  at  Meriden  was  Ashbel  Griswold, 
who  made  tea  pots  and  other  articles  out  of  block  tin  in  a  shop  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  present  city.  His  operations  extended  from 
about  1810  to  1842.  He  was  also  early  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
Britannia  goods,  being  associated  with  Ira  Couch  and  others.  Will- 
iam W.  Lyman  was  a  partner  of  the  latter  at  the  old  Griswold  shops, 
in  1844,  but  later  was  at  Pratt.sville  with  Lemuel  J.  Curtis.  Still  later 
he  was  at  the  Frary  shop,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Malleable  Iron 
Works.  After  1855  the  Frary  shops  were  used  by  the  American  Pow- 
der Flask  Company,  of  which  James  D.  Frary  and  others  were  inter- 
ested members.  It  did  not  continue  long.  Lauren  Merriam  had  a 
pioneer  shop  on  the  site  of  Foster,  Merriam  &  Co.'s  works,  where  he 
made  buttons  of  block  tin,  about  the  time  of  the  war  of  1812.  Later 
he  manufactured  ivory  combs  at  Crow  Hollow,  selling  out  in  1830. 
His  sons  subsequently  became  leading  manufacturers  in  the  town. 

In   1828   Nathan   F.   Goodrich   commenced    the   manufacture    of 

*See  history  of  Wallingford  manufactories. 


488  HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

japanned  and  tin  ware,  using  a  small  shop.  In  1830  Ezra  Rutty  came 
to  Meriden,  and  the  firm  of  Goodrich  &  Rutty  was  formed,  and  the 
business  was  much  increased.  In  18'r2  Eli  Ives  was  admitted  to  the 
firm,  which  became  Goodrich,  Ives  &  Rutty.  In  1864,  by  the  retire- 
ment of  ilr.  Goodrich  and  the  admission  of  E.  R.  Crocker  and  Nelson 
Payne,  the  firm  became  Ives,  Rutty  &  Co.,  and  so  remained  until  busi- 
ness was  dissolved,  in  1875.  Large  shops  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
town  were  occupied,  where  from  50  to  100  hands  were  employed  and 
immense  quantities  of  tin  ware  were  manufactured,  from  3, 00()  to  5,000 
tons  of  tin  being  used  annually. 

The  tin  ware  manufactory  of  S.  S.  Clark,  on  East  Main  street,  near 
the  railway  station,  was  al.so  for  many  years  an  important  indu.stry. 
Mr.  Clark  was  connected  with  it  about  forty  years,  after  1835,  and 
under  his  management  the  works  assumed  large  proportions,  in  which 
about  60  persons  found  employment.  Before  the  shops  were  closed, 
some  time  about  1880,  lamp  goods  were  manufactured  at  that  place. 

In  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  Noah  Pomeroy  and  others  were 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  tin  ware,  and  this  may  be  said  to 
have  been  the  leading  indu.stry  until  about  1840.  Most  of  the  goods 
were  sold  by  peddlers  from  wagons,  travelling  over  large  sections  of 
the  country. 

In  the  locality  still  known  as  Prattsville  Benjamin  Twiss  manu- 
factured wooden  clocks  about  1825,  and  was  later  engaged  in  manu- 
facturing coffee  pots  at  the  same  place.  At  a  more  recent  period,  prior 
to  1852,  Britannia  ware  was  made  in  his  old  shops  by  Lemuel  J.  Cur- 
tis and  others. 

The  manufacture  of  ivory  combs  was  at  one  time  so  extensively 
carried  on  in  Meriden  that  it  was  estimated  that  two-thirds  of  those 
goods  produced  in  America  were  manufactured  in  this  town.  The 
indu.stry  was  begun  at  Meriden  by  Merriam  &  Collins,  in  1819,  who 
used  improved  machinery,  and  for  several  years  had  a  fine  business  at 
Crow  Hollow.  Their  interest  passed  to  Walter  Webb  &  Co.,  about 
1830.  Julius  Pratt,  arpractical  comb  maker,  of  Sa3-brook,  where  the  in- 
dustry in  America  was  first  developed,  came  to  Meriden  early  in  1818. 
Several  years  later  he  and  others,  as  Howard,  Pratt  &  Co.,  began  mak- 
ing ivory  combs  in  a  factory  on  Harbor  brook,  below  Main  street. 
Finding  the  water  power  too  feeble  at  that  point,  the  factory  was  re- 
moved to  the  locality  since  called  Prattsville.  In  1824  Fenner  Bush 
became  interested  in  this  firm,  and  when  the  factory  was  burned,  in 
November,  1846,  through  his  energy  it  was  at  once  rebuilt,  and  for 
about  thirty  years  it  was  occupied  m  the  manufacture  of  ivory  combs, 
piano  keys,  etc.  In  1836  Philo  Pratt  &  Co.  commenced  comb  making, 
and  in  the  course  of  years  these  interests  at  Prattsville,  Crow  Hollow 
and  South  ^Meriden  were  consolidated,  Julius  Pratt  &  Co.  becoming 
the  principal  firm,  and  Prattsville  the  main  point  of  manufacture.  In 
1863  the  interests  at  Meriden  and   those  at   Deep  River,  Conn.,  were 


HISTORY    OK    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  489 

united  under  the  firm  name  of  Pratt,  Read  &  Co.  (incorporated),  and 
heavy  operations  were  carried  on  until  after  1870,  when  the  Meriden 
interest  was  removed  to  Saybrook,  and  about  that  time  ivory  comb 
making^  was  discontinued  at  Meriden. 

For  several  years  the  Wilmot  Brothers,  who  began  business  about 
1860,  manufactured  door  fenders  and  other  elastic  articles.  Charles  A. 
Roberts  had  a  factory  on  Crown  street,  after  1852,  in  which  he  made 
large  quantities  of  stationers'  goods.  Both  interests  and  a  number  of 
others,  which  flourished  for  a  time,  found  a  more  successful  existence 
in  other  localities,  to  which  they  were  removed,  or  were  discontinued 
here. 

A  list  prepared  in  1849  indicated  the  following  manufactories  at 
that  time:*  Julius  Pratt  &Co.,  ivory  combs,  employed  4'i  hands:  Walter 
Webb  &  Co.,  ivory  combs,  employed  33  hands:  Pratt,  Ropes,  Webb  & 
Co.,  table  cutlery,  employed  15  hands;  Curtis,   Morgan  &  Co.,  locks, 
latches  and  small  iron   castings,  employed  50  hands;  Charles  Parker- 
coffee  mills,  latches,  vises,  Britannia  and  plated  spoons  and  various 
iron  castings,  employed  60  hands:  C.  &  E.  Parker,  brass  and  iron  cast- 
ings; Oliver  Snow  &  Co.,  iron  pumps  and   all  kinds  of  machinery  to 
order,  emploj-ed  20  hands:  Fo.ster,  Merriam  &  Co.,  casters  and  a  variety 
of  brass  and  iron  castings,  employed  14  hands;  Julius  Parker,  harness 
trimmings,  hinges  and  iron  castings,  employed  8  hands;  Henry  M. 
Foster,  spring  balances  and  steelyards,  employed  3  hands;  Julius  Ives, 
cast  iron  inkstands,  emplo3-ed   3  hands;  H.  T.  Wilcox,  steelyards  and 
bit  braces,  employed  7  hands;  Sanford,  Parmelee  &  Co.,  augers,  skates, 
rakes   and   bits,   employed    40    hands;    Stedman    &  Clark,  plain    and 
japanned   tin   ware,  employed  40  hands;  Goodrich  &  Rutty,  plain  and 
japanned  tin  ware,  employed  18  hands;    Lauren    T.   Merriam,  plain 
and  japanned  tin  ware,  employed  25  hands:  H.  W.  Curtis,  plain  and 
japanned  tin  ware,  employed  8  hands;  Charles  Pomeroy,  plain  and 
japanned  tin  ware,  employed  IS  hands;  Blakeslee,  Stiles  &  Co.,  plain 
and  japanned  tin  ware,  employed  4  hands;  ChaiJes  Waterman,  kettle 
ears  and  candlesticks,  employed  5  hands;  Frary  &  Benham,  Britannia 
ware,  employed  10  hands;  William  W.  Lyman,  Britannia  wai-e. employed 
6  hands:  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  Britannia  ware,  employed  8  hands;  S.  L.  Cone, 
Britannia  ware,  employed  4  hands;  L.  G.  Baldwin,  Britannia  ware  and 
spoons,  emploj'ed  5  hands;  Crocker  &  Pratt,  brass  and  plated  articles, 
like  letters  for  signs,  lamp  chains,  stove  ornaments,  etc.,  employed  20 
hands;  Edwin    Birdse3^  wood   turning,  wooden   combs   and   packing 
boxes,  employed    15   hands:  Birdsey  &  Williams,  bone  buttons,  em- 
ployed  12    hands;    H.    Griswold,  bone   buttons,  employed  20  hands; 
Calvin  Coe,  neat's  foot   oil,  ground  bones  and  gypsum,  employed   4 
hands;  William  Hale,  suspenders,  hands  worked  at  their  own  houses: 
Jedediah  Wilcox,  carpet  bags;  W.  K.  &  S.  L.  Treat,  sashes,  blinds  and 
*  Bv  Reverend  Perkins. 


490  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

doors,  employed  5  hands;  Osgood  &  Co.,  platform  scales,  employed  3 
hands;  Samuel  Yale,  tin  ware  and  lamp  screws,  employed  4  hands. 

The  Meriden  Britannia  Company  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  strongest 
corporations  in  the  city,  having  been  organized  in  1852  and  incorpor- 
ated under  its  present  charter  in  1878.  Its  capital  stock  is  §1,100,000. 
It  is  also  preeminently  the  corporation  which  has  caused  the  name 
of  Meriden  to  be  known  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  civilized  globe  as 
the  "  Silver  City,"  and  one  of  the  chief  manufacturing  centers  of  New 
England.  It  is,  moreover,  the  corporation  which  controls  the  largest 
establishment  in  the  world  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  silver  ware 
and  silver  plated  goods,  producing  4,000  different  articles  and  having 
an  annual  output  of  nearly  $4,000,000  worth  of  goods.  Its  plant  is  in 
the  center  of  the  city  and  consists  mainly  of  substantial,  huge  brick 
buildings,  most  of  them  five  stories  high,  and  having  an  aggregate 
floor  space  of  nearly  ten  acres.  In  them  are  arranged  over  .5,000  feet 
of  .shafting,  turned  by  the  most  powerful  engines,  which  operate 
every  device  of  labor  saving  machinery,  and  yet  the  services  of  nearly 
1,200  hands  are  required  to  carry  on  the  business  of  the  company.  It 
has  been  estimated  that  the  plant  with  its  attendant  good  will  and 
reputation  is  worth  §20,000,000.  Such  a  vast  enterprise  is  not  the 
growth  of  a  day,  but  can  be  created  only  by  genius  having  the  ability 
to  conceive  a  plan  and  persistently  carry  it  out  until  this  business  has 
become  the  foremost  of  the  kind  in  the  world. 

Like  most  other  great  successful  American  manufactories,  this 
concern  was  evolved  from  a  small  beginning  by  men  having  more 
push  and  application  than  capital.  Those  who  founded  it  have  ever 
since  been  the  directing  heads  and  have  been  inseparably  connected 
with  its  development  and  growth.  They  have,  also,  in  the  past  forty 
years,  been  closely  identified  with  the  progressive  interests  of  the 
town,  which  has  kept  pace  with  the  development  of  this  industry,  the 
one  growing  up  with  the  other. 

The  formation  of  the  company  was  prompted  by  the  successful 
experience  of  Horace  C.  and  Dennis  C.  Wilcox,  as  salesmen  of  Britannia 
goods,  for  some  of  the  small  manufacturers  of  that  ware  in  this  locality. 
In  1850  those  energetic  young  men  came  to  Aleriden  and  arranged  to 
sell  the  products  of  the  factories  of  James  Frary,  William  W.  Lyman. 
Lemuel  J.  Curtis,  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  all  of  Meriden;  and  John  Munson 
and  Samuel  Simpson,  of  Wallingford.  After  two  years  all  concerned 
were  satisfied  with  the  arrangement  and  convinced  that  still  better 
results  would  be  obtained  if  their  interests  were  more  closely  united. 
The  company  was  now  organized  by  these  parties,  who  continued  to 
produce  Britannia  goods  at  their  respective  factories  several  years,  all 
being  tributary  to  a  central  office  erected  on  the  site  of  the  present 
plant.  Isaac  C.  Lewis  was  chosen  the  first  president;  Horace  C.  Wilcox, 
secretary;  George  R.  Curtis,  treasurer.  The  latter  has  held  his  office 
continuously,  having  the  assistance  of  George  M.  Curtis  in  more  recent 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  491 

3'ears.  In  1865  Horace  C.  Wilcox  was  elected  president  of  the  cor- 
poration and  Isaac  C.  Lewis  the  superintendent.  Mr.  Wilcox  died 
August  27th,  1890,  and  his  eldest  son,  George  H.  Wilcox,  succeeded 
as  manager  of  the  company.  In  1865  Dennis  C.  Wilcox  was  elected 
secretary,  an  office  to  which  George  H.  Wilcox  was  afterward  elected 
and  in  which  he  still  serves. 

After  a  few  years  successful  business  by  the  company  it  began  the 
erection  of  factory  buildings  near  its  office,  where  its  outlying  inter- 
ests were  concentrated,  the  smaller  shops  being  abandoned.  Since 
that  time  other  buildings  have  been  put  up  as  the  business  demanded, 
until  the  plant  has  attained  its  present  magnitude.  In  recent  years 
a  branch  factory  was  located  at  Hamilton,  Ontario,  in  which  800  hands 
are  employed,  who  produce  goods  for  the  Canadian  trade. 

The  company  originally  manufactured  ordinary  Britannia  ware, 
but  soon  began  the  production  of  goods  of  a  superior  quality,  purchas- 
ing the  entire  interests  of  Simeon  S.  and  Asa  H.  Rogers,  of  Hartford, 
who  also  engaged  in  its  service.  The  Rogers  Brothers  were  estab- 
lished in  1847  and  were  silver  platers  of  superior  reputation.  Their 
processes  and  trade  mark,  "1847,  Rogers  Bros.,  A  1,"  thus  became 
the  exclusive  property  of  the  Britannia  Company,  and  have  proven  to 
be  of  great  value.  The  trade  mark  stamped  upon  knives,  forks  and 
spoons  here  manufactured,  is  everywhere  taken  as  evidence  of  their 
superior  quality. 

The  company  keeps  emploj-ed  a  large  force  of  artisans  of  the 
greatest  skill  in  designing  and  engraving,  thus  keeping  abreast  or 
even  in  advance  of  the  changing  fashions  of  the  times,  in  producing 
myriads  of  articles  of  utility  or  ornament.  But  in  every  line  of  goods 
the  best  material  only  is  used  in  the  manufacture,  and  all  are  treated 
alike  by  the  same  careful  process  in  electro-plating,  which  was  here 
brought  to  a  state  of  perfection. 

The  Wilcox  Silver  Plate  Company  had  its  beginning  as  the  Wilcox 
Britannia  Company,  which  was  incorporated  December  26th,  1865. 
The  present  name  was  adopted  in  May,  1867.  Jedediah  Wilcox  was 
the  first  president  of  the  company,  and  W.  C.  Humphrey,  the  secretary 
and  treasurer.  The  original  capital  of  $250,000  has  been  increased 
to  $370,000,  the  company  by  growth  and  absorbtion  becoming  one  of 
the  strongest  in  the  city.  With  this  body  was  merged  the  original 
Parker  &  Caspar  Company  (incorporated  in  May,  1867),  of  which  John 
E.  Parker,  Charles  Caspar,  Philip  S.  Pelton  and  Samuel  Dodd,  Jr., 
were  members.  For  many  years  the  latter  has  been  the  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  present  corporation,  A.  S.Collins  being  the  president. 
The  works  of  the  company,  on  Pratt  street,  were  erected  in  1866, 
upon  the  site  of  the  burned  woollen  mills  and  are  large  and  convenient. 
The  main  building  is  of  brick,  four  stories  high,  40  by  350  feet.  Other 
buildings  in  the  plant  give  a  total  capacity  for  nearly  400  operatives. 
The   company   manufactures   an    immense  variety    of   silver   plated 


492  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

goods,  of  designs  of  a  very  high  standard,  and  contemplates  the  manu- 
facture of  German  silver  ware  at  an  early  day.  The  output  is  about 
§700,000  per  year,  which  finds  ready  sale  in  many  lands,  and  the  prod- 
uct is  steadily  increasing. 

The  Meriden  Silver  Plate  Company  was  organized  as  a  corporation 
under  the  laws  of  the  state,  in  the  spring  of  1870,  by  Charles  Caspai;, 
George  R.  Curtis,  W.  R.  Mackay,  Lsaac  Cornwall,  W.  E.  A.  Bird  and 
others.  The  two  first  named  were  the  principal  officers.  W.  R. 
Alackay  was  cho-sen  the  superintendent  and  has  since  so  served.  In 
more  recent  years  George  R.  Curtis  was  elected  president;  F.  E. 
Knight,  vice-president:  and  R.  H.  Curtis,  the  secretary  and  treasurer. 
Beginning  in  a  small  factory,  in  which  25  hands  were  employed,  the 
works  have  been  enlarged  and  improved  until,  in  1890,  the  real  estate 
was  valued  at  $76,000.  The  main  building,  on  North  Colony  street, 
is  six  stories  high  and  has  dimensions  60  by  90  feet.  It  is  of  brick  in 
the  Eastlake  style  and  contains  an  attractive  office.  A  glass  cutting 
shop  is  30  by  64  feet,  in  which  30  men  are  employed  in  cutting  and 
engraving  glass  mo.st  artistically,  for  use  on  the  company's  plated 
ware.  This  embraces  many  novel  and  chaste  designs,  principally  in 
hollow  ware,  the  services  made  by  this  company  being  noted  for  their 
handsome  appearance.  In  all  departments  several  hundred  men  are 
employed. 

Wilbur  B.  Hall's  silver  plated  ware  factory,  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  city,  was  established  in  1882.  The  products  are  a  very  large 
variety  of  small  silver  plated  table  ware  and  articles  for  ornamental 
u.se.     From  twenty  to  thirty  people  are  engaged  in  this  line  of  work. 

The  C.  Rogers  &  Bros.  Silver  Plating  Establishment*  ranks  as  one 
of  the  foremost  m  the  city  of  Meriden.  The  firm  comprises  the  three 
Rogers  brothers — Cephas  B.,  Gilbert  and  Wilbur  F. — who  began  busi- 
ness in  1866.  At  first  only  a  .small  building  was  occupied  in  the  manu- 
facture of  coffin  trimmings,  tea-pot  knobs  and  flat  table  ware,  but 
which  proved  to  be  of  such  a  fine  quality  that  the  business  has  steadily 
expanded  since  that  time,  until  300  persons  are  employed.  The  plant 
at  the  foot  of  Butler  street  consists  of  a  number  of  large  brick  build-  ■ 
ings,  erected  with  a  view  to  their  convenience  and  adaptation  to  the 
wants  of  this  industry.  The  line  of  manufacture  has  been  increased, 
that  of  brass  furniture  being  lately  added.  Among  the  recent  improve- 
ments is  a  new  brass  furnace  which  will  eive  the  firm  still  ereater 
opportunity  for  diversified  products.  The  flat  ware  of  the  Rogers 
Brothers  has  become  justly  celebrated  for  its  excellence  and  many 
new  designs  in  plated  goods  and  German  silver  have  been  originated 
and  patented  by  them,  which  has  still  further  enhanced  their  reputa- 
tion as  silver  workers. 

Edward  Miller  &Co.,+ manufacturers  of  lamps,  chandeliers,  bronze 
and  brass  goods,  have  one  of  the  largest  establishments  of  the  kind 

*See  biography  of  Cephas  B.  Rogers.      +  See  also  biography  Edward  Miller 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  493 

in  the  state.  The  works  embrace  immense  brick  buildings,  equipped 
with  the  most  approved  machinery  that  experience  can  suggest  and 
mone}^  procure,  and  the  plant  is  alike  creditable  to  the  city  and  the 
corporation  which  has  created  it.  When  about  Lt  years  old  Mr.  Miller 
was  employed  by  Horatio  N.  Howard,  manufacturer  of  lamp  screws, 
oil  screws  and  candlestick  springs.  He  afterward  was  employed  for 
about  two  years  by  Stedman  &  Clark,  manufacturers  of  tin  ware,  in- 
cluding candlesticks  and  lamps,  on  East  Main  street.  He  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  father,  under  the  firm  name  of  Joel  Miller  & 
Son,  and  began  the  manufacture  of  these  goods  in  an  old  shed  on 
Broad  street,  using  foot  power  lathes  and  presses.  The  partnership 
continued  until  Edward  was  20  years  old,  when  he  bought  out  his 
father's  interest.  His  business  increased  and  horse  power  was  soon 
substituted.  Later  a  larger  shop,  with  steam  power,  was  occupied,  in 
which  the  brass  parts  of  fluid  lamps  were  made.  In  1856  his  shop  was 
burned  down.  Larger  works  took  its  place,  and  after  the  manufacture 
of  brass  kerosene  lamp  goods  was  begun,  the  business  increased  very 
rapid!}'.  In  1866  the  firm  was  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the 
state,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000,  which  has  been  increased  to  $250,000. 
Edward  Miller  was  chosen  president  of  the  corporation,  and  has  since 
remained  at  its  head.  W.  H.  Perkins  served  many  years  as  treasurer, 
an  ofBce  later  filled  by  Edward  Miller,  Jr. 

In  1868-9  a  large  brass  rolling  mill  was  erected,  and  the  manufac- 
ture of  sheet  brass  on  a  large  scale  was  begun.  Various  articles  are 
also  produced  of  copper  and  German  silver,  and  in  more  recent  years 
many  kinds  of  bronze  ornaments  have  been  manufactured,  in  addition 
to  the  specialties  of  the  firm — the  celebrated  Rochester  lamp,  in  a 
variety  of  patterns,  and  Niagara  oil  and  gas  burners.  Many  skillful 
metal  workers  are  employed,  and  in  all  nearly  500  persons  find  occu- 
pation in  these  works. 

The  Bradley  &  Hubbard  Manufacturing  Company  was  incorpor- 
ated in  January.  1875,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000,  the  corporators  being 
Walter  Hubbard,  Nathaniel  Bradley.  Charles  F.  Linsley  and  George 
R.  Hubbard.  These  have  also  since  been  the  officers  of  the  corpora- 
tion, which  has  become  one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  world. 
The  beginning  of  this  vast  enterprise  was  on  a  small  scale,  some  j-ears 
before  the  incorporation,  and  the  business  was  developed  to  its  present 
magnitude  by  the  skill,  tact  and  energy  of  the  members  of  the  com- 
pany whose  name  it  bears,  and  who  started  out  with  a  determination, 
to  which  they  have  studiously  adhered,  to  produce  only  the  best  goods 
of  the  best  material.  Hence  the  association  of  the  general  trade  mark, 
"  B.  &  H.,"  is  synonymous  with  the  excellent  quality  of  the  wares,  and 
more  especially  of  the  lamp  and  lamp  goods  which  have  brought  the 
corporation  fame  and  wealth.  With  the  expansion  of  the  capacity 
have  come  increased  variety  of  manufactures,  all  of  the  same  high 
type  of  character  as  the  original  products.     Chief  among  these  are 


494  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

gas  fixtures,  bronzes,  art  metal  goods  in  ornaments,  table  and  fireplace 
furniture,  the  diversified  interests  giving  employment  to  the  highest 
artistic  and  mechanical  skill.  A  variety  of  ingenious  machinery  is 
also  used.  In  all  its  appointments  this  establishment  may  fairly  serve 
as  a  model  manufactory  of  high  grade  metal  goods,  of  which  lamps 
continue  the  staple  articles.  The  many  good  points  of  the  "  B.  &  H." 
lamp  have  popularized  it  not  only  in  this  country,  but  in  many  of  the 
markets  of  the  world,  large  shipments  being  made  to  South  America. 

The  Bradley  &  Hubbard  plant  is  near  the  center  of  the  city,  on  the 
main  line  of  the  New  Haven  railroad,  and  its  acres  of  large  brick 
buildings  have  been  especially  erected  for  the  uses  of  the  corporation, 
and  to  afford  working  capacity  for  the  thousand  people  in  its  service. 

The  Charles  Parker  Company  was  organized  December  26th,  1876, 
the  capital  being  $.500,000;  and  the  stockholders  were:  Charles  Parker, 
Charles  E.  Parker,  Dexter  W.  Parker  and  Theodore  F.  Breese.  The 
first  three  are  the  principal  officers  of  the  company,  Charles  Parker 
having  been  the  president  since  its  organization.  He  is  the  founder 
of  the  vast  interests  controlled  by  the  corporation,  and  is  perhaps  more 
distinctively  than  any  other  man  living,  the  pioneer  of  successful  man- 
ufacturing in  Meriden.  A  sketch  of  his  life  and  business  career  is 
given  in  another  part  of  this  volume. 

The  diverse  industries  controlled  by  the  company  could  not  be  ac- 
commodated at  the  parent  plant,  although  it  is  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive of  its  kind  in  the  state,  and  other  plants  have  been  established 
at  East  Meriden,  Yalesville  and  on  the  New  Haven  railroad  in  the  city 
of  Meriden,  some  of  which  are  devoted  to  special  features  of  manu- 
factures, but  taken  as  a  whole,  producing  an  almost  endless  variety  of 
goods  and  giving  employment  to  about  one  thousand  people. 

At  the  home  shops  are  manufactured  a  line  of  goods  which  have 
become  widely  known  as  the  "  Parker"  lamps,  which  are  constructed 
in  many  useful  and  artistic  forms,  and  are  deservedly  popular  on  ac- 
count of  their  many  merits.  The  "  Parker  "  vises,  screws,  etc.,  have 
also  a  wide  reputation;  and  the  many  chaste  articles  of  brass  in  par- 
lor and  hall  furniture  make  a  rich  and  attractive  line  of  products 
which  give  employment  to  the  greatest  skill  in  those  branches  of 
manufacture. 

The  East  Meriden  works  are  large,  well  appointed  and  neatly  kept. 
They  are  mainly  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  Britannia  metal  and 
galvanized  iron  spoons,  immense  quantities  being  produced. 

At  Yalesville  are  older  shops  on  a  good  water  power,  which  are  de- 
voted to  the  manufacture  of  "  Parker  "  coffee  and  spice  mills  and  pack- 
ing cases,  a  million  feet  of  lumber  being  consumed  annually  in  the 
latter  work. 

The  shops  of  the  "  Parker  Brothers,"  on  the  New  Haven  railroad, 
south  of  Main  street,  are  given  up  to  the  widely  celebrated  "  Parker  '• 
shot  gun,  whose  excellence  has  been  attested   in  many  trials  in  this 


HISTORY    OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  495 

and  foreign  countries,  when  it  received  the  award  of  the  first  prize. 
It  is  claimed  that  this  is  not  only  the  largest,  but  also  the  most  com- 
plete and  best  equipped  shot  gun  factory  in  the  world.  The  weapons 
are  breech  loading,  and  have  been  improved  so  as  to  be  practically 
hammerless,  making  it  one  of  the  safest  fire  arms  in  the  world.  This 
latter  feature  is  the  invention  of  the  superintendent,  C.  A.  King. 

On  the  site  of  these  works  were  formerly  the  auger  and  bit  shops 
of  James  S.  Brooks,  succeeded  by  the  firm  of  Parker,  Snow,  Brooks  & 
Co.,  who  were  in  turn  succeeded,  in  1853,  by  the  Meriden  Machine 
Companj',  of  which  the  directors  were:  S.W.  Baldwin,  James  H.  Breck- 
enridge,  Oliver  Snow,  Charles  Parker  and  John  Parker.  In  .subsequent 
years  the  latter  became  the  owners  of  the  property. 

The  Parker  &  Whipple  Company  was  incorporated  in  jVlarch,  1868, 
with  a  capital  of  $100,000  and  a  board  of  directors  compo.sed  of  John 

E.  Parker,  Henry  J.  P.  Whipple,  L.  J.  Curtis,  John  Parker  and  H.  C. 
Wilcox.  The  two  first  named  were  the  president,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  company.     In  1889  John  Parker  was  the   president  and  F. 

F.  Breese  held  the  other  offices.  The  company  was  organized  to 
succeed  to  the  business  of  Parker  &  Whipple,  as  manufacturers  of 
door  locks,  knobs  and  builders'  hardware  and  trimmings,  who  began 
that  industry  in  1859,  at  the  locality  called  "  Crow  Hollow."  Pre- 
viously this  site  had  been  occupied  for  manufacturing  purposes  by 
Lauren  Merriam,  Walter  Webb  &  Co.,  and  others,  various  articles 
being  manufactured  there.  Water  was  the  original  power,  the  supply 
being  from  a  small  stream  flowing  from  the  hills.  In  later  years 
steam  was  added  as  a  supplementary  power. 

The  works  of  the  Parker  &  Whipple  Company  embrace  several 
large  buildings,  including  iron  and  bra.ss  foundries.  A  large  number 
of  men  were  formerly  emplo3'ed,  which  had  the  effect  of  creating  a 
small  ham^let  in  that  section,  which  is  still  locally  called  "  Crow 
Hollow."  In  1889  the  products  of  the  company  were  mainly  clocks, 
which  were  here  made  in  a  variety  of  sizes  and  styles,  some  being 
unique  in  appearance,  and  all  were  reputed  good  time  keepers. 

The  corporation  of  INIanning,  Bowman  &  Company  was  organized 
in  Middletown,  Conn.,  and  in  1872  transferred  its  business  to  Meriden, 
occupying  the  triangular  space  formed  by  Pratt,  Miller  and  Catlin 
streets.  A  small  building  was  occupied  and  less  than  fifty  hands 
were  employed.  From  this  has  grown  the  present  immense  establish- 
ment, having  a  continuous  frontage  on  the  three  streets  of  750  feet 
and  being  four  stories  high.  In  addition  there  are  large  buildings  on 
the  opposite  side  of  Catlin  street,  for  various  uses  of  the  company, 
which  manufactures  its  own  gas  for  lighting  and  manufacturing 
purposes.  The  fuel  of  the  100-horse  power  engine  is  crude  petroleum. 
In  the  factory  improved  machinery  is  u.sed  and  a  large  force  of  hands 
employed,  in  the  production  of  planished  tin  and  copper  goods,  granite 
iron  and  pearl  agate  ware,  etc. 


49G  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

At  the  Centennial  Exposition,  in  J87G,  the  company  had  an  exhibit 
which  included  its  first  granite  ware  tea  pot  with  white  metal  mount- 
ings. A  medal  was  there  awarded  and  the  exhibits  at  other  world's 
fairs  were  similarly  complimented.  In  1878  the  company  invented 
and  patented  metal  trimmed  iron  ware,  which  has  since  become  world- 
famous.  Since  that  time,  however,  the  variety  of  designs  has  been 
greatly  increased  and  the  finish  improved.  The  skill  and  enterprise 
of  the  company  have  produced  an  innovation  in  this  line  of  manufac- 
tures which  has  re.sulted  in  the  production  of  hollow  ware  for  table 
use,  which  is  not  excelled  for  beauty  and  superiority  in  every  respect, 
by  a  similar  establishment  in  the  world.  The  officers  of  this  company 
are  E.  B.  Manning,  president:  Robert  Bowman,  .secretary  and 
treasurer.. 

The  ctTtlery  interests  of  the  town  have  been  extended  and  promi- 
nent features  of  its  manufacturing  history  many  years.  An  account 
of  the  Oldest  company  appears  in  connection  with  a  sketch  of  South 
Meriden,  where  it  is  located.  The  Miller  Brothers  Cutlery  Company 
was  established  at  Yalesville,  in  1870,  by  William  H.  and  George  W. 
Miller,  who  were  soon  joined  by  Henry  Lewis,  for  the  manufacture 
of  pocket  cutlery.  In  1872  their  interests  were  removed  to  the  old 
comb  factory  of  Pratt,  Read  &  Co.,  where  the  United  States  Steel 
Company  was  con.solidated  with  it.  The  water  power  of  Harbor 
brook  was  supplemented  by  steam  and  the  capacity  of  the  buildings 
enlarged.  The  main  works  are  32  by  120  feet  and  four  stories  high, 
in  which  improved  labor  saving  machinery  is  used,  the  company  being 
one  of  the  first  to  adopt  machinery  for  making  all  the  parts  of  a  pocket 
knife  interchangeable  and  the  blades  of  a  uniform  temper,  which  has 
given  their  products  a  high  reputation. 

In  1878  the  company  was  re-organized,  with  Lemuel  J.  Curtis  as 
president.  In  1889  that  office  was  held  by  Isaac  C.  Lewis;  William  F. 
Rockwell  was  the  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  C.  L.  Rockwell  and 
George  W.  Lyon  were  associate  members  of  the  company. 

In  1883  the  company  purchased  the  steel  pen  works  of  Harris  & 
Bradford,  of  New  York,  and  have  since  here  carried  them  on  in  con- 
nection with  their  pocket  cutlery  interests  and  steel  ink  erasers.  The 
high  character  of  the  pens  designed  by  George  Bradford,  one  of  the 
original  steel  pen  makers  in  America,  has  been  kept  up  by  the  com- 
pany, whose  establishment  ranks  as  one  of  three  leading  works  in  the 
country.  In  this  department  100  men  are  employed;  and  in  the  cutlery 
works  about  150.  The  plant  of  the  company  embraces  about  one  and 
a  half  acres  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  occupied  manufacturing  sites  m 
Meriden. 

George  W.  Miller's  pocket  cutlery  works  on  Mechanic  street  were 
established  in  1880  and  discontinued  in  1889.  Boys'  pocket  knives 
were  made  and  a  dozen  people  employed. 

Shears  and  scissors  of  fine  quality  are  manufactured  by  Russell  S. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  497 

Gladwin,  in  the  central  part  of  the  town;  and  by  Joseph  Wriggles- 
worth  &  Son,  near  the  Miller  cutlery  works. 

The  Breckenridge  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized  in  1887 
to  succeed  to  the  business  of  Breckenridge  &  Co.,  which  was  estab- 
lished in  1864,  and  whose  place  of  business,  since  1868,  has  been  at  the 
present  plant.  Large  frame  shops  are  occupied  and  75  hands  are  em- 
ployed. Hardware  and  sheet  metal  goods  were  manufactured  until 
1887,  when  the  manufacture  of  gas  and  combination  fixtures  and  art 
metal  goods  in  all  its  branches  was  begun,  and  has  been  successfully 
carried  on.  The  president  of  the  company  is  F.  R.  Seidensticker,  and 
J.  H.  Breckenridge  is  the  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  other  members 
are  W.  A.  Breckenridge  and  E.  D.  Hall.  Here  are  also  manufactured 
the  goods  for  the  Sands  Automatic  Fan  Company,  which  removed  its 
place  of  business  from  Bridgeport  to  Meriden  in  June,  1888.  Of  this 
corporation  Jesse  Sands  is  the  president  and  Frank  E.  Sands  the  treas- 
urer. Their  goods  are  favorably  used  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  the 
ventilating  fan  being  one  of  the  best  yet  devised. 

The  Kelsey  Press  Company  was  organized  June  1st,  1889,  as  suc- 
cessors to  William  A.  Kelsey  &  Co.,  who  began  business  in  Meriden 
in  1872,  manufacturing  amateur  presses  and  printing  material.  These 
articles  are  still  produced  on  a  more  extensive  scale,  and  a  trade  has 
been  established  which  reaches  to  many  foreign  countries.  Eight 
sizes  of  Excelsior  Printing  Presses,  costing  from  $15  to  $100,  are  manu- 
factured. The  motor  is  a  15  horse  power  engine,  and  20  hands  are 
employed,  in  a  factory  on  South  Colony  street. 

The  Meriden  Bronze  Company  succeeded  to  the  business  estab- 
lished by  S.  H.  Foster,  at  first  confined  to  casters  and  furniture  trim- 
mings. July  1st,  1882,  the  interest  passed  to  the  Foster  Hardware 
Company,  whose  name  was  changed,  January  1st,  1884,  to  the  present 
title,  with  the  following  officers:  H.  P.  Allen,  president;  William  E. 
Gard,  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  A.  H.  Jones,  manager.  These 
officers  have  been  continued.  The  original  capital  of  $30,000  has  been 
increased  to  $45,000.  The  plant  is  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city, 
and  the  main  factory  is  450  feet  long,  a  part  of  it  being  five  stories 
high  and  built  of  brick.  Nearly  200  hands  are  employed.  The  variety 
of  products  has  been  greatly  increased,  embracing  bronze  and  brass 
art  goods  of  every  description,  the  chief  being  elaborate  lamps,  tables 
with  artistic  tops,  and  other  rare  and  beautiful  goods  from  designs  by 
the  artists  of  the  company. 

E.  D.  Castelow's  piano  and  store  stool  factory  was  established  by 
him  in  1855,  and  contiuued  on  the  same  site  until  1885,  when  the  in- 
terest passed  to  James  H.  Breckenridge  &  Son,  with  E.  D.  Castelow  as 
superintendent.  Beginning  with  one  pattern  of  a  wrought  iron  stool, 
the  number  increased  until  thirty  different  kinds  of  stools  were  made 
and  a  dozen  hands  employed. 

The  piano  stool  factory  of  A.  Merriam  &  Co.,  on  Pratt  street,  estab- 
31 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

lished  in  1873,  and  which  at  one  time  gave  employment  to  30  men,  was 
discontinued  after  fifteen  years  operation. 

The  Meriden  Malleable  Iron  Company  continues  the  business 
begun  in  186]  by  the  firm  of  Lyon,  Augur  &  Co.,  who  had  a  shop  on 
the  site  of  the  present  Bradley  &  Hubbard  works.  In  1868  their  inter- 
ests and  those  of  J.  H.  Canfield  &  Co.  were  united,  and  the  present 
corporation  formed  with  a  capital  of  $75,000,  which  has  been  increased 
to  $120,000.  A  new  plant,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Frary  shops,  was 
secured,  on  which  fine,  large  buildings  of  brick  were  erected  and 
occupied  in  the  fall  of  1868.  Extensive  additions  were  made  in  1870, 
and  again  in  1883,  the  plant  having,  in  1889,  half  a  dozen  brick 
buildings  from  one  to  four  stories  high,  and  supplied  with  fine  ma- 
chinery. In  1870  the  manufacture  of  a  full  line  of  lamp  and  lantern 
fixtures  was  begun,  to  which  were  added  cabinet  hardware  and  a  large 
variety  of  small  malleables  of  brass  and  iron.  An  average  of  350 
hands  are  employed,  and  the  products  of  the  establishment  are  in  ex- 
cellent demand.  The  officers  of  the  company  are :  George  W.  Lyon, 
president;  Eli  I.  Merriman,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  C.  L.  Lyon, 
superintendent. 

Foster,  Merriam  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  cabinet  hardware  and 
bronze  goods,  carry  on  the  business  established  in  1835  by  Albert 
Foster,  Hiram  Foster,  Asaph  Merriam,  Nelson  Merriam,  Julius  Way 
and  Belden,  of  New  Britain.  Furniture  casters  were  manufactured 
at  "Crow  Hollow,"  the  product  being  50  sets  per  day.  In  1840  Way 
sold  out  to  John  Sutlifif  and  in  1843  Asaph  Merriam  retired,  the  firm 
retaining  the  above  title.  In  1850  the  firm  located  at  the  present 
plant,  where,  in  1858,  Alanson  Watrous  established  an  iron  foundry 
in  connection.  In  1862  Mr.  Watrous  died,  when  the  foundry  ceased 
to  be  a  distinct  interest.  Four  years  later  the  firm  was  incorporated 
with  a  capital  of  $80,000.  In  1880  Nelson  Merriam  died,  and  Albert 
Foster  in  1882.  The  officers  in  1889  were:  John  Sutlifif,  president; 
James  R.  .Sutlifif,  vice-president;  George  C.  Merriam,  secretary  and 
treasurer.  The  plant  embraces  about  four  acres  of  land,  on  which 
are  extensive  brick  and  frame  buildings,  well  adapted  for  the  business 
and  finely  equipped.  The  motor  is  a  250-horse  power  engine,  and  the 
products  embrace  almost  every  article  in  the  cabinet  hardware  line, 
which  have  a  fine  reputation  for  their  style  and  excellence.  Two 
hundred  hands  are  employed. 

A.  H.  Merriam  has  been  engaged  since  April,  1868,  in  the  manu- 
facture of  heavy  machinery,  such  as  die  presses,  spinning  lathes  and 
work  on  special  orders.  A  well  arranged  factory  on  State  street  is 
occupied,  where  a  score  of  men  find  skillful  employment,  in  the  pro- 
duction of  some  of  the  finest  work  of  this  nature  in  the  state. 

A  recently  established  interest  of  the  same  nature  is  the  Meriden 
Machine  Tool  Company,  organized  to  build  special  machinery  and 
tools.     The  corporation  consists  of  H.  Wales  Lines,  R.  L.  Peck,  Walter 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  499 

L.  Cheney  and  John  Johnson,  the  latter  three  being  young  machinists. 
A  specialty  is  made  of  turning  machinery  of  a  peculiar  pattern. 

Henry  B.  Todd  has  been  established  since  1879  as  a  manufacturer 
of  light  machinery,  tools,  etc.,  occupying  since  1885  a  shop  on  vSouth 
Second  street,  where  eight  men  are  employed. 

The  Griswold,  Richmond  &  Glock  Company  is  a  new  corporation 
for  the  manufacture  of  copper,  galvanized  iron  and  other  metal  cor- 
nices and  ornamental  work.  A  shop  on  Colony  street  is  occupied 
and,  in  connection  with  the  stove  and  range  business,  a  number  of 
men  are  employed.  The  latter  interest  was  established  by  N.  F. 
Griswold  in  1863,  and  since  1876  John  L.  Richmond  and  Charles  E. 
Glock  have  been  associate  partners  in  the  firm.  A  handsome  store  on 
Main  street  is  also  maintained. 

The  Beecher  Manufacturing  Company  is  located  on  the  site  for- 
merly occupied  by  the  shops  of  the  American  Hardware  Company, 
which  was  incorporated  in  1853,  with  Henry  T.  Wilcox,  president; 
Henry  S.  Wilcox,  secretary;  and  E.  K.  Breckenridge,  superintendent. 
Steelyard  scales,  etc.,  were  made  in  a  frame  building,  which  burned 
down  about  1860.  The  above  corporation  was  organized  in  1872  for 
the  purpose  of  manufacturing  carriage  forgings  and  took  its  name 
from  H.  M.  Beecher,  its  first  president;  D.  F.  Southwick  being  the 
secretary  and  treasurer.  For  many  years  H.  D.  Bassettwas  the  presi- 
dent, which  office  was  last  held  by  D.  F.  Southwick;  and  since  1883 
S.  W.  Kent  has  been  the  secretary  and  the  treasurer.  The  main  shop 
is  220  feet  long  and  is  supplied  with  machinery  for  making  solid  drop 
forgings  for  fine  carriages,  which  have  here  been  brought  to  a  high 
standard,  as  only  the  best  material  is  used  and  skillful  workmen 
employed.  Sixty  people  find  occupation  in  producing  irons  for  about 
1,000  vehicles  per  day.  William  B.  McEeny  is  the  superintendent  of 
the  works,  which  have  a  national  reputation. 

The  Chapman  Manufacturing  Compan}'  was  organized  in  1881  and 
incorporated  in  1882.  Its  principal  officers  were  :  Lemuel  J.  Curtis, 
president,  succeeded  by  Isaac  C.  Lewis;  Selah  A.  Hull,  secretary;  E.  R. 
Chapman,  treasurer  and  general  manager.  The  latter  constitute  the 
present  officers.  From  a  meager  beginning  the  business  of  the  com- 
pany has  been  increased  yearly,  until  in  1889  it  formed  an  interest  of 
fine  proportions.  The  premises  occupied,  on  Britannia  street,  have 
been  enlarged,  the  main  buildings  being  four  stories  high,  36  feet 
wide  and  180  feet  long.  A  60-horse  power  engine  furnishes  thepower 
and  100  persons  are  employed  on  the  products  of  the  company.  These 
consist  of  fine  saddlery  hardware,  in  nickel,  brass,  gold  and  imitation 
rubber,  sleigh  bells,  dog  collars,  horse  hair  plumes,  etc.,  in  a  great 
variety  of  styles  and  beauty  of  finish.  The  active  head  of  the  com- 
pany is  E.  A.  Chapman,  under  whose  supervision  the  business  has  been 
developed.     T.  S.  Alexander  is  the  superintendent. 

The  Meriden  Buckle  Company  is  a  new  corporation,  its  organiza- 


500  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

tion  having  been  effected  in  1889,  with  G.  H.Wilson  as  president  and 
treasurer,  and  E.  A.  Wilson,  secretar3\  A  factory  on  Pratt  street  gives 
employment  to  a  number  of  men  in  the  production  of  the  Pullman 
and  other  shoe  buckles  and  clasps. 

The  Meriden  Saddlery  and  Leather  Company  was  originally  the 
Bond  Harness  Company,  of  which  L.  F.  Bond  was  the  prime  mover. 
In  1887  a  factory  building  four  stories  high  and  36  by  70  feet  was 
erected,  on  Britannia  street,  in  which  the  manufacture  of  harness  and 
horse  goods  was  begun.  In  February,  1889,  the  Bond  Company  was 
succeeded  by  the  present  corporation,  of  which  George  R.  Curtis  is 
the  president,  Selah  A.  Hull  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  P.  E. 
Hull  the  superintendent.  Under  the  management  of  the  latter  the 
business  of  the  company  has  been  much  expanded,  50  men  being  em- 
ployed in  1889  as  "  curriers  and  workers  in  leather,"  for  the  finer 
grades  of  harness  and  harness  goods. 

The  Meriden  Harness  Company,  on  South  Colony  street,  was 
established  in  1888  by  John  W.  Nichols  and  others.  About  15  hands 
are  emploj'ed  and  the  interest  is  a  growing  one. 

Charles  H.  Fales'  shoe  factory,  on  Miller  street,  was  established  in 
1871,  a  few  hands  only  being  employed.  In  1889,  with  the  same  pro- 
prietor, 60  persons  were  employed  in  a  three  story  factory,  30  by  60 
feet,  on  fine  calf  and  camelopard  boots  and  shoes  for  men's  wear,  the 
goods  having  a  fine  reputation  in  the  wholesale  trade,  for  which  they 
are  manufactured. 

In  1853  Anton  Reuss  came  to  Meriden  and  made  pocket  books  in 
a  limited  way.  Since  1869  he  has  been  a  manufacturer  of  fine 
morocco  goods  in  sample  cases,  etc.,  producing  also  the  same  line  of 
work  in  fine  cheaper  leathers  and  plush.  Several  dozen  hands  are 
employed. 

The  Meriden  Flint  Glass  Company  was  incorporated  April  19th, 
1876,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  which  was  mostly  held  by  members  of 
the  Britannia  Company.  The  first  board  of  directors  had  William  W. 
Lyman,  Horace  C.  Wilcox,  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  Lemuel  J.  Curtis  and  Eli 
Butler  among  its  members.  Later,  Horace  C.  Wilcox  was  the  presi- 
dent; George  R.  Curtis  the  treasurer,  and  George  E.  Hatch  the  secre- 
tary and  manager.  The  latter  and  Joseph  Bourne  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  New  England  Glass  Works,  and  were  skilled  artisans, 
■who  here  directed  an  enterprise  which  produced  some  of  the  finest 
ornamental  glass — cut,  etched  and  opal — in  the  country.  The  com- 
pany erected  large  and  well-appointed  glass  works,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  city,  and  many  skilled  native  and  foreign  workmen  were 
employed.  For  ten  years  operations  were  carried  on,  work  being  sus- 
pended in  the  spring  of  1886.  The  following  season  James  J.Murray 
&  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  occupied  them  for  a  year,  since  which  they 
have  again  been  vacant. 

In  another  part  of  the  city  James  D.  Bergen  has  lately  successfully 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  501 

manufactured  cut  and  engraved  glassware  of  elegant  design  and  artis- 
tic finish:  and  some  of  the  silver  plating  establishments  also  prepare 
glass  for  their  own  use. 

Glass  decorating  has  become  an  industry  at  Meriden  in  the  past 
ten  years,  which  is  affording  occupation  for  a  large  number  of  people. 
After  the  Flint  Glass  Company  di.scontinued  work,  in  1886,  E.  H. 
Kroeber  and  A.  C.  Kaeppel  began  this  industry  in  its  old  department, 
and  have  continued  decorating  opal  ware. 

Near  the  same  time  A.  G.  Eydam  and  P.  J.  Handel  opened  a  deco- 
rating establishment,  on  Miller  street,  where  they  employ  19  hands  in 
embellishing  lamp  shades,  vases,  sugar  and  salt  spills,  etc.,  and  letter- 
ing white  pottery  ware  by  a  peculiar  process.  Their  business  is  rap- 
idly increasing. 

C.  F.  Monroe's  Decorating  Works  date  their  origin  from  1882,  when 
he  began  at  Meriden  on  a  small  scale,  extending  his  business  until 
large  works  are  occupied.  The  present  plant,  at  the  Waterbury  depot, 
was  built  in  the  summer  of  1888.  It  is  a  large  frame,  2J  stories  high. 
In  it  are  employed  from  30  to  50  people,  many  of  them  being  artists  of 
high  skill,  and  all  having  more  than  ordinary  intelligence.  Every 
variety  of  work  is  decorated,  the  paintings  embracing  de.signs  from 
nature,  landscapes,  portraits  and  figures.  The  art  novelties  show  the 
highest  degree  of  skill  in  design  and  execution,  many  being  the  con- 
ception of  Mr.  Monroe,  who  is  a  master  in  this  art,  and  this  establish- 
ment is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  decorating  works  in  New  Eng- 
land. 

The  Meriden  Curtain  Fixture  Company  continues  the  business 
established  in  1S69  by  S.  L.  Sawyer  and  Chauncey  Buckley.  Later, 
Charles  Parker  became  interested,  and  the  capital  and  scope  of  manu- 
facture were  increased.  In  1884  the  works  were  located  on  Broad 
street.  The  goods  patented  and  manufactured  by  this  company  are 
superior  for  their  uses,  and  since  the  decoration  of  window  shades  has 
been  added  many  chaste  and  unique  designs  have  been  produced. 
This  is  also  a  growing  interest. 

The  Eaton  &  Peck  Company  are  artistic  designers,  photo-lithog- 
raphers, photo-engravers,  printers  and  embossers.  This  is  a  new 
company,  which  began  business  in  the  fall  of  1888.  It  was  formed  by 
the  union  of  the  interests  of  the  Peck  Printing  Company  (composed  of 
the  Peck  Brothers)  and  the  Illustrating  &  Engraving  Company,  which 
had  among  its  members  L.  F.  Eaton  and  others.  The  latter  was 
chosen  president  of  the  new  company,  and  C.  A.  Peck  secretarj'  and 
treasurer.  In  course  of  time  the  latter  was  succeeded  by  C.  L.  Evarts. 
The  company  has  e.stablished  a  growing  business,  its  excellent  work 
being  in  demand  by  the  manufacturers  of  the  city,  whose  catalogue  and 
special  printing  at  various  offices  amounts  to  about  $250,000  per  year. 
In  September,  1889,  the  company  occupied  the  Railway  Signal  Build- 
ing, which  has  been  well  equipped  with  modern  machinery,  requiring 
besides  the  services  of  18  persons. 


502  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

A  somewhat  similar  interest  is  carried  on  by  Sanford  &  Co.,  wood 
engravers,  at  their  establishment  on  West  Main  street.  This  business 
was  established  after  the  war  by  Edson  Sanford,  and  since  that  time 
he  has  done  the  illustration  work  for  nearly  a  hundred  catalogues. 
From  6  to  10  skilled  men  are  employed.  In  this  connection  D.  S. 
Griswold's  electrotyping  establishment  may  be  noted  as  one  of  the 
pioneer  enterprises  of  that  nature,  which  is  also  successfully  main- 
tained. 

The  Hall  Railway  Signal  Company  was  organized  November  1st, 
1873,  having  among  its  members  Charles  Parker,  president;  Dexter 
W.  Parker.  Alvah  W.  Hall,  Thomas  S.  Hall.  The  following  year  it 
became  an  incorporated  body,  and  a  fine  plant  for  its  use  was  prepared 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  city.  Here  Hall's  railway  signals  were 
manufactured,  under  the  management  of  Thomas  S.  Hall,  about  ten 
years,  when  the  interest  was  removed  to  Bridgeport.  , 

Near  this  place  the  Standard  Oil  Company  secured  a  .site  in  June, 
1889,  upon  which  large  storage  tanks  have  been  erected  for  the  prod- 
ucts of  the  company,  to  be  distributed  in  this  locality. 

The  Meriden  Woollen  Mills  were  for  a  number  of  years  the  most 
important  industry  in  the  town.  They  had  their  origin  in  the  carpet- 
bag business  of  Jedediah  Wilco.x,  which  was  begun-  in  a  small  way^ 
in  1848,  but  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  had  an  aggregate  business, 
running  into  many  thousands  of  dollars.  The  manufacture  of  goods 
for  ladies'  wear,  such  as  belts,  skirts,  cloaking,  etc.,  was  added,  and  in 
1864  the  firm  of  J.  Wilcox  &  Co.  became  an  incorporated  body,  with 
a  capital  of  $200,000,  the  associates  being  Eli  I.  Merriman,  Hezekiah 
H.  Miller,  Charles  H.  Collins  and  Edmund  N.  Wilcox.  Large  factory 
buildings,  on  the  east  side  of  upper  Pratt  street  were  occupied  and 
hundreds  of  people  were  employed,  when  the  works  were  swept  away 
by  fire.  May  3d,  1865,  involving  a  loss  of  $250,000.  After  this  the  fine, 
large  four  story  brick  factory,  nearly  opposite  the  old  one,  was  erected 
and  equipped  in  the  most  thorough  manner,  making  it  one  of  the 
best  mills  in  the  state.  For  several  years  after  its  occupancy  its  prod- 
ucts were  in  so  great  a  demand  that  it  was  constantly  run  to  its  full- 
est capacity,  consuming  500,000  pounds  of  wool  per  year.  After  1870 
the  business  of  the  company  declined  and  various  interests  have  since 
had  a  place  in  the  plant:  the  Avery  Spinning  Company,  from  1872 
until  1878,  and  the  Meriden  Woollen  Company,  having  as  their  mem- 
bers some  of  the  old  firm,  from  1874,  for  about  six  years.  The  plant 
passed  to  Rawsiter  &  Brother,  who  lea.sed  the  mill  to  the  Willow 
Dale  Company,  in  1884,  and  woollen  blankets  were  manufactured. 
Since  1886  Rawsiter  &  Brother  have  themselves  operated  the  mills 
on  woolen  goods.  The  motor  is  a  fine  350-horse  power  Corli.ss  engine, 
operating  80  broad  looms  and  giving  employment  to  175  hands. 

The  Wilcox  &  White  Organ  Company  *  was  organized  in  1876,  and 

*See  also  biography  of  Henry  K.  White. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  503 

incorporated  May  4th,  1876.  Horace  C.Wilcox  was  chosen  president; 
J.  H.  White,  secretary  and  treasurer;  H.  K.  White,  managing  super- 
intendent. The  present  officers  are:  J.  H.  White,  president  and  treas- 
urer; F.  E.  Bemis,  secretary;  Howard  White,  superintendent.  The 
Messrs.  White,  father  and  three  .sons,  are  practical  organ  builders,  H. 
K.  White  having  an  experience  extending  through  more  than  forty 
years,  which,  united  with  the  executive  ability  of  the  president  and 
directors,  has  produced  one  of  the  most  successful  musical  corporations 
in  the  Union,  and  which  has  one  of  the  most  complete  plants  in  the 
world. 

The  factory  is  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city  on  a  large  lot  of 
ground,  to  which  a  siding  has  been  built  by  the  Cromwell  Railroad. 
The  original  building  was  40  feet  wide  and  200  feet  long,  being  three 
stories  high.  To  this  was  added  a  five  story  extension,  on  the  east, 
140  feet  long.  A  handsome  and  spacious  office  building,  on  the  west, 
was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1889.  This  and  the  factory  proper  are 
completely  finished  and  thoroughly  equipped,  giving  a  working 
capacity  of  800  instruments  per  month.  The  factory  has  more  than 
72,000  square  feet  of  floor  space. 

The  organs  of  this  company  are  of  a  high  standard,  handsomely 
made,  and  possess  features  covered  by  special  patents,  which  give  them 
acknowledged  superiority.  It  is  claimed  that  more  diplomas  and 
medals  have  been  awarded  it  for  excellence,  in  every  respect,  than  any 
other  American  organ.  Forty  regular  styles  are  made,  at  prices  vary- 
ing from  $20  to  $500  each. 

In  1882  Frank  Stone,  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  perfected  an  automatic 
organ,  permitting  the  use  of  a  plain  sheet  of  music,  an  improvement 
of  vast  importance,  often  attempted  but  not  before  attained.  In  1888 
he  became  connected  with  this  corporation,  which  has  since  had  his 
service  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Pneumatic  Symphony,  a  self-playing 
organ,  which  has  been  described  as  a  musical  wonder.  In  the  variety 
of  uses  to  which  it  can  be  put,  in  the  hands  of  the  trained  musician, 
or  those  unskilled  in  the  theory  of  music,  it  is  certainly  a  most  remark- 
able invention,  which  is  here  manufactured  in  a  high  degree  of  per- 
fection. The  varied  prodiicts  of  the  company  have  a  wide  sale  in  this 
and  foreign  countries,  enabling  the  employment  of  150  skilled 
artisans. 

The  ^olian  Organ  &  Music  Company  is  the  result  of  the  union 
of  two  bodies  having  a  previous  existence  in  New  York  and  Boston. 
In  the  former  city  was  organized,  in  July,  1878,  the  Mechanical 
Orguinette  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $60,000.  In  1886  the  manu- 
facturing business  of  this  company  was  moved  to  Meriden,  the  present 
building  on  Cambridge  street  being  occupied  in  September  of  that 
year.  It  is  a  substantial  brick  structure,  five  stories  high,  40  by  200 
feet,  and  has  the  necessary  adjunct  buildings.  The  motor  is  steam, 
driving  a  50-horse  power  engine.     In  1887  the  Automatic  Music  Paper 


604  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Company,  of  Boston,  united  its  interests  with  the  New  York  Company, 
at  Meriden,  and  July  27th,  1887,  the  above  corporation  was  formed 
with  a  capital  of  $150,000,  and  the  following  officers:  James  Morgan, 
president;  E.  E.  Jones,  secretary;  W.  B.  Tremaine,  treasurer  and  busi- 
ness manager;  J.  H.  Chase,  superintendent.  These  continued  in  1889 
except  that  the  latter  was  also  the  secretary.  From  the  ordinary 
orguinette,  which  this  company  first  manufactured,  has  been  evolved 
a  superb  line  of  musical  instruments,  embracing  self-acting  organs,  in 
most  artistic  cases,  selling  at  $500,  and  pianos  capable  of  being  played 
by  electricity,  with  a  large  variety  of  less  pretentious  goods,  all  having 
the  latest  improvements.  Sixty-five  skilled  mechanics  are  employed, 
and  the  company  is  in  a  growing  condition. 

Bartholomew  &  Coe,  pork  packers,  carry  on  the  business  estab- 
lished in  1870,  by  the  senior  member,  W.  W.  Bartholomew.  After 
some  changes,  John  W.  Coe  was  associated  as  the  junior  member,  in 
1875.  Since  that  time  an  important  industry  has  been  developed,  not 
only  in  pork  packing,  but  the  firm  has  also  become  extensive  dealers 
in  beef,  lard,  flour  and  other  goods,  having  its  own  mills  in  the 
West.  The  packing  house  is  on  South  Colony  street,  and  the  yards 
north  of  the  city  limits,  where  35,000  hogs  were  handled  in  1888,  giving 
employment  to  40  men.  In  the  fall  of  1889  a  branch  house  was  opened 
in  Hartford  and  the  business  of  the  firm  is  yearly  becoming  more 
extensive. 

The  Meriden  Brewing  Company,  composed  of  J.  H.  McMahon,  P. 
W.  Wren,  W.  E.  Green  and  J.  A.  Hurley,  was  organized  in  1887.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  foundation  of  a  modern  brewery  was 
laid  on  South  Colony  street,  on  which  was  reared  a  large  structure, 
four  and  six  stories  high,  at  a  cost  of  $125,000.  The  capacity  is  about 
50,000  barrels  of  beer  per  year,  the  products  being  of  good  quality  and 
the  business  giving  employment  to  more  than  a  hundred  men. 

E.  J.  Doolittle's  Paper  Box  Factory  was  established  in  1852  by  H. 
S.  White,  and  was  operated  on  a  small  scale.  In  1862  it  was  purchased 
by  Mr.  Doolittle  and  under  his  management  has  assumed  extensive 
proportions.  A  factory  building,  50  by  200  feet,  at  the  Camp  street 
bridge,  over  the  New  Haven  railroad,  is  equipped  with  the  latest 
improved  machinery  and  devices  for  making  paper  boxes  of  all  sizes 
and  descriptions,  which  are  operated  by  an  Otto  gas  engine.  The 
products  of  the  factory  have  a  high  reputation  and  a  large  number  of 
operatives  are  employed,  making  this  one  of  the  leading  industrial 
pursuits. 

The  box  and  barrel  factory  of  Charles  T.  Dodd  was  established  in 
1857  by  George  Gay,  and  changed  to  the  present  owner  in  1886. 
Modern  machinery  is  employed,  giving  occupation  to  80  men,  in  the 
production  of  immense  quantities  of  boxes,  packing  cases,  barrels, 
casks,  etc.,  all  being  noted  for  their  neat  and  substantial  make. 

Ihe  Lyon  &  Billard  Company  are  manufacturers  of  all  kinds  of 


HISTORY    OK   NEW    HA\'EN   COUNTY.  oOo 

builders'  woodwork.  They  are  also  contractors  and  builders,  and 
dealers  in  lumber  and  coal,  their  varied  interests  giving  employment 
to  many  men.  The  business  was  begun  in  1848  by  George  W.  Lyon 
and  John  D.  Billard  as  co-partners,  having  a  small  shop  on  Butler 
street.  In  1871  John  L.  Billard  was  admitted  to  the  firm,  which  now 
became  Lyon,  Billard  &  Co.,  under  which  name  the  present  corpora- 
tion was  formed,  in  1878,  with  a  capital  of  $120,000.  J.  D.  Billard  was 
elected  president;  W.  H.  Lyon,  secretary;  and  J.  L.  Billard,  treasurer. 
A  fine  office  is  located  on  Hanover  street  and  in  the  rear  of  the  same 
are  sheds,  600  feet  long,  for  the  uses  of  the  corporation.  This  is  one 
of  the  oldest  firms  in  the  city  and  some  of  Meriden's  finest  buildings 
have  been  constructed  b}-  it. 

Contemporary  is  the  H.  Wales  Lines  Company,  mason  builders  in 
brick  and  stone.  It  does  general  contract  work  and  manufactures 
stucco  centers,  and  like  the  foregoing  employs  a  large  number  of 
men,  in  some  seasons  as  many  as  300.  Nearly  all  of  the  handsome 
masonry  in  the  city  was  done  by  this  corporation,  which  was  chartered 
under  the  laws  of  the  state  January  31st,  1888.  H.  Wales  Lines  was 
elected  president,  and  H.  E.  Fairchild,  general  manager.  These  were 
also,  for  many  years,  the  active  members  of  the  old  firm  of  Perkins  & 
Lines,  which  began  business  about  25  years  ago,  working  first  on  a 
-small  scale  and  developing  into  the  present  large  concern. 

.    Another  wood  work  building  establishment  is  carried  on  by  H.  L. 
Morehouse,  who.se  reputation  and  business  are  yearly  increasing. 

The  early  business  men  of  Meriden  and  vicinity  were  dependent 
upon  Middletown  for  their  banking  facilities,  and  it  was  not  until  1833 
that  a  monetary  in.stitution  was  here  established.  That  year  the  old 
Meriden  Bank  was  incorporated,  with  a  capital  of  §100,000,  and  began 
business  on  Broad  street,  occupying  the  following  year  its  own  build- 
ing, erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,800.  This  .small  brick  house,  just  south  of 
the  Center  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  was  -still  standing  in  1889,  having  been 
used  for  banking  purposes  about  fifty  years.  In  1884  an  elegant  four- 
story  brick  banking  house,  30  by  65  feet,  was  erected  on  East  Main 
street,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000,  which  was  occupied  the  following  spring. 
In  it  are  found  handsome  offices  and  the  modern  appliances  of  a  well- 
ordered  bank,  with  vaults  strong  and  substantially  built. 

From  the  time  of  its  opening  the  bank  had  a  good  business,  which 
necessitated  the  increase  of  its  capital,  in  1836,  to  §150,000;  in  1850  to 
$250,000;  and  in  1854  to  $300,000,  at  which  it  has  since  remained.  In 
July,  1865,  it  was  nationalized  with  its  present  title,  the  ^leriden  Xa- 
tional  Bank,  and  has  since  been  one  of  the  soundest  banks  in  the 
county.  In  1889  its  total  resources  were  nearly  $800,000,  its  surplus 
fund  being  $85,000. 

The  bank  has  had  five  presidents,  the  first  being  Ashbel  Griswold, 
who  was  succeeded  in  a  short  time  by  Walter  Booth,  and  he  in  turn  by 
Noah  Pomeroy,  Joel  H.  Guy  and  Joel  I.  Butler.     In  the  same  period 


506  HISTORY   OF   NEW    KAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  cashiers  have  been:  Francis  King,  Harris  Hay,  John  A.  Butler^ 
Joseph  Arnold,  Ahnon  C.  Randall,  and,  since  1859,  Owen  B.  Arnold. 
The  teller  in  1889  was  George  M.  Clark,  and  the  board  of  directors 
was  composed  of  Joel  I.  Butler,  Levi  E.  Coe,  George  H.  Wilcox,  Owen 
B.  Arnold,  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  John  Ives,  Charles  Parker,  John  L.  Billard, 
W.  W.  Lyman. 

The  Home  National  Bank  is  the  next  oldest  institution  of  the  kind 
in  the  city.  It  was  organized  in  1854  as  the  Home  Bank  of  Meriden^ 
and  was  incorporated  in  1855  with  that  title.  In  1865  it  was  national- 
ized with  the  present  name.  The  original  capital  of  $100,000  has 
been  increased  to  $C0O,OO().  A  surplus  fund  of  $120,000  was  reported 
in  1889. 

At  the  organization  of  the  bank  S.  W.  Baldwin  was  the  president. 
In  1856  he  was  succeeded  by  Eli  Butler,  who  held  that  position  until 
his  death,  May  23d,  1881.  .  In  June  following  the  vacancy  was  filled 
by  the  election  of  the  present  president,  A.  Chamberlain,  who  had 
long  served  as  cashier.  In  the  latter  office  he  was  followed  by  Cashier 
J.  S.  Norton,  Jr.  Other  cashiers  were  H.  C.  Young  and  S.  Dodd,  ]i\ 
In  1889  the  directory  was  composed  of  Edward  Miller,  E.  J.  Doolittle, 
George  W.  Lyon,  Samuel  Dodd,  George  R.  Curtis,  Horace  C.  Wilcox, 
Walter  Hubbard,  A.  L.  Collins,  A.  Chamberlain. 

The  bank  commenced  business  in  a  building  on  Colony  street, 
opposite  the  Meriden  Hotel,  but  soon  after  occupied  a  refitted  build- 
ing on  the  site  of  the  present  bank.  This  is  a  substantial  structure, 
which  was  erected  in  1863,  but  was  remodelled  and  beautified  in  1885, 
making  it  an  attractive  banking  house. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Meriden  is  the  youngest  of  the  banks 
in  the  city,  but  the  oldest  under  the  national  banking  laws.  It  was 
incorporated  February  12th,  1864,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000,  which 
was  increased  June  5th,  1866,  to  $300,000;  and  again  January  12th, 
1875,  to  $500,000,  at  which  it  has  since  remained.  In  1890  the  bank's 
surplus  was  $150,000.  Its  affairs  have  been  judiciou.sly  managed, 
and  there  have  been  but  two  presidents  and  two  cashiers.  Joel  H. 
Guy  was  the  president  until  April,  1881,  when  John  D.  Billard  was. 
elected.  Wolcott  A.  Hull  served  as  cashier  until  1870,  when  Charles 
L.  Rockwell  entered  into  the  office,  which  he  has  since  occupied.  In 
1889  the  directors  of  the  bank  were:  John  D.  Billard,  Charles  F. 
Linsley,  George  C.  Merriam,  Joseph  Morse,  John  W.  Coe,  C.  L. 
Rockwood,  John  Tait,  N.  L.  Bradley,  Samuel  Simpson  and  Dexter 
W.  Parker. 

The  banking  office  was  opened  in  a  small  building  next  west  of 
the  present  bank,  on  West  Main  street,  where  it  remained  until  April, 
1871,  when  the  new  home  was  occupied.  The  banking  house  is  40  by 
70  feet,  four  stories  high,  and  has  a  front  of  New  England  sandstone.. 
Its  interior  appointments  are  first-class. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  SO?' 

In  this  banking  house  is  the  place  of  business  of  the  City  Savings 
Bank,  which  was  incorporated  July  23d,  1874,  and  which  commenced 
business  November  1st  following.  Its  presidents  have  been  the  same 
as  those  of  the  above  bank.  Charles  L.  Rockwell  was  the  secretary 
and  treasurer  until  1884,  when  Floyd  Curtis  was  elected  to  fill  those 
positions.  The  other  officers  of  the  bank  in  1889  were:  Vice-presi- 
dents, C.  L.  Rockwell,  W.  W.  Lyman,  Charles  L.  Upham,  William  H. 
Miller,  John  C.  Byxbee;  directors,  John  Tait,  Seth  J.  Hall,  William- 
Lewis,  Dexter  W.  Parker,  Ratcliffe  Hicks,  C.  F.  Linsley,  N.  L.  Brad- 
ley, Erwin  D.  Hall,  H.  L.  Schleiter,  George  W.  Smith.  The  deposits 
January  1st,  1890,  were  $727,101.77,  and  there  was  a  surplus  of 
$25,000'. 

The  Meriden  Savings  Bank  is  the  oldest  of  the  savings  institu- 
tions of  the  city,  and  was  incorporated  in  January,  1851,  and  organ- 
ized July  16th  the  same  year  with  the  following  officers:  President, 
Enos  H.  Curtiss;  vice-presidents,  Benjamin  H.  Catlin,  Walter  Booth, 
Elah  Camp,  Ashbel  Griswold;  secretary  and  treasurer,  Joel  H.  Guy; 
directors,  Julius  Pratt,  Curtis  L.  North,  Howell  Merriman,  David  N. 
Ropes,  Joel  H.  Guy,  Levi  Yale,  H.  W.  Salstonstall,  Edwin  E.  Curtiss, 
Charles  Parker;  trustees,  B.  L.  Yale,  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  Linus  Birdsey, 
Charles  Parker.  Upon  the  death  of  Enos  H.  Curtiss,  Edwin  E.  Cur- 
tiss became  the  president,  serving  until  the  time  of  his  death,  after 
which  Levi  E.  Coe  was  elected,  and  has  since  been  the  president. 

The  bank  began  business  in  a  residence  on  West  Main  street,  but 
Levi  E.  Coe  becoming  the  secretary  and  treasurer  in  1852,  the  place 
of  business  was  transferred  to  his  residence  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Broad  streets.  In  1864  the  bank  was  moved  to  the  town  hall,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1871  to  its  own  property,  the  old  Clark  Building,  on  East 
Main  street.  Here,  in  1882,  the  bank  erected  the  fine  banking  house 
it  has  occupied  since  May,  1883.  It  is  a  large,  imposing  building  of 
brick,  four  stories  high,  handsomely  finished  throughout,  and  cost 
$35,000.     Its  bank  appointments  are  very  complete. 

In  1866  Asa  H.  Curtiss  became  the  secretary  and  the  treasurer,  con- 
tinuing  until  1877,  when  .S.  H.  W.  Yale  was  elected  and  has  since  con- 
tinued. Other  officers  of  the  bank  are :  Vice-presidents,  O.  H.  Piatt, 
O.  B.  Arnold,  A.  Chamberlain,  A.  C.  Markham;  directors,  Charles 
Parker,  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  George  W.  Lyon,  John  P.  Morse,  John  L.  Bil- 
lard,  George  R.  Willmot,  S.  A.  Hull,  Edward  ^kliller.  On  the  first  of 
January,  1890,  the  deposits  in  the  bank  were  $2,064,503.90,  and  the 
surplus  fund  was  $68,250. 

The  Butler  &  Lyman  Land  Company  was  organized  May  4tli.  1876, 
with  a  capital  of  $30,000  and  the  following  board  of  managers:  H.  C. 
Wilcox,  president;  W.  W.  Lyman,  secretary,  who,  with  Isaac  C.Lewis,. 
Edward  Miller  and  William  O.  Butler,  were  also  the  directors.  A. 
Chamberlain  was  the  treasurer  of  the  company.  The  organization 
was  effected  to  deal  in  Meriden  lands,  and  more  particularly  to  develop- 


508  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY. 

the  Butler  and  Lyman  tract,  of  forty  acres,  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
city.  It  has  been  the  means  of  greatly  promoting  the  growth  of  that 
part  of  Meriden. 

A  kindred  organization  is  the  Meriden  Land  and  Investment  Com- 
pany, whose  corporators  were  Horace  C.  Wilcox,  William  Lyman, 
Samuel  Dodd,  Abiram  Chamberlain,  Edgar  J.  Doolittle,  Edward 
Miller  and  Edmund  B.  Cowles.  The  certificate  was  filed  June  19th, 
1889. 

The  Meriden  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company  was  incorporated 
April  3d,  1889,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  and  was  organized  in  Novem- 
ber, 1889,  with  the  following  officers:  President,  Isaac  C.  Lewis;  secre- 
tary and  treasurer,  Charles  L.  Rockwell;  trustees,  Isaac  C.  Lewis, 
Charles  Parker,  John  D.  Billard,  Charles  F.  Linsley,  Walter  Hubbard, 
George  R.  Curtis,  N.  L.  Bradley,  John  L.  Billard,  Charles  L.  Rock- 
well. This  company  is  legally  authorized  to  act  as  executor,  adminis- 
trator, guardian,  trustee  or  receiver;  also  to  accept  and  execute  any 
and  all  trusts  which  maybe  committed  to  it  by  any  person  or  corpora- 
tion, or  by  direction  of  any  court  of  probate,  or  other  legally  consti- 
tuted authority  in  this  state  or  elsewhere. 

The  Meriden  Fire  Insurance  Company  w^as  incorporated  July  2d, 
1868,  but  did  not  commence  business  until  February,  1872.  Its  capital 
stock  was  fixed  at  $200,000.  The  first  officers  were:  Jedediah  Wilcox, 
president;  Eli  Butler,  vice-president:  E.  B.  Cowles,  secretary;  and  A. 
Chamberlain,  Jr.,  treasurer.  The  two  latter  officers  have  continued.  Eli 
Butler  succeeded  J.  Wilcox  as  president,  and  since  his  death  A. 
Chamberlain  has  filled  that  office.  George  R.  Curtis  is  the  vice-presi- 
dent. The  board  of  directors  in  1889  was  composed  of  leading  citizens, 
namely,  H.  C.  Wilcox,  A.  Chamberlain,  George  R.  Curtis,  E.  B.  Cowles, 
C.  N.  Winslow,  John  C.  Byxbee,  George  W.  Lyon,  D.  B.  Hamilton, 
John  Tait,  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  E.  J.  Doolittle,  N.  L.  Bradley,  Charles 
Parker,  John  L.  Billard,  R.  A.  Neal. 

The  bn.siness  of  the  company  is  managed  by  E.  B.  Cowles,  with 
J.  L.  Holt  as  special  agent,  and  125  active  agents  in  different  parts  of 
the  country,  insurance  being  solicited  as  far  west  as  Chicago.  The 
affairs  of  the  company  appear  to  be  in  a  healthy  condition.  A  fine 
office  in  the  Wilcox  Block  is  maintained. 

The  Connecticut  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  of  Meriden, 
with  a  capital  of  $500,000,  had  available  funds  to  meet  losses,  January 
1st,  1877,  $171,856.97.  On  the  first  of  March  that  year  its  charter  was 
amended,  but  about  a  year  later  business  was  discontinued,  after  the 
risks  remaining  has  been  re-insured  in  a  New  York  company.  The 
last  officers  of  the  company  were:  Joel  H.  Guy,  president;  Charles 
Parker,  vice-president;  James  K.  Guy,  secretary,  and  C.  L.  Rockwell, 
treasurer. 

The  Connecticut  Mutual  Life  and  Accident  Association,  of  Meriden, 
organized  May  17th,  1882,  by  electing  George  E.  Howe,  president; 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  509 

George  W.  Smith,  secretary;  Charles  C.  Howe,  assistant  secretary;  O. 
L.  Hatch,  general  manager;  and  Doctor  E.  M.  Child,  medical  exam- 
iner. An  office  was  opened  in  the  Wilcox  Block,  in  which  business 
was  carried  on  for  a  year,  when  the  interests  of  the  company  were 
transferred  to  the  Mutual  Benefit  Association  of  New  York. 

The  Meriden  Life  Insurance  Company,  chartered  in  18G8,  and  the 
New  Haven  County  Fire  Insurance  Company,  chartered  in  1876, 
on  application  of  Joel  H.  Guy  and  others,  never  organized. 

The  North  American  Attorneys'  and  Tradesmen's  Protective 
Union  was  incorporated  January  7th,  1874,  and  was  composed  of  J. 
O.  Freeman,  A.  B.  Mather?  J.  Q.  Thayer,  E.  B.  Everett  and  L.  R. 
Beckley.  An  office  was  established  at  Meriden  and  for  a  time  a  large 
business  was  transacted  in  various  parts  of  the  Union.  In  more 
recent  years,  E.  B.  Everett  served  as  the  president  and  A.  B.  Mather 
as  the  secretary.  In  1888  the  name  of  the  body  was  changed  to  the 
North  American  Mercantile  Agency,  and  business  continued  with 
the  same  officers. 

Building  and  Loan  Associations  have  attracted  much  interest  in 
the  past  three  years,  and  several  associations  have  been  organized 
and  supported  with  most  gratifying  success.  The  matter  of  organiza- 
tion was  brought  about  mainly  by  John  Webb,  O.  C.  Burgess  and 
Doctor  C.  H.  S.  Davis,  who  met  in  February,  1887,  and  agreed  upon  a 
plan  to  present  the  subject  to  the  public.  Soon  after,  Doctor  Davis, 
who  was  at  that  time  the  mayor  of  the  city,  called  a  meeting  at  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall,  at  which  the  importance  and  usefulness  of  such  asso- 
ciations was  urged  upon  the  community,  which  gave  the  idea  a  favor- 
able reception.  As  a  result  there  was  organized,  March  17th,  1887,  the 
First  Meriden  Mutual  Benefit  Building  and  Loan  Association,  whose 
first  principal  officers  were:  President,  C.  H.  S.  Davis;  vice-president, 
Orlando  C.  Burgess;  secretary,  John  Webb;  treasurer,  Fr.-ink  A.  Camp; 
trustees,  Robert  Bowman,  Thomas  McKenzie,  J.  D.  Eggleston,  M.  D.; 
auditors.  Levi  E.  Coe,  William  H.  Stannis,  H.  Wales  Lines.  The 
capital  stock  of  the  association  was  fixed  at  S^t  10,000,  in  1,000  shares 
of  $500  each,  and  the  maximum  subscription  was  limited  to  $6,000 
worth  of  stock.  In  less  than  a  year  all  the  stock  was  taken  and, 
August  11th,  1887,  the  first  loan  was  sold. 

This  induced  the  organization  of  the  Second  Association  January 
2()th,  1888,  with  the  same  capital  stock  and  upon  the  same  basis.  It 
had  also  the  same  general  officers,  and  trustees,  Robert  Bowman,  C. 
A.  Morehouse  and  Edgar  W.  Curtis;  auditors,  Charles  C.  Powers, 
Oliver  J.  Hughes,  M.  D.,  and  Henry  J.  Church.  In  less  than  a  year 
the  shares  of  the  association  were  also  disposed  of  and  nearly  a 
thousand  persons  were  interested  as  shareholders  in  the  two  associa- 
tions. 

This  stimulated  the  formation  of  the  Meriden  Permanent  Building 
and  Loan   A.ssociation,  upon  the  serial  plan,  the  organization  being 


•'510  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

effected  October  16th,  1888.  The  officers  elected  were:  Pre.sident,  O. 
C.  Burgess;  vice-president,  W.  S.  vStapley;  secretary,  John  Webb; 
treasurer,  W.  W.  Mosher;  trustees,  C.  H.  S.  Davis,  Robert  Bowman 
and  William  H.  Miller;  auditors,  Benjamin  Page,  H.  K.  White  and  E. 
A.  Chapman.  This  third  association  is  m  its  es.sential  features  a 
"  Home  Savings  Institution,"  and  is  conducted  upon  what  is  known 
as  the  Philadelphia  plan.  Each  series  is  limited  in  volume  to  $250,- 
000,  consisting  of  $250  each,  and  no  share  owner  can  possess  more 
than  25  shares.  In  the  fall  of  1889  the  association  was  working  its 
first  series,  and  the  plan  was  favorably  regarded. 

The  above  association  had  a  valuable  promotive  agent  in  the 
Building  Netvs,  a  well-edited  monthly  periodical,  established  early  in 
1888  by  Doctor  C.  H.  S.  Davis,  and  by  him  published  1|  years,  when, 
■  having  accomplished  its  mission — to  acquaint  the  public  with  the 
merits  of  such  associations — it  was  discontinued. 

The  city  of  Meriden  entered  the  new  centenary  of  our  national 
■existence  with  the  following  public  buildings,  halls,  etc.:  Town  Hall, 
on  East  Main  street;  Masonic  Hall,  on  West  Main  street;  Odd  Fellows 
Hall,  on  East  Main  street;  Grand  Army  Hall,  on  North  Colony  street; 
Turne  Halle,  on  Liberty  street  (soon  after  a  new  hall  for  the  Turners 
was  erected  on  State  street);  Parker's  public  hall,  on  Broad  street. 

Since  that  time  (1877)  public  halls  have  been  erected  as  follows: 
1880,  the  Opera  House,  by  Horace  C.Wilcox,  near  Colony  street;  1882, 
Atlantic  Garden  Hall,  on  State  street;  1883,  new  Odd  Fellow's  Hall, 
on  Broad  street;  1884,  Rink,  on  Hanover  street;  1886,  Knights  of 
Columbus  Hall,  on  State  street;  1887,  Alfredian  Hall,  on  Colony  street; 
■Circle  Hall,  on  Colony  street;  1888,  Elks'  Hall,  on  State  street;  St. 
George's  Hall,  near  Colony  street;  1889,  St.  Jean  Baptiste  Hall. 

The  principal  business  houses  and  blocks  prior  to  1877  were,  ex- 
clusive of  the  halls  named  above,  the  following:  Byxbee  House  Block, 
•on  Colony  street;  Clark's  Block,  on  West  Main  street;  Cook's  Block,  on 
•Crown  street;  First  National  Bank,  on  West  Main  street;  Palace  and 
H.  C.  Wilcox  Buildings,  on  West  Main  street;  Home  National  Bank, 
Colony  street;  Morgan's  Block,  East  Main  street;  Morse  &  Cook's  Block, 
at  foot  of  State  street;  Trade  Building,  Colony  street;  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Block,  Colony  .street. 

Since  the  date  mentioned  the  following  have  been  erected:  1878, 
Hick's  Building,  North  Colony  street;  Twiss  Building,  East  Main 
street;  1879,  Wilcox  Block,  Colony  street;  1883,  Meriden  Savings 
Bank,  East  Main  street;  Morse  &  Norton's  Block,  East  Main  street; 
Winthrop  Hotel,  Colony  street;  1884,  Hick's  Block,  West  Main  street; 
Parker  Block, West  Main  street;  Republican  Building,  Veteran  street; 
1886,  Andrew's  Block,  West  Main  street;  Morse  Block,  State  street; 
Byxbee  Block,  Colony  street;  1887,  Warnock  Block,  West  Main  street; 
1888,  Buechler's  Block,  We.st  Main  street;  Lewis'  Block,  East  Main 
street;  1889,  Waterbury  Depot,  West  Main  street. 


HISTORY   OI-'   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  Hll 

In  a  city  growing  so  rapidly  as  Meriden  there  will  naturally  be 
many  mercantile  firms  and  numerous  business  changes.  Yet  even  in 
this  city  will  be  found  numerous  instances  of  firms  which  have  traded 
so  long  that  they  have  become  a  part  of  the  business  life  of  the  com- 
munity. Of  the  early  merchants  of  influential  .standing  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Yale,  Butler  and  Birdsey  families.  Walter  Hubbard  was 
a  dry  goods  merchant  years  ago.  Joel  H.  Guy  traded  a  long  time. 
Elisha  A.  Cowles,  Curtis  L.  North,  E.  J.  Collins,  Charles  P.  Colt  and 
others  merchandised  before  the  place  became  a  city.  Charles  H.  Col- 
lins has  been  connected  with  the  mercantile  interests  since  1843;  John 
Ives  since  1847.  In  1853  the  latter  and  his  brother,  Russell  J.,  began  on 
Broad  street,  where  they  traded  until  186.").  In  the  latter  year  C.  L. 
Upham  and  P.  C.  Rand  were  as.sociated  with  John  Ives,  and  the  well- 
known  firm  of  Ives,  Upham  &  Rand  formed,  which,  since  1884,  has 
occupied  a  store  39  by  200  feet,  and  employed  2.'5  clerks.  Charles  Par- 
ker, 2d,  was  a  dealer  in  fancy  goods  from  1854  until  1873.  and  in  car- 
pets since  that  time.  Bela  Carter  has  been  a  dealer  in  oils  and  paints 
since  1852,  employing  in  his  painting  business  many  men.  John  F. 
Butler  has  been  in  the  wall  decorating  business  since  1876,  having  35 
men  in  his  employ.  A.  S.  Thomas  is  an  established  dry  goods  dealer, 
having  a  large  store.  N.  C.  Hall  has  been  a  grocer  since  1859;  Seth  J. 
Hall  a  flour  and  feed  dealer  since  1861;  H.  L.  Schleiter  a  shoe  dealer 
since  1868;  Frank  Stevenson  a  clothier  since  1877;  F.  J.  Wheeler  a 
dealer  in  hardware  goods  since  1860;  Smith  &  Twichell  furniture 
manufacturers  and  dealers  since  1868;  and  George  N.  Morse  is  a  con- 
temporary in  the  furniture  trade.  In  the  drug  trade  H.  T.  Wilcox  & 
Co.  are  the  oldest,  doing  business  since  the  time  of  the  war;  H.  W. 
Mosher  since  1867;  George  Ellsbree  since  1877;  and  John  H.  Parker  at 
his  present  stand  since  1883. 

The  first  house  of  entertainment  in  all  this  part  of  the  country  was 
on  Captain  Andrew  Belcher's  Meriden  tract,  on  the  Old  Colony  road, 
about  two  miles  north  of  the  city  of  Meriden.  On  this  tract  of  470 
acres  a  stone  building,  with  port  holes  for  defense  against  Indians, 
had  been  put  up  about  1664.  He  also  supplied  a  stock  of  arms  and 
ammunition,  receiving  from  the  colony  for  doing  these  things  the 
right  ••  to  keep  tavern  forever."  This  privilege  was  enjoyed  by  those 
living  in  the  stone  house,  without  further  licen.se,  as  long  as  the  busi- 
ness could  there  be  profitably  conducted.  Its  half  way  location  be- 
tween New  Haven  and  Hartford  made  it  a  favorite  stopping  place  for 
travelers,  and  in  1690  a  larger  stone  house  was  built  to  aflford  the 
necessary  accommodations.  This  was  used  as  a  public  place  more 
than  a  hundred  years,  and  tradition  says  it  was  a  famous  place  for 
convivial  gatherings.  From  this  fact  it  was  locally  known  as  the 
"  Merry  Den,"  a  name  which  may  also  have  been  suggested  by  its 
location,  in  the  parish  of  Meriden,  the  pronunciation  of  the  two  terms 
•being  very  similar. 


512  HISTORY   OF.  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

In  1784  the  first  stage  coach  in  Connecticut  ran  by  this  house,  on 
the  Old  Colony  road,  which  continued  to  be  the  principal  thorough- 
fare, north  and  south,  until  about  1800,  when  the  usefulness  of  the 
old  stone  tavern  passed  away,  and  the  house  became  a  farm  residence. 

When  the  Hartford  and  New  Haven  turnpike  became  the  princi- 
pal avenue  north  and  south,  in  1799,  public  houses  were  opened  at 
various  places  along  its  line,  as  well  as  in  other  localities  in  the 
town.  In  1812  there  were  at  least  half  a  dozen  taverns  in  Meriden. 
Usually  these  were  well  patronized,  for  the  custom  of  those  times 
favored  tavern  haunting,  especially  in  winter.  Most  of  these  places 
were  kept  solely  for  the  sale  of  liquor,  whose  use  at  that  time  was 
but  little  restrained  by  law  or  sentiment.  In  the  language  of  a  clergy- 
man of  that  period,  there  "  was  a  dramming,  dramming,  dramming 
at  all  hours  of  the  da}',"  which  was  about  the  nature  of  the  business 
done. 

The  tavern  near  the  old  Congregational  church,  known  as  the 
"Central  Hotel,"  was  an  exception  to  that  class.  Its  favorable  loca- 
tion and  the  good  character  of  its  keepers  made  it  one  of  the  princi- 
pal stopping  places  in  these  parts,  and  several  of  the  landlords,  at 
least,  were  prime  favorites  with  the  traveling  public.  The  building 
was  originally  erected  by  Reverend  Theophilus  Hall  as  a  farm  house, 
on  his  hundred  acre  tract,  and  was  for  many  years  occupied  by  his 
son.  It  was,  after  the  fashion  of  the  better  class  of  houses  of  those 
times,  a  large  frame,  with  a  gambrel  roof,  and  stood  with  those  fea- 
tures more  than  a  century,  not  being  demolished  until  1890.  Some 
time  before  1800,  Doctor  Ensign  Hough  bought  the  property  and 
converted  it  into  a  tavern,  which  he  kept,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  Doctor  Isaac  I.  Hough,  who  was  a  large,  genial  and  accomplished 
host,  having  the  acquaintance  of  the  principal  men  of  the  state. 
During  the  war  of  1812,  especially,  he  made  much  money,  and  when 
he  sold  out,  in  1836,  he  retired  with  what  was  called  a  fortune  in  those 
days.  Of  this  popular  landlord  and  citizen  a  rhymster  of  that  period 
said  : 

"  Dr.  Hough,  he  keeps  good  stuff 
And  lives  just  under  the  steeple. 
By  hook  or  by  crook,  he  keeps  his  good  looks 
And  takes  the  cash  froin  the  people." 

Joseph  and  Isaac  Twi.ss  were  the  next  landlords,  and  in  1837  their 
tavern  came  into  unfortunate  prominence  on  account  of  the  riot 
fomented  here  against  an  anti-slavery  speaker  in  the  church.  For 
the  part  Mr.  Twiss  took  in  this  affair  he  was  compelled  to  pay  $1,000. 
Later  landlords  were  Nathaniel  Andrews,  William  and  Patrick  Lewis 
and  others.  The  building  of  the  railroad  through  West  Meriden 
caused  the  decline  of  Broad  street  and  the  transfer  to  that  section  of 
the  business  interests  which  here  flourished.  The  tavern  having  lost 
its  patronage,  it  was  closed  in  1873,  and  changed  into  a  tin  shop  and 
a  tenement. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  513 

At  the  present  business  center  of  the  city  the  old  Rogers  House 
was  the  first  tavern  of  note.  It  was  built  in  1840  by  Doctor  Isaac  I. 
Houg-h  and  Elisha  A.  Cowles,  the  latter  running  it  as  a  railroad  res- 
taurant. It  was  a  two-story  frame,  standing  west  of  the  railroad  track, 
its  gable  end  being  north  toward  Main  street.  In  1846  Hervey  Rogers 
became  the  owner  of  the  tavern,  keeping  it  20  years,  and  from  him  it 
took  its  name.  In  an  enlarged  condition  this  building  still  stands  as 
a  business  house. 

Directly  opposite,  and  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street.  Nelson 
Merriam  and  others  built  a  two-story  frame,  in  the  fall  of  1842.  The 
side  of  the  house  was  upon  the  street,  and  north  was  a  one-story  ex- 
tension, in  which  was  the  railroad  ticket  office  and,  as  the  sign  indi- 
cated, the  "Railroad  Refectory."  The  dining  room  was  large  and 
well  patronized,  and  as  this  was  run  as  a  temperance  house,  it  was 
popular  with  a  large  class  of  people,  the  proprietor,  Captain  Conklin, 
doing  a  thriving  business.  In  the  upper  part  of  this  building  was  a 
hall  where  society  meetings  were  held.  Captain  Conklin  left  this 
place  to  build  the  summer  resort,  which  was  later  converted  into  the 
town  alms  house.  The  Widow  Mear  was  the  last  to  keep  the  "  Rail- 
road Refectory,"  which  was  burned  in  the  great  fire  of  1863. 

The  Meriden  House  was  built  in  1853  by  the  Meriden  Hotel  Com- 
pany, of  which  S.  W.  Baldwin  was  the  president  and  Nelson  Merriam, 
Fenner  Bush,  A.  C.  Wetmore  and  Curtis  L.  North,  associate  directors. 
The  stock  was  divided  into  1,000  shares  of  $25  each.  But  the  cost  of 
the  building  exceeded  the  estimate,  the  house  being  for  those  times  a 
magnificent  structure,  almost  as  showy  as  the  town  hall  which  was 
built  soon  after.  In  time  William  Hall  became  the  owner  and  while 
it  was  the  property  of  Stephen  Ives  it  was  refitted.  January  12th, 
1881,  the  upper  story  of  the  hotel  was  so  much  damaged  by  fire  that 
it  was  taken  down,  leaving  a  two  story  brick  of  substantial  appearance. 

During  the  civil  war  John  C.  and  Theodore  Byxbee  built  the 
Byxbee  House,  which  they  remodelled  in  1865,  placing  its  front  on 
Colony  street.  It  was  now  a  four  story.  Mansard-roofed  frame  and 
the  house  had  a  good  patronage.  March  21st,  1868,  it  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  On  its  site  a  brick  hotel  was  erected,  which  was  opened  in 
the  spring  of  1869,  by  the  Messrs.  Byxbee.  In  1874  Theodore  Byxbee 
became  the  sole  owner  and  ten  years  later  its  use  as  a  hotel  was  dis- 
continued, being  at  that  time  fitted  up  for  office  purposes,  and  becom- 
ing known  as  the  Byxbee  House  Block. 

The  Curtis  House  was  built  in  1874,  by  Lemuel  J.  Curtis,  and  was 
not  originally  intended  for  a  hotel.  It  was  the  first  good  block  on 
We.st  Main  street  and  is  still  a  conspicuous  building.  John  E.  Parker 
converted  it  into  a  hotel  and  it  has  had  a  number  of  proprietors.  The 
City  Hotel,  on  State  street,  was  opened  in  May,  1883,  by  Henry 
Bloxham,  and  about  that  period  and  since,  hotels  of  smaller  capacity 
have  solicited  public  patronage. 
33 


514  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  Winthrop  Hotel  is  justly  the  pride  of  the  city.  It  was  erected 
by  Walter  Hubbard  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  growing  city  for  a 
hotel  which  should  be  elegant  in  its  appearance  and  have  all  the 
modern  appointments  and  conveniences  to  afford  a  luxurious  home 
for  the  traveling  public.  The  supervising  architect  was  Frank  P. 
Evarts  and  the  walls  were  built  by  the  H.  Wales  Lines  Company,  the 
first  work  being  done  in  February,  1882.  It  presents  a  massive  appear- 
ance, 85  by  225  feet.  In  the  rear  it  is  three  stories  high  and  the 
front,  which  is  on  North  Colony  street,  has  a  height  of  five  stories. 
It  is  of  Philadelphia  pressed  brick,  trimmed  with  granite  and  brown 
stone  and  its  windows  are  of  plate  glass,  giving  it  a  beautiful  appear- 
ance in  finish,  which  is  harmoniously  preserved  through  the  interior 
of  the  building.  Here  proper  precautions  have  also  been  observed 
against  fires.  In  the  lower  story  are  three  of  the  finest  store  rooms 
in  the  city  and  a  large  stairway  and  Otis  elevator  leading  to  the  hotel 
proper.  This  consists  of  104  rooms,  of  which  80  are  sleeping 
chambers. 

The  fittings  and  furnishinent  are  chaste  and  complete  in  every 
detail,  making  this  the  finest  hotel  in  the  state.  They  were  supplied 
by  the  Winthrop  Hotel  Company,  which  was  organized  January  29th, 
1883,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $40,000,  engaging  in  this  enterprise  as  a 
matter  of  local  pride  to  secure  this  desired  object.  The  affairs  of  the 
company  are  directed  by  George  R.  Curtis,  Horace  C.  Wilcox,  W.  W. 
Lyman,  Walter  Hubbard,  N.  L.  Bradley,  Samuel  Dodd,  D.  F.  South- 
wick,  George  W.  Lyon,  C.  L.  Rockwell,  A.  Chamberlain  and  John  L. 
Billard.  This  company  secured  a  twelve  years  lease  on  the  building, 
which  was  named  for  Governor  Winthrop,  of  Massachusetts,  and  after 
it  had  furnished  it,  re-leased  it  to  George  H.  Bowker,  of  Holyoke, 
Mass.,  a  landlord  of  national  reputation. 

The  Winthrop  was  opened  November  1st,  1883,  by  Landlords 
George  H.  and  James  H.  Bowker;  E.  T.  Bowers,  clerk;  S.  A.  Hooker, 
steward,  with  thirty  assistants,  and  has  since  that  time  ranked  as  one 
of  the  leading  hostelries  of  New  England. 

On  the  site  of  the  present  brewery,  was  a  well  known  place  of 
entertainment,  after  1870,  known  as  the  Eagle  Cottage,  and  also  as 
Allen's  Museum.  The  building  was  oddly  and  yet  not  unattractively 
ornamented,  and  contained  many  curiosities.  For  some  years  it  was 
a  well  patronized  place. 

The  Post  Office  must  be  briefly  sketched.  Formerly  two  offices 
were  maintained:  the  Meriden  office  at  the  Center,  and  the  West 
Meriden  near  the  railway  depot.  The  former  was  long  kept  at  the 
store  of  Ira  N.  Yale,  next  to  the  old  Meriden  Bank,  on  Broad  street. 
At  the  latter  place,  the  office  was  in  the  old  Conklin  House,  on  Main 
street;  in  the  Byxbee  House  block  and  in  a  building  which  stood  on 
Winthrop  Square.  In  April,  1880,  under  the  administration  of  E.  D. 
Hall,  the   present   office,  in  the  Wilcox  Block,  was  occupied.     The 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY.  515 

quarters  are  handsome,  spacious,  and  were  especially  fitted  up  for  the 
uses  of  the  office.  At  the  time  of  occupancy  there  were  1,600  boxes 
and  five  persons  were  employed.  Among  the  postma.sters  of  these 
offices  have  been  Hiram  Hall,  General  Walter  Booth,  Almeron  Miles, 
Benjamin  Twiss,  Samuel  B.  Morgan,  Noah  B.  Linsley,  Joel  H.  Guy, 
George  W.  Rogers,  Wallace  Bull,  William  Hall  and  E.  D.  Hall,  the 
latter  two  being  the  postmasters  when  the  offices  were  consolidated, 
September  1st,  1880,  under  the  name  of  Meriden.  E.  D.  Hall  remained 
postmaster  until  February,  1886,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  William 
H.  Miller,  and  he,  in  turn,  by  Henry  Dryhurst,  in  February,  1890. 

At  the  time  of  the  consolidation  the  carrier  delivery  system  went 
into  effect,  with  four  carriers.  This  force  has  since  been  doubled. 
One  mounted  carrier  was  put  on  the  force  in  1886,  and  another  added 
in  1888.  A  postal  station  is  also  maintained  at  Meriden  Center.  A 
dozen  mails  are  received  daily  and  as  many  sent  out  from  the  main 
office.  In  1885  the  gross  receipts  of  the  office  were  about  S26,000  and 
in  1889  about  §38,000,  or  increasing  at  the  rate  of  about  $3,000  per 
year. 


CHAPTER  X. 


TOWN  AND  CITY  OF  MERIDEN  (Continued). 


The  Periodical  Press. — Literary  Notes. — Physicians. — Lawyers. — Secret  Orders. — G.  A. 
R.  and  Soldiers'  Monument. — Agricultural  Societies,  etc. — Meriden  Ecclesiastical 
Society. — First  Meeting  House. — Fu-st  Congregational  Church. — Center  Congrega- 
tional Church. — St.  Andrew's  (P.  E.)  Church. — First  Baptist  Church. — German 
Baptist  Church. — M.  E.  Churches. — Universalist  Church. — St.  John's  German 
Lutheran  Church. — New  Emanuel  Lutheran  Church. — St.  Rose  of  Lima  (R.  C.) 
Church. — St.  Laurent's  (French  Catholic)  Church. — Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion.— State  Reform  School. — The  Curtis  Home. — City  Mission  Society. — Meriden 
Hospital. — Cemeteries. 


A  HISTORY  of  the  periodicals  published    at  Meriden    embraces 
accounts  of  many  papers,  a  few  only  of  which  lived  long  enough 
to  make  manifest  their  influence  upon  the  community.     Others 
were  so  ephemeral  that  their  names  and  those  who  projected  them  are 
now  recalled  with  difficulty. 

The  Northern  Literary  Messenger  was  the  first  paper  here  issued. 
It  was  removed  to  this  place  from  New   Haven  in   September,  1844, 
and  O.  G.  Wilson  was  the  editor.     The   paper   was   a   five   column 
quarto,  printed  from  old  type  and  had  but  little  matter  of  a  local 
nature.     After  some  changes  of  form,  firm  and  place  of  publication, 
being  last  issued  from  the  old  academy  building,  publication  was  sus- 
pended in  1848,  and  Mr.  Wilson  removed  to  Saybrook,  where  he  died. 
In  1847  F.  E.  Hinman  set  up  a  job  office  and  five  years  later  began 
the  publication  of  the  Connectieut  Organ,  of  which  O.  H.  Piatt  was  the 
editor.     In    1853   he  sold    his  interest   to  James  N.   Phelps,  of  New 
Haven,  who  consolidated  with  it  the  Neiv  Britain  Journal,  and  with 
this  dual  title  the  paper  was  published  some  time.     As  the  paper  was 
to  contain  "  a  compound  of  all  the  intelligence  proper  to  be  inserted 
in  a  family  journal,"  considerable  expense  attended  its  publication, 
and  Mr.  Phelps  soon  sold  out  to  James  Lewis.     The  latter  established 
a  new  paper.  The  Whig,  of  which  O.   H.  Piatt  and  George  W.  Rogers 
were  the  associate  editors.     It  was,  for  those  times,  a  large  sheet  and 
ably  edited,  but  continued  only  about  three   years,  as   there  was  no 
longer  an  especial  demand  for  an  organ  of  the  Whig  party. 

Contemporary  with  the  above  paper  was  the  Meriden  Transcript, 
which  was  established  in  July,  185(J,  by  Lysander  R.  Webb  &Co.,  and 
published  until  August,   1856,   when    the  editor  and   the  proprietor 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  517 

relinquished  their  work,  Mr.  Webb  moving  to  the  West,  and  Mr.  Piatt 
thenceforth  devoting  himself  to  the  practice  of  the  law. 

For  a  few  months  Meriden  was  without  a  paper,  but  in  November, 
1856,  Robert  Winton,  at  the  instance  of  some  of  the  manufacturers 
of  the  town,  took  the  printing  establishment  and  began  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Mcridcn  Chronicle,  which  he  continued  about  two  and  a  half 
years,  when  it  was  suspended. 

The  next  venture  was  the  Meriden  Banner,  published  for  a  short 
time  in  1860,  in  the  interests  of  the  democratic  party,  by  a  Mr.  Still- 
man,  who  used  the  material  of  the  old  Chronicle  office.  He  enlisted  in 
the  service  of  his  country. 

In  the  summer  of  1863  Luther  G.  Riggs  &  Co.  establi-shed  the  Mer- 
iden Publishing  House,  in  Smith's  new  block,  at  West  Meriden,  doing 
all  kinds  of  job  printing.  On  the  29th  of  August,  1863,  they  began 
the  Meriden  Recorder,  a  weekly  paper,  with  independent  tendencies. 
Having  served  in  the  army,  Mr.  Riggs  started  off  with  a  good  soldiers* 
patronage,  and  for  several  years  the  bu.<jiness  prospered.  He  had  con- 
siderable ability  to  do  newspaper  work,  and  enterprise  which  led  him 
to  make  other  ventures  in  journalism.  But  he  lacked  the  tact  to  plea.se 
the  public,  and  had  a  stormy  career  before  he  left  Meriden  on  account 
of  the  hostility  of  many  citizens. 

In  1869,  Luther  G.  Riggs  began  the  publication  of  the  Daily  Nezvs, 
but  soon  changed  the  name  to  Evening  Recorder.  He  aimed  to  make 
both  papers  neutral,  but  failed  to  please  either  of  the  parties  potent  in 
politics.  Meantime,  the  republicans  having  their  own  organ  and  the 
democrats  also  desiring  one,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1871,  George  Gib- 
bons  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Meriden  Citizen,  a  weekly  demo- 
cratic sheet,  which  he  published  about  one  year,  when  it  became  the 
property  of  the  "Citizens'  A.ssociation"  and  was  edited  by  Reverend 
John  T.  Pettee  and  Wilbur  F.  Davis.  In  December,  1872,  Mr.  Riggs 
became  the  owner  of  the  Citizen,  a.rxdi  published  it  about  ten  years.  In 
the  .same  year,  1872,  Messrs.  Riggs  and  Mansfield  began  the  publica- 
tion of  a  daily,  the  Morning  Call.  This  was  soon  after  issued  as  a 
semi-weekly  journal  and  continued  by  Mr.  Riggs  until  the  latter  part 
of  1882,  when  the  semi-weekly  Call  and  the  weekly  Citizen  were  dis- 
continued. In  1882  he  made  another  venture  in  the  publication  of  an 
edition  of  the  Recorder  for  the  citizens  of  Wallingford,  called  the 
Weekly  Forum.  This  paper  and  the  two  editions  of  the  Recorder  became 
the  property  of  J.  H.  Mabbett  &  Co.,  in  the  latter  part  of  1882,  at 
which  time  Luther  G.  Riggs'  connection  with  Meriden  journalism 
ceased. 

The  Penny  Press,  a  live  daily,  was  established  December  19th,  1881, 
by  J.  H.  Mabbett,  and  was  devoted  solely  to  local  news.  Its  four  pages 
contained  20  columns,  which  were  soon  after  increased  to  24  columns. 
In  May,  1882,  H.  B.  Russell,  of  the  Boston  Globe,  bought  a  half  interest 
in  the  paper  and   took  editorial  control.     The  following  month  the 


518  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

United  States  Press  Association  franchises  were  secured,  and  at  that 
time  the  Press  was  the  only  evening  paper  in  the  state,  at  one  cent, 
which  published  such  news.  In  November,  1882,  the  interests  of  L. 
G.  Riggs  in  his  papers  were  acquired,  and  the  two  were  consolidated 
with  the  name  of  Press-Recorder. 

Under  this  title  the  daily  and  the  weekly  editions  were  published 
by  J.  H.  Mabbett  until  the  latter  part  of  1884,  when  their  issue  and 
that  of  the  Wallingford  Forum  were  discontinued.  In  the  fall  of  1884 
the  Press-Recorder  advocated  the  political  cause  of  General  B.  F.  Butler, 
which  brought  it  somewhat  into  disfavor,  but  it  had  many  good  fea- 
tures to  commend  it  for  better  patronage  than  it  received. 

The  Meriden  Weekly  Visitor  was  started  March  21st,  1867,  by  M. 
Monroe  Eaton,  a  journalist  of  experience,  whose  success  led  him  to 
commence  a  daily  issue  of  the  J^isitor,  on  the  first  of  January  follow- 
ing. Fourteen  months  later  these  papers  were  merged  with  ihe\Daiij 
and  Weekly  Republican,  which  had  been  established  in  1866  as  an  oppo- 
sition sheet  to  the  Recorder. 

The  Republican  had  then,  as  now,  the  strong  support  of  many  manu- 
facturing firms,  which  placed  it  upon  a  permanent  basis.  It  is  the 
only  paper  which  has  survived  the  vicissitudes  of  journalism  at  Meri- 
den, growing  stronger  as  it  grows  older.  The  first  editor  was  Marcus 
L.  Delevan,  with  whom  George  Gibbons  was  soon  after  associated. 
After  1870  William  F.  Graham,  a  practical  newspaper  man  from  Wil- 
limantic,  was  in  the  service  of  the  paper.  From  a  small  local  sheet  it 
was  advanced  to  the  proper  sphere  of  a  daily,  its  influence  being  much 
increased  in  1869,  when  the  Visitor  was  absorbed.  After  a  few  years 
the  name  of  the  Weekly  Republican  was  changed  to  that  of  the  State 
Temperance  Journal,  when  it  was  a  large  and  well  edited  sheet,  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Delevan.  On  the  24th  of  November,  1870,  it  was 
last  is.sued  at  Meriden,  being  then  sold  and  removed  to  Hartford,  where 
it  was  edited  by  Reverend  E.  Dickerman.  On  the  7th  of  January, 
1871,  the  Weekly  Republican  was  revived  by  Delevan  and  Gibbons,  and 
has  since  been  continued  as  a  weekly  digest  of  the  daily  edition. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  1872,  William  F.  Graham  began  the 
publication  of  the  Evening  Monitor,  a  campaign  paper,  in  the  interest 
of  General  Grant.  This  was  merged  with  the  morning  Republican,  on 
the  10th  of  November,  which,  after  Thanksgiving  that  year,  was 
changed  to  an  evening  edition.  This  change  still  more  added  to  the 
favor  of  the  Republican,  which  has  become  one  of  the  leading  evening 
journals  of  the  state.  On  the  25th  of  April,  1873,  Marcus  L.  Delevan 
retired  from  the  Republican,  and  was  .succeeded  by  William  F.  Graham 
as  editor,  a  position  which  was  held  by  liim  until  his  death.  May  17th, 
1891,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  H.Warnock.  Mr.  Graham  was 
also  the  proprietor  of  the  Republican  and  the  interests  connected  with  it 
until  February  15th,  1887,  when  they  passed  to  the  Republican  Pub- 
lishing Company,  a  corporation  composed  mainly  of  25  of  the  leading 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY.  519 

manufacturers  of  the  city.  Of  this  company  W.  F.  Rockwell  was 
elected  president;  and  Selah  A.  Hull,  treasurer.  The  capital  stock  is 
$2o,000,  and  the  plant  of  the  company  is  valued  at  $19,000.  The  Re- 
pitblican  is  issued  from  its  own  printing  house,  near  the  business  cen- 
ter of  the  city,  which  was  erected  in  1884.  It  is  a  brick  building,  46 
by  75  feet,  four  stories  high,  and  is  thoroughly  equipped  with  all  the 
appliances  of  a  modern  first-class  printing  establishment.  Very  fine 
book  and  job  work  is  here  done,  and  several  dozen  men  are  employed. 
In  the  spring  of  1891  the  form  of  the  Republican  was  changed  to  eight 
pages,  of  six  columns  each,  which  has  greatly  improved  its  appearance. 

The  Meriden  Daily  Jotirnal  is  the  contemporary  of  ih&  Republican, 
and  like  that  paper,  also  possesses  all  the  features  of  progressive  jour- 
nalism. It  is  the  property  of  the  Journal  Publishing  Company,  which 
was  chartered  March  4th,  1886,  and  whose  organization  took  place  in 
April  following,  Francis  Atwater  being  elected  president  of  the  cor- 
poration; T.  L.  Reilly,  secretary;  F.  E.  Sands,  treasurer;  and  Lew. 
Allen  Lipsette,  editor.  These  are  all  practical  new.spaper  men,  and. 
devoting  all  their  energies  to  making  the  Journal  a  succe.ss,  have 
created  one  of  the  best  newspaper  properties  in  the  state. 

The  Journal  was  first  issued  April  17th,  1886,  as  a  seven-column, 
four-page  paper,  but  was  enlarged  December  1st,  1886,  to  eight  col- 
umns. Another  enlargement  was  made  on  its  first  anniversary,  April 
17th,  1887,  when  another  column  was  added  to  its  width.  In  that  form 
it  was  the  largest  daily  ever  printed  in  Meriden:  but  May  7tb,  1888, 
another  most  important  change  was  made.  The  Journal  was  then  is- 
sued as  a  48-column  paper,  folded  into  eight  pages,  which  size  and 
form  have  since  been  retained.  These  changes  neces.sitated  increased 
printing  facilities,  which  have  from  time  to  time  been  secured.  In 
the  spring  of  1889  the  fine  printing  plant  of  Charles  Bibeau  &  Co.  was 
purchased,  and  the  united  interests  placed  in  a  large  printing  house 
on  South  Colony  and  Perkins  streets,  to  which  modern  machinery  has 
since  been  added.  One  of  the  most  important  additions  was  made 
about  December  1st,  1889,  when  a  large  Goss  web  perfecting  press, 
built  especially  for  the  Journal,-was  set  in  motion.  By  its  use  printing 
is  done  directly  from  stereotyped  plates,  at  the  rate  of  12.000  copies 
per  hour — a  most  important  advance  on  the  old  style  of  work — this 
paper  being  one  of  three  in  the  state  employing  that  process.  The 
other  equipments  of  the  office  are  of  such  a  nature  as  to  make  this 
printing  house  complete  in  every  department  for  the  execution  of  all 
kinds  of  newspaper,  job  and  book  work. 

The  Journal  is  a  non-partisan  evening  sheet,  and  has  fine  press 
dispatch  and  telegraph  facilities,  publishing  the  news  up  to  the  hour 
of  issue.     It  is  sold  at  three  cents  a  copy,  ^d  has  a  good  patronage. 

The  Meriden  Sunday  Journal  w&s  established  by  the  above  corpora- 
tion, its  first  issue  appearing  April  24th,  1889.  The  paper  has  been  a 
success  from  the  beginning,  and  is  growing  in  popularity. 


520  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  Mcriden  Sunday  Nczi's,  published  in  1882,  by  Atwater  Brothers, 
had  only  a  brief  existence;  and  other  Sunday  papers  attempted  failed 
to  attain  a  patronage  beyond  one  or  two  issues. 

Among  other  papers  which  were  here  established,  but  were  removed 
or  discontinued,  was  the  American  Sportsman,  by  Parker  Brothers,  an 
8-page  monthly,  begun  in  August,  1871.  The  following  year  its  size 
was  doubled.  In  1873  it  was  sold  to  parties  in  New  York,  who  are  suc- 
cessfully publishing  it  in  that  city  as  a  weekly. 

In  September,  1872,  the  IVaichman's  Cry,  an  Adventist  weekly,  was 
begun  and  published  a  few  months  at  Meriden.  The  Herald,  begun 
in  1877,  was  published  about  one  year  by  Charles  P.  Ives.  In  1878-9 
the  Diamond,  a  monthly  amateur  sheet,  was  published  by  Paul  Lock- 
ron.  W.  A.  Kelsey  &  Co.  and  the  Kelsey  Press  Company  have  pub- 
lished several  papers,  whose  contents  were  mainly  of  a  miscellaneous 
nature,  viz.:  The  Nczv  England  Ledger,  ixoxa.  1877  to  1879;  the  Connecti- 
cut Advertiser,  from  1880  until  1888;  and  since  that  time  the  Connecticut 
Magazine,  first  a  bi-weekly,  changed  to  a  monthly  November  1st,  1889. 

The  Examiner  Midi's,  published  from  1884  until  1888  by  the  Examiner 
Publishing  Company;  and  the  Church  Tidings  was  issued  in  1887  and 
1888,  with  Reverend  W.  F.  Warnick  as  manager.  About  the  same 
time  the  Point,  edited  by  Charles  R.  Peck,  was  published  to  further 
the  cause  of  prohibition,  under  the  auspices  of  the  town  committee. 
Another  paper  of  this  nature,  the    Times  of  Rejoicing,  was  begun  in 

1887,  C.  W.  Pitel  being  the  publisher  in  1889.  It  is  devoted  to  the 
interests  of  the  Methodist  church. 

The  Mcriden  Index,  a  four  page  paper  of  home  literature,  was  begun 
.Saturday,  March  19th,  1887,  by  E.  A.  Horton  &  Co.,  but  the  paper  was 
suspended  after  four  numbers  were  published.  The  firm  began  busi- 
ness in  Meriden,  as  book  and  job  printers,  in  1874,  and  still  continues 
in  that  line  of  work. 

The  Building  Nezvs,  a  carefully  edited  monthly,  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  Meriden  Building  Associations,  was  begun  in  April,  1886,  by 
Doctor  Charles  H.  S.  Davis,  and  continued  by  him  eighteen  months, 
when,  having  accomplished  its  mission,  it  was  discontinued. 

The  V.  M.  C.  A.  News  was  begun  in  July,  1886,  by  the  Meriden 
Association,  whose  interests  it  represents  and  is  a  good  exponent  of 
that  object.  Its  size  has  been  increased  several  times  and  its  useful- 
ness augmented.     It  is  issued  monthly. 

Biblia,  a  16  page  small  quarto  monthly,  was  established  in  April, 

1888,  as  the  organ  of  the  Bible  Student's  League.  It  has  joint  offices 
in  New  York  city  and  in  Meriden,  where  Mrs.  Nellie  V.  Potter  is  the 
publisher  and  Doctor  C.  H.  S.  Davis  an  editor. 

Meriden  has  always  been  noted  as  a  manufacturing  town  and  but 
little  attention  has  been  given  to  literary  matters.  The  first  book 
written  in  Meriden  was  a  volume  of  117  pages,  entitled  '•  Historical 
Sketches  of   Meriden."      It  was  a  continuation  of    a    Thanksgiving 


HISTOPY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  521 

sermon  preached  by  Reverend  George  W.  Perkins,  and  was  printed 
in  "  West  Meriden,  by  Franklin  E.  Hinman,  1849."  Before  coming 
to  Meriden  Mr.  Perkins  had  been  a  teacher,  and  one  of  his  pupils  was 
the  celebrated  Margaret  Fuller.  A  biography  of  Mr.  Perkins  was 
published  after  his  death.  Another  clergyman,  Reverend  Abraham 
Norwood,  published  several  books  and  sermons,  including  "  The  Book 
of  Abraham,"  an  autobiographical  sketch,  and  "  How  I  got  into  the 
Church  and  how  I  got  out  of  it."  In  1868  Reverend  M.  J.  Steere  pub- 
lished a  work  of  4()()  pages,  entitled  "  Footprints  Heavenwa'-d,"  the 
materials  for  which  "  accumulated  as  a  result  of  private  meditations 
along  the  way  of  religious  inquiry."  In  1877  Reverend  Edward 
Hungerford  published  a  volume  of  75  pages,  entitled  "  Centennial 
Sermons  on  the  History  of  the  Center  Chi:rch." 

One  of  the  most  prolific  writers  has  been  Doctor  Charles  H.  S. 
Davis,  who  published  in  1870  a  "  History  of  Wallingford  and  Meriden," 
one  of  the  largest  of  New  Engfland  local  histories,  a  work  of  1,000 
pages,  and  very  complete  in  genealogies  of  the  old  Wallingford 
families.  Other  works  of  Doctor  Davis  are:  "  The  Training  and 
Management  of  the  Singing  Voice,"  publi-shed  in  1879;  "The  Educa- 
tion and  Training  of  the  Feeble  Minded,  Imbecile  and  Idiotic,"  pub- 
lished in  1883,  and  a  number  of  pamphlets,  besides  a  large  number  of 
articles  on  literary,  educational,  scientific  and  medical  subjects  written 
for  the  periodical  press  during  the  past  30  years.  Doctor  Davis  has 
edited  the  "  Boston  Medical  Register,"  the  "  Index  to  Periodical 
Literature,"  and  has  edited  for  four  years,  Biblia,  as  previously  men- 
tioned. 

In  1875  Mr.  Luther  G.  Riggs  published  a  volume  of  poems  of  528 
pages,  in  connection  with  H.  S.  Cornwall,  F.  G.  Fairfield  and  Ruth  G. 
D.  Havens.  The  volume  had  an  intoduction  by  Reverend  W.  H.  H. 
Murray  and  a  critical  analysis  by  Francis  Gerry  Fairfield.  Over  300 
of  the  poems  were  by  Mr.  Riggs  and  60  were  contributed  by  Mrs. 
Havens,  who  was  a  resident  of  Meriden.  Mr.  Murray  resided  in 
Meriden  a  few  years  but  all  of  his  books  were  published  .after  he  left 
the  town.  In  1882  was  published  "  The  Life  and  Writings  of  W.  E.  - 
Benham,"  240  pages,  written  by  himself.  Reverend  J.  H.  Chapin, 
Ph.  D.,  published  a  work  of  276  pages,  entitled  "  The  Creation  and  the 
Early  Development  of  Mankind,"  and  in  1889,  "  From  Japan  to 
Granada;  being  sketches  of  observation  and  inquiry  in  a  tour  round 
the  world  in  1887-8."  Mrs.  Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox  resided  in  Meriden 
a  few  years  and  miich  of  her  literary  work  was  done  here.  Miss  Emily 
J.  Leonard,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  appears  in  this  volume,  wrote  con- 
siderably for  the  press,  and  in  1885  was  published  her  translation  of 
Blanqui's  "  History  of  Political  Economy;"  a  work  of  583  pages.  Mrs. 
Jane  Kavanagh  has  written  many  poems,  and  in  1887  she  published  a 
novel  entitled  "  For  the  Sins  of  his  vouth." 


522  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

According  to  Doctor  Charles  H.  S.  Davis,  himself  a  physician  of  long- 
standing in  the  town,  the  practitioners  of  Meriden  prior  to  1870  were 
the  following:  Doctor  Isaac  Hall  was  the  first.  He  lived  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  town,  where  he  died  March  7th,  1781,  aged  66  years. 
His  son,  Jonathan,  was  also  a  physician. 

In  1769  Doctor  Ensign  Hough  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine,, 
living  at  the  center  of  the  town.  He  was  highly  esteemed.  His  death 
occurred  in  1813,  but  prior  to  that  event,  in  1802,  one  of  his  sons,  Isaac 
I.,  began  a  practice,  which  was  successfully  continued  a  number  of 
years.  From  his  childhood  he  was  noted  for  his  large  size,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  at  the  age  of  71  years,  in  1852,  he  weighed  350 
pounds.  He  was  a  very  popular  man,  and  was  engaged  in  other  busi- 
ness the  latter  yeai's  of  his  life. 

From  1825  until  his  death  in  1842,  Doctor  Wyllys  Woodruff  was 
here  as  a  skillful  practitioner,  and  his  practice  passed  to  Doctor  Ben- 
jamin H.  Catlin,  who  came  from  Haddam.  The  latter  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Meriden  April  5th,  1842,  and  for  nearly  two  score  years  was 
one  of  the  leading  physicians  and  prominent  citizens  of  the  town.  He 
had  many  contemporaries,  among  them  being  Doctor  Gardner  Barlow, 
from  1845  until  the  latter's  death  in  1854;  Doctor  William  H.  Allen, 
from  1840  until  1850,  when  he  died  of  typhoid  fever;  Doctor  Edward 
W.  Hatch,  from  1849  for  nine  years,  when  he  became  superintendent 
of  the  State  Reform  School. 

Doctor  Allen  was  succeeded,  in  1850,  by  Doctor  Timothy  F.  Davis, 
who  for  18  years  was  an  active  practitioner,  when  failing  health  caused 
him  to  retire.  He  died  February  24th,  1870,  aged  nearly  60  years,  and 
his  demise  was  much  deplored  by  the  community.  In  his  practice  he 
was  succeeded,  in  1867,  by  his  son.  Doctor  Charles  Henry  Stanley 
Davis,*  now  one  of  the  most  prominent  physicians  of  the  county,  in 
the  allopathic  school  of  practice. 

In  the  same  year,  1850,  Doctor  H.  A.  Archer,  an  eclectic  physician, 
came  to  Meriden  and  remained  until  1857,  when  he  sold  out  to  Doctor 
John  Tait"-'  and  removed  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  A  few  years  ago  Doctor 
Archer  returned  to  the  town,  and  is  now  in  practice  at  South  Meriden. 
Doctor  John  Tait,  also  an  eclectic  practitioner,  still  remains  as  one  of 
the  oldest  physicians  of  the  city. 

Doctor  James  Wyle  was  in  practice  from  1854  to  1870.  He  was  a 
Scotchman  and  a  surgeon  of  some  skill.  For  some  years  Doctor 
Nehemiah  Nickerson  was  associated  with  him,  but  removed  in  1868. 
Since  1870  he  has  again  been  in  active  practice  in  Meriden. 

In  1852  Doctor  Lewis  Barnes  came,  but  after  a  few  years  removed 
to  Oxford;  and  Doctor  Roswell  Hawley  was  here  in  1858.  Others  in 
that  period  and  earlier  also  removed,  after  being  here  a  short  time. 
Doctor  M.  F.  Baldwin  being  here  in  1856. 

In  the  latter  year.  Doctor  W.  N.  Dunham,  a  homeopathist,  came  to 

*  See  biographical  sketch  in  following  chapter. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   KAVEN   COUNTY.  523 

Meriden,  but  not  long  after  sold  his  practice  to  Doctor  C.  W.  Ensign. 
In  the  same  line  of  practice  came  Doctor  Grove  Herrick  Wilson,*  who 
since  1857  has  been  one  of  the  foremost  physicians  of  the  city.  For 
the  past  ten  years  E.  A.  Wilson  has  been  a  practitioner  in  the  same 
school  of  medicine. 

Other  homeopathists  now  in  practice  are  Doctor  Charles  J.  Mans- 
field and  Doctor  E.  C.  Newport,  both  since  1870;  Doctors  F.  H.  Monroe 
and  J.  D.  Quill,  since  1888;  and  Doctor  A.  T.  Holton,  who  was  here  in 
1880;  and  Doctor  H.  N.  Porter,  in  1885,  removed. 

In  1858  Doctor  Asa  Hopkins  Churchill  succeeded  to  the  practice  of 
Doctor  Hatch,  and  has  since  been  a  physician  at  Meriden,  ranking 
among  the  oldest  in  practice.  His  contemporary  practitioners  now  at 
Meriden  are,  besides  those  named  above:  Doctors  A.  S.  Allain,  since 
1889;  E.T.  Bradstreet,  since  1877;  J.  D.  Eggleston,  since  1880;  A.  H. 
Fenn,  since  1886;  Anna  J.  Ferris,  since  1879;  F.  P.  Griswold,  since 
1884;  O.  J.  D.  Hughes,  since  1885;  J.  H.  Kane,  since  1886;  S.  D.  Otis, 
since  1877;  E.  W.  Smith,  since  1882;  E.  W.  Pierce,  since  1886;  Burton 
D.  Stone,  since  1888;  A.  W.  Tracy,  since  1875;  Charles  A.  Graeber,  an 
eclectic,  since  1888;  H.  N.  Delesdernier  and  H.  Marchand,  recently 
located,  there  being,  in  all,  27  practicing  physicians  in  the  town  in 
1890. 

Among  other  physicians  who  were  here  and  removed  or  died  were 
the  following:  Doctors  Frederick  J.  Fitch,  who  came  in  1866  and  died 
about  eleven  years  later;  J.  J.  Averill,  who  came  the  same  year  and 
continued  about  half  a  dozen  years;  John  McMahon,  who  located  in 
1867,  but  removed  to  Boston  in  1869;  C.  H.  Gaylord,  who  died  in  1877, 
after  half  a  dozen  years  practice;  G.  H.  Gray,  who  died  about  the  same 
time,  after  a  short  settlement;  Willard  Wolcott,  in  practice  from 
1883  for  a  few  years,  until  his  death;  and  Jared  Wilson,  who  died 
near  the  same  time;  James  G.  Bacon,  who  removed  in  1873;  W.  A. 
Bevins,  in  1880,  as  an  eclectic;  L.  Baumgart,  1885-8,  who,  and  the  fol- 
lowing, removed,  after  being  here  in  the  years  set  opposite  their 
names:  Doctors  A.  F.  Blakeman,  1886;  E.  M.  Child,  1878-86;  Edward 
T.  Cornwall,  1882;  Hiram  B.  Cutler,  botanist,  1885-9;  Edward  S.  Dav- 
idson, 1879;  J.  J.  Dougherty,  1875-6;  David  Dufreane,  1882;  H.  Doutil, 
1881-5;  William  H.  Delesdernier,  1885-7;  G.  D.  Ferguson,  1880-1;  C.  S. 
Griswold,  1878;  C.  H.  Rowland,  1881-8;  H.  N.  Hall,  1889:  E.  C.  Jeni- 
gor,  1878-86;  H.  E.  Jacobson,  1889;  E.  C.  Luks,  1884-5;  Everest  Mon- 
geon,  1877;  William  R.  Marsden,  1883-5;  Mrs.  W.  H.  H.  Murray, 
1886-7;  Levi  D.  Rood,  1882;  Charles  E.  Scott,  1873-87;  A.  J.  Spinner, 
1880;  James  F.  Sullivan,  1888;  J.  L.  Terry.  1883-7;  E.  C.  Tremblay, 
1887-8;  H.  L.  Young,  1873-4. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  town  Brenton  Hall,  George  W.  Stanley 
and  others  advised  on  legal  matters.     Benajah  Andrews  ranked  among 
the  first  lawyers  who  maintained  a  residence  in  the  town.     He  lived 
*  See  biographical  sketch  in  following  chapter. 


524  HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

on  the  Middletown  road,  east  of  the  Center,  and  had  an  office  at  his 
house,  where  he  transacted  much  business,  serving  also  as  probate 
judge.  He  died  before  the  civil  war.  Contemporary  with  him  and 
doing  much  legal  business  at  West  Meriden,  where  he  lived,  was 
James  S.  Brooks.  He  was  no  regular  attorney,  but  had  sound  judg- 
ment and  a  good  knowledge  of  affairs.  When  the  probate  district 
was  formed,  in  1836,  he  was  elected  the  first  judge,  and  served  eight 
years.     He  also  died  in  the  town. 

Dexter  R.  Wright  first  came  to  Meriden  in  1845,  as  the  teacher  of 
the  academy.  In  1848  he  graduated  from  the  Yale  Law  School,  and 
settled  here  as  an  attorney,  becoming  one  of  the  town's  leading  citi- 
zens. In  1862  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  15th  Connecticut 
Volunteers,  and  being  compelled  by  ill  health  to  resign,  in  1863,  re- 
turned to  Meriden,  and  in  1864  moved  to  New  Haven,  where  he  took 
a  place  as  one  of  the  foremost  attorneys  of  the  state.  While  at  Meri- 
den Julius  Bissell  was  associated  with  him  a  short  time.  Washington 
Rogers,  Savilian  R.  Hall,  Andrew  J.  Coe  and  Leverett  L.  Phelps  were 
attorneys  for  short  periods,  deceasing  in  town  or  removing. 

Tilton  E.  Doolittle,  who  graduated  from  Yale  in  1846,  successfully 
practiced  at  Meriden  a  number  of  years,  then  removed  to  New  Haven, 
where  he  took  a  leading  place  at  the  bar. 

Orville  H.  Piatt  was  born  July  19th,  1827,  at  Washington,  Litchfield 
county.  Conn.,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  and  at  the 
academy  called  the  "  Gunnery,"  inWashington,Conn.  He  studied  law 
in  the  office  of  Honorable  Gideon  H.  Hollister,  of  Litchfield,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1849.  He  resided  in  Towanda,  Penn.,  for  a 
while  associated  with  Honorable  Ulysses  Mercer,  afterward  judge  of 
the  supreme  court  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1851  he  located  in  Meriden 
and  entered  into  the  practice  of  law.  His  first  public  office  in  con- 
nection with  the  state  government  was  as  clerk  of  the  senate  in 
1855-6.  In  1857  he  was  secretary  of  state,  was  member  of  the  senate 
in  1861-2,  and  a  member  of  the  house  in  1864  and  1869,  and  in  the 
latter  year  was  speaker.  From  1877  to  1879  he  was  state's  attorney  for 
New  Haven  county,  which  office  he  held  until  he  was  elected,  in  the 
latter  year.  United  States  .senator,  to  succeed  William  H.  Barnum. 

James  P.  Piatt,  son  of  O.  H.  and  Annie  (Bull)  Piatt,  was  born  in 
Towanda,  Pa.,  March  31st,  1851.  He  attended  school  at  the  "  Gun- 
nery," Washington,  Conn.,  graduated  from  Hopkins  Grammar  School 
in  1869,  from  Yale  College  in  1873,  and  from  Yale  Law  School  in  1875. 
Since  July  1st,  1875,  he  has  practiced  law  in  Meriden  in  partnership 
with  his  father.  He  represented  Meriden  in  the  legislature  in  1877-8, 
and  has  been  city  attorney  since  July  1st,  1879.  He  married  Harriet 
W.,  daughter  of  John  Ives.  Although  not  born  in  Meriden  he  has 
lived  there  since  he  was  6  months  old,  his  father  coming  to  Meriden 
and  opening  a  laAv  office  in  1851. 

L.  C.  Hinman,  son  of  F.  C.  and  Elizabeth  (^Camp)  Hinman,  was  born 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    KAVEX   COUNTY.  525 

in  Meriden,  February  25th,  1856.  He  attended  the  Meriden  schools 
and  the  Iowa  State  University,  and  graduated  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  Yale  College.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1877,  and  began 
practice  in  Wallingford,  where  he  remained  three  years.  He  after- 
ward practiced  in  Ohio,  between  three  and  four  years,  and  during  a 
part  of  the  time  was  local  attorney  in  the  coal  fields  for  the  Ohio  Cen- 
tral Coal  Company.  He  came  East  on  a  visit,  not  intending  to  remain, 
but  finally  settled  in  Meriden  in  1884,  where  he  has  since  practiced. 
In  the  spring  of  1886  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  O.  H.  &  J. 
P.  Piatt,  and  is  at  present  assistant  city  attorney.  He  married,  in 
1879,  Jennie  E.,  daughter  of  P.  H.  Burns,  of  Middletown,  Conn. 

George  A.  Fay  was  born  at  Marlboro,  Mass.,  in  1838,  and  in  1863  grad- 
uated from  the  Yale  Law  School,  since  which  time  he  has  been  an 
attorney  in  this  city.  Frank  S.  Fay,  born  at  the  same  place  in  1848, 
has  been  in  practice  since  1871,  in  which  year  he  was  admitted  to  the 
New  Haven  County  Bar. 

Cook  Lounsbury  was  at  ISIeriden  from  1867  until  1875,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Hartford,  where  he  is  still  in  practice. 

George  W.  Smith,  born  in  Wallingford,  in  1825,  graduated  from 
Yale  Law  School  in  1857,  was  an  attorney  at  Meriden  from  1858  until 
his  death,  in  1890.  He  was  many  years  the  probate  judge,  serving  in 
that  office  continuously  from  1883  to  1889. 

Emerson  A.  Merriman,  born  at  Westfield,  Mass.,  August  3d,  1842, 
is  a  son  of  Silas  A.  and  Lucretia  B.  (Rice)  Merriman,  a  descendant  of 
the  Connecticut  Merrim.ans.  He  graduated  from  the  Connecticut  Lit- 
erary Institution  at  Suffield,  Conn.,  from  the  law  department  of  Mich- 
igan University  in  March,  1867,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  law  in 
Connecticut,  at  Hartford,  in  October,  1867.  He  opened  an  office  in 
Meriden  in  December,  1867,  where  he  has  since  been  in  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  judge  of  probate  for  12  years. 
He  repre.sented  Meriden  in  the  legislature  in  1880  and  1881.  He  was 
married  to  Frances  E.,  daughter  of  Reverend  Ezra  G.  Johnson,  De- 
cember 23d,  1872. 

Ratciiffe  Hicks  came  soon  after  the  war,  continuing  until  1880, 
when  he  removed  to  New  York,  where  he  engaged  in  manufacturing. 

John  Q.  Thayer,  son  of  Augustine  and  Electa  (^Fairchild)  Thayer, 
was  born  March  24th,  1843,  in  New  Milford,  Conn.  He  was  educated 
at  Housatonic  Institute,  New  Milford,  and  was  preparing  for  college 
when  the  war  broke  out.  He  enli.sted  in  1861  in  Company  I.  8th 
Regiment  Connecticut  Volunteers,  and  reenlisted  in  1863,  serving  four 
years  and  three  months.  After  his  return  he  studied  law  with  William 
Knapp,  Esq.,  of  New  Milford,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Litch- 
field county  in  1869.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he  came  to  Meriden  and  was 
for  three  years  in  the  office  of  Senator  O.  H.  Piatt,  and  afterward  with 
Ratcliffe  Hicks,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hicks  &  Thayer,  which  con- 
tinued three  or  four  years.     Since  that  time  he  has  been  practicing 


526  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

law  alone.  He  has  been  assistant  city  attorney  two  terms,  and  assist- 
ant judge  of  the  city  and  police  court  of  Meriden  about  ten  years, 
also  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  married  Annie  S.,  daughter  of  S.  K. 
Devereux,  of  Castine,  Maine. 

Wilbur  F.  Davis,  a  graduate  of  both  the  Harvard  and  Yale  Law 
Schools,  has  been  in  practice  in  the  city  since  1870.  Franklin  Piatt, 
admitted  to  the  New  Haven  bar  in  1876,  has  been  located  at  Meriden 
since  that  time,  having  previously  served  as  probate  judge  in 
Wallingford. 

Henry  Dryhurst,  son  of  Henry  and  Eleanor  (Lewis)  Dryhurst,  was 
born  in  England  in  1855,  and  came  to  America  in  1863  with  his  par- 
ents, locating  first  in  Providence,  R.  I.  They  afterward  moved  to 
Taunton,  Mass.,  and  in  1865  came  to  Meriden.  Mr.  Dryhurst  studied 
law  in  the  offices  of  Ratcliffe  Hicks,  city  attorney,  George  A.  Fay  and 
O.  H.  &  J.  P.  Piatt,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  January  15th,  1884, 
tipon  motion  of  Colonel  D.  R.  Wright,  of  New  Haven.  He  was  chair- 
man of  the  republican  town  committee  from  1886  to  1890,  registrar  of 
voters,  grand  juror  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  appointed  post- 
master in  January,  1890.  He  married  Margaret  C,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam F.  and  Harriet  (Bennett)  Dutcher,  of  Wallingford,  Conn.,  and 
has  two  children,  a  girl  and  a  boy.  His  father  was  known  as  one  of 
the  most  skilled  silversmiths  in  England  and  America,  worked  for 
the  largest  silver  concern  in  England,  and  came  to  this  country  to 
accept  a  position  with  the  Gorham  Manufacturing  Company,  Provi- 
■dence,  R.  I.  He  was  afterward  with  Reed  &  Barton,  Taunton,  Mass., 
and  in  1865  with  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company;  he  also  worked  for 
Tiffany,  of  New  York.  His  mother's  father  was  superintendent  of 
the  largest  iron  indu.stry  in  Wales.  Her  brother,  Rowland  Lewis, 
■Q.  C,  is  still  practicing  his  profession  in  Wales. 

Charles  W.  Mann,  a  native  of  England,  emigrated  to  America  in 
1877,  was  admitted  to  the  New  Haven  bar  in  1878,  when  he  located 
here  and  has  since  been  in  practice  in  this  city.  William  C.  Mueller, 
born  in  Germany,  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  in  1874, 
and  since  1886  has  been  a  member  of  the  Meriden  bar.  John  Barrett, 
an  Englishman,  in  this  country  since  1872,  has  been  an  attorney  at 
Meriden  since  1881.  In  the  same  year  Willis  I.  Fenn,  after  graduat- 
ing from  the  Yale  Law  School  located  at  Meriden.  C.  H.  Shaw, 
admitted  in  1870,  died  in  the  city  in  June,  1883. 

Charles  H.  Sawyer,  after  studying  in  the  office  of  George  A.  Fay, 
■was  admitted  to  practice  in  March,  1883,  continuing  at  Meriden. 

George  A.  Clark,  son  of  Edwin  B.  and  Cornelia  M.  (Pratt)  Clark, 
was  born  in  Meriden,  March  27th,  1866,  educated  at  Meriden  High 
School,  and  graduated  from  Yale  Law  School  in  1887.  Previous  to 
^oing  to  college  he  was  for  four  years  reporter  on  various  newspapers, 
including  the  Meriden  Press  Recorder,  Hartford  Times,  JVeic  Haven 
■Union  and  New  Haven  Morfting  News.     He  studied  for  two  years  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  527 

office  of  E.  A.  Merriman,  and  began  practice  in  Meriden  in  1887.  He 
was  candidate  for  probate  judge  in  1888,  and  for  city  clerk  in  1889, 
and  is  at  present  collector  of  taxes. 

Other  contemporary  lawyers  are  Charles  P.  Ives,  since  1870,  Richard 
Gleeson,  since  1886,  and  Henry  Dryhurst,  the  latter  not  active  in  his 
profession. 

Among  attorneys  who  have  been  at  Meriden  and  have  removed 
may  be  noted  D.  J.  Donahoe,  1876  to  1880;  Darwin  M.  Woodward, 
1877;  William  Slatterley,  1880;  A.  L.  Judd,  1880-5;  F.  A.  Brown,  1§82; 
Edward  Kunkel,  1880;  and  E.  J.  Fenn,  after  1880.  Most  of  these 
attained  distinguished  success  in  other  towns  in  this  state  or  in 
Massachusetts. 

The  following  account  of  the  secret  orders  in  Meriden  was  pre- 
pared for  this  work  by  Hon.  William  Wallace  Lee : 

It  nowhere  appears  in  any  known  record  that  any  attempt  was 
made,  prior  to  1815,  to  organize  a  Masonic  Lodge  in  Meriden.  In  that 
year  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Grand  Lodge  for  a  charter,  but  as 
Meriden  was  at  that  time  a  small  town  and  there  were  then  in  active 
operation  Lodges  in  Berlin,  Southington  and  Wallingford,  six  miles 
to  the  north,  west  and  south,  respectively,  and  one  of  the  oldest 
in  the  state  at  Middletown,  ten  miles  to  the  east,  the  project  was  not 
deemed  feasible,  and  the  petitions  were  refused.  At  the  time  when 
the  "anti-Masonic  craze"  swept  through  the  state,  from  1828  to  1832, 
there  were  probably  not  more  than  twelve  or  fifteen  Masons,  if  so 
many,  living  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Meriden.  Although  the 
"craze,"  like  other  similar  delusions,  died  out  in  a  few  years,  no  effort 
seems  to  have  been  made  to  establish  a  Lodge  until  1850.  In  that 
year  another  application  was  made  for  a  charter,  which,  after  the 
necessary  preliminaries,  was  granted,  and  the  organization  was  effected 
in  January,  1851,  under  the  name  of  Meridian  Lodge,  No.  77. 

The  list  of  petitioners  included  some  of  the  leading  citizens,  among 
whom  were  Charles  Parker,  Reverend  John  Parker  (the  first  master), 
Stephen  Ives,  Bertrand  L.  Yale,  Dexter  R.  Wright,  etc.  The  Lodge 
gradually  added  to  its  membership  from  the  best  class  of  citizens,  and 
met  for  15  years  "up-town"  (so-called)  in  "Odd  Fellows  Hall;"  but,  as 
the  business  and  growth  of  the  town  was  toward  the  "Corner,"  or 
nearer  the  railroad,  the  Lodge,  after  much  consideration  and  discus- 
sion, voted,  in  April,  1865,  to  hold  its  communications  in  "Morgan 
Hall."  This  was  its  home  for  about  six  years,  and  was  also  the  period 
in  which  the  Lodge  had  its  greatest  prosperity.  In  1871  the  Lodge 
voted  to  lease,  for  a  term  of  15  years,  the  room  which  it  has  ever  since 
occupied,  in  Palace  Block. 

There  have  been  upon  the  roll  of  membership  more  than  500  dif- 
ferent names,  but  deaths,  removals  and  other  causes  have  reduced  the 
number,  so  that  in  1890  the  membership  did  not  much  exceed  300. 
Among  the  members  are  men  prominent  in  every  department  of  life, 


528  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

and  who  have  in  different  avocations  distinguished  themselves  as  the 
leading  citizens  of  the  city.  Several  of  the  Meriden  Masons  have 
been  honored  by  being  elected  to  the  highest  positions  in  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  state. 

When  Meridian,  or  the  old  Lodge,  had  voted,  in  1865,  to  remove 
from  its  "up-town"  home,  some  of  those  who  deemed  such  a  step  un- 
wise made  an  effort  to  establish  a  new  Lodge  in  the  old  locality,  and 
organized  to  that  end.  After  some  little  delay  this  movement  was 
successful,  and  a  charter  was  granted  in  1866  for  Center  Lodge,  No. 
97.  This  has  been  kept  in  a  prosperous  condition  to  the  present  time 
and  now  numbers  about  200  members. 

Masonry  has  been  a  very  popular  institution  in  Meriden,  and  al- 
though it  recognizes  no  political  affiliations  it  has  so  pervaded  all 
parties  and  churches  that  it  is  a  fact  that  with  only  two  exceptions 
every  mayor  of  the  city  was  a  Free  Mason;  also  a  very  large  propor- 
tion, if  not  majority,  of  those  connected  in  town  and  city  affairs,  were 
members  of  this  widely  extended  brotherhood. 

While  every  Free  Mason  knows  that  there  are  several  grades  and 
different  organizations  in  Ma.sonry,  the  uninitiated  are  not  familiar 
with  the  fact.  These  are  not  antagonistic,  but  harmonious  in  their 
fields  of  labor,  and  may,  without  impropriety,  be  said  to  correspond 
to  the  different  grades  of  schools  or  departments  in  educational  life, 
the  primary  grade  being  the  subordinate  or  Blue  Lodge. 

Keystone  Chapter,  No.  27,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  organized  in 
Meriden  in  1854.  Among  those  most  active  in  it  were  Humphrey 
Lyon,  who  was  for  more  than  20  years  the  treasurer;  James  Brooks,  and 
Doctor  Noah  H.  Byington,  of  Southington,  who  was  the  first  presid- 
ing officer.  Its  meetings  were  usually  held  at  the  "corner."  Its 
growth  for  about  ten  years  was  slow,  owing  to  unavoidable  causes, 
but  about  1864  there  began  a  more  prosperous  period,  which,  with  the 
incidental  exceptions  that  are  features  of  every  voluntary  association, 
has  been  maintained  ever  since.  It  has  now  from  250  to  800  mem- 
bers. Among  its  now  prominent  ones  are  William  H.  Miller,  W.  H. 
Westwood,  Mathew  Beatty,  John  P.  Weir  and  William  Cochrane,  the 
oldest  living  past  high  priest.  All  the  charter  members  are  dead.  A 
large  number  of  the  living  members  reside  elsewhere,  their  avocations 
in  life  (many  being  mechanics)  having  called  them  to  other  localities. 

Hamilton  Council,  No.  22,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  was  organized 
in  1854,  those  who  were  prominent  in  the  movement  being,  with  few 
exceptions,  the  same  who  were  active  in  organizing  the  Chapter, 
which  naturally  follows,  as  the  grades  are  closely  connected.  Meeting 
in  the  same  place  with  the  Chapter,  depending  upon  that  for  its 
growth,  it  shared  the  latter's  fortune  of  poor  accommodations,  being 
burned  out,  etc.  Among  its  past  officers  were  William  H.  Aliller, 
William  H.  Westwood,  M.  Beatty,  A.  R.  Yale,  J.  P.  Weir  and  William 
Wallace  Lee.     The  last  two  have  been  the  official  head  of  the  State 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  529 

Council.  It  has  a  membership  of  about  12o.  All  of  its  charter  mem- 
bers are  dead,  and  many  of  the  living  are  widely  scattered. 

St.  Elmo  Commandery,  No.  9,  Knights  Templar,  was  organized  in 
1869.  In  the  preceding  grades  of  Masonry,  the  only  religious  qualifi- 
cation is  that  the  candidate  must  express  his  belief  in  a  God,  but  in 
Chivalric  Masonry  it  is  requisite  that  he  be  a  believer  in  the  Christian 
religion  and  must,  also,  be  in  good  .standing  as  a  Mason.  Prominent 
in  the  organization  of  St.  Elmo  Commandery  were  Doctor  G.  H.  Wil- 
son (its  first  presiding  officer),  H.  Wales  Lines,  Theodore  Byxbee  and 
E.  C.  Birdseye.  Of  these  Messrs.  Lines  and  Birdseye  have  been  the 
official  head  of  the  State  Grand  Body.  Others  who  have  presided 
over  the  local  body  are  Levi  E.  Coe,  E.  B.  Everett,  William  H.  Miller, 
W.  F.  Davis,  E.  J.  Doolittle  and  William  Beatty.  Since  its  organiza- 
tion its  experience  has  been  that  of  a  steady  growth  until  now  its 
membership  must  be  nearly  one  hundred,  and  it  ranks  among  the 
foremost  of  the  younger  subordinates  in  the  state.  Five  of  our  ex- 
ma\'ors  are  members  and  it  includes  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
city  and  town. 

Eastern  Star  or  Adoptive  Masonry  is  the  title  by  which  is  desig- 
nated an  association  whose  requisites  for  membership  are  that  one 
must  be  a  Master  Mason  in  good  standing,  or  the  wife,  mother, 
daughter  or  sister  (over  18  years  of  age)  of  a  Master  Mason.  Such 
an  one  was  organized  in  Meriden  in  1868,  under  the  name  of  Meridian 
Chapter,  No.  8,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  From  the  first  it  was  a 
success,  and  has  always  been  a  very  harmonious  and  prosperous 
organization.  It  has  a  large  member.ship  (nearly  250)  and  is  financially 
one  of  the  strongest  bodies  in  the  town.  It  is  doubtful  if  there  is  an- 
other place  in  the  state,  where  the  organization  has  to  such  an  extent, 
commanded  the  confidence  and  support  of  the  Masons  generally. 
Among  the  women  prominently  interested  are  Mrs.  J.  T.  Pettee,  Mrs. 
A.  C.  S.  Bario  (who  has  held  the  highest  office  in  the  state),  Mrs.  W. 
W.  Powers,  Mrs.  W.  R.  Derby,  Mrs.  G.  A.  Bicknell.  Justice  to  the 
women  who  are  so  active  in  maintaining  it,  demands  the  statement 
of  this  fact,  that  there  is  no  organization  in  Meriden  bearing  the 
name  of  Masonry,  that  watches  over  its  members  with  greater  fidelity, 
or  cares  more  tenderly  for  its  needy  members  than  does  this  meri- 
torious body. 

Odd  Fellowship  in  Meriden  is  the  oldest,  most  numerous  and,  finan- 
cially, the  strongest  of  its  many  fraternal  associations,  all  of  which 
seem  to  be  in  a  thriving  condition.  It  has  three  grades  or  distinct 
organizations,  viz.:  Lodges,  Encampments  (to  which  are  in  some  cases 
appended  "the  Canton,"  a  semi-military  organization,  very  similar  to 
Knights  Templar  among  Free  Masons),  and  the  Rebecca  Lodges,  so 
called,  or  the  degree  of  Rebekah.  To  the  Lodge  any  man  of  the 
white  or  Caucasian  race  21  years  old  is  eligible.  The  membership  of 
the  Encampment  is  drawn  from  the  Lodge,  while  any  one  who  is  a 
33 


530  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

member  of  a  Lodge   in   grood  standing,  is  eligible  to   the  Rebekah 
Lodges,  as  also  are  their  wives,  sisters  and  daughters,  18  years  of  age. 

There  are  in  this  town  four  Lodges,  two  Encampments,  one  Canton 
and  three  Rebekah  Lodges,  each  of  which  can  be  only  briefly  noticed, 
because  of  limited  space. 

Hancock  Lodge,  No.  28,  L  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  in  1846  in  the 
"  up  town  "  locality.  Its  early  members  were  some  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  the  town  and  it  increased  in  numbers  rapidly.  The  spirit 
of  locality  which  was  then  a  more  marked  feature  of  the  town  than 
now,  was  felt  in  all  societies,  churches,  etc.  In  1849,  after  a  long,  and 
at  times  almost  an  acrimonious  discussion,  it  was  voted  to  move 
"  down  town,"  where  the  Lodge  had  a  good  degree  of  success  for 
some  years,  doing  its  work  and  caring  for  the  sick.  While  the  statis- 
tics for  the  expenditure  of  these  years  cannot  be  had,  enough  is  known 
to  warrant  the  statement  that  it  would  nearly  if  not  quite  amount  to 
$2,500. 

With  the  general  decline  in  the  order  it  also  began  to  decay  and 
about  1859  it  ceased  to  hold  meetings  and,  of  course,  its  charter  was 
annulled  by  the  Grand  Lodge.  The  Lodge  remained  dormant  until 
September  5th,  1872,  when  it  was  revived  and  moved  to  South  Aleriden, 
as  the  village  formerly  known  as  Hanover  is  now  called,  and,  consid- 
ering its  somewhat  limited  field  of  labor,  is  well  established.  It  has 
now  about  150  members  and  a  fund  of  $3,000.  It  has  neat  quarters 
and  its  affairs  are  managed  with  prudence  and  economy.  It  has  paid 
for  relief  and  aid. to  brothers  and  their  families  since  its  re-organiza- 
tion nearly  $10,000.  Among  its  members  are  some  of  the  leading 
and  most  prominent  men  of  that  part  of  the  town,  and  its  future 
appears  prosperous. 

Meriden  Center  Lodge,  No.  68,  was  instituted  in  1849.  When 
Hancock  Lodge,  No.  28,  voted  to  remove  to  the  "Corner,"  as  "down 
town"  was  then  called,  it  was  against  the  almost  unanimous  vote  of 
the  "up  town"  members;  so,  as  .soon  as  the  matter  was  fully  decided, 
the  members  on  the  hill  were  practically  a  unit  in  the  project  of  a  new 
Lodge  in  their  locality.  This  purpose  resulted  in  their  receiving  a 
charter  bearing  the  above  name  and  number.  Asa  result  of  the  feed- 
ing of  locality  much  missionary  work  was  done  to  increase  the  mem- 
bership of  the  two  rival  Lodges,  and  within  three  years  from  the  date 
of  its  institution  (July  27th,  1849),  the  new  Lodge  had  passed  the  older 
one  in  numbers  and  financial  strength.  In  the  following  year  (18;" 0) 
the  Lodge  erected,  on  Broad  street,  a  building  for  its  own  use,  which 
was  a  wise  provision,  because  it  kept  the  Lodge  together  and  pre- 
served its  organization  in  the  period  of  general  decline,  when  fully 
two-thirds  of  the  Odd  Fellow  Lodges  became  extinct.  By  very  pru- 
dent management  they  were  able  to  keep  up  their  organization  and 
retain  their  property,  .so  that  when  the  revival  came  it  found  them  in 
very  good  financial  condition.     Since  that  period,  in  about  1866,  it  has 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  531 

prospered  in  every  respect,  adding  to  its  numbers  and  means  every 
year.  A  handsome  brick  block,  in  the  place  of  the  old  wooden  one 
(removed),  was  erected  b}-  the  Lodge  and  duly  dedicated  in  1888.  The 
value  of  this  hall,  with  lot,  furniture,  fixtures,  etc.,  is  estimated  at  not 
less  than  $28,000.  The  new  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  up  town  is  an  orna- 
ment to  that  part  of  the  city.  It  is  neatly  and  tastefully  fitted  up,  and 
is  a  model  for  stronger  Lodges  in  larger  cities.  The  Lodge  has  borne 
on  its  rolls  760  members.  Many  members  have  died,  and  70  were 
buried  with  the  honors  of  the  order. 

This  Lodge  has  now  250  members  in  good  standing.  Full  statis- 
tics cannot  be  had,  but  enough  is  known  to  warrant  the  statement  that 
the  Lodge  has  paid  for  relief,  in  its  various  forms,  during  its  existence, 
about  §28,000,  besides  such  other  charitable  work  as  is  within  the 
province  of  every  well-conducted  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows.  It  deserves 
and  receives  the  confidence  of  not  only  the  fraternity,  but  also  of  the 
public  generally. 

Pacific  Lodge,  No.  87,  was  organized  April  7th,  1870.  Most  of  the 
petitioners,  some  35  in  number,  had  been  members  of  Xo.  68,  "up 
town."  While  not  at  all  dissatisfied  with  the  Lodge,  they  were  of  the 
opinion  that  a  new  Lodge  was  needed  down  town,  and  so  resolved  to 
make  the  venture,  not  heeding  the  predictions  of  failure  that  were 
made  by  brethren  of  little  faith.  The  Lodge  first  met  in  "Morgan's 
Hall."  From  the  beginning  it  was  a  success,  and  its  growth  all  that 
could  be  wished.  When  Meridian  Lodge  vacated  its  rooms  and  moved 
into  new  quarters  in  "Palace  Block,"  in  1871,  Pacific  Lodge  at  once 
leased  Morgan's  Hall  for  a  term  of  years,  and  continued  to  meet  there 
until  July,  1890.  It  increased  in  membership,  and  now  has  about  340 
members. 

After  some  years  of  deliberation  by  the  Lodge  it  was  resolved  to 
build  a  hall  of  its  own,  and  a  lot  was  secured  on  State  street,  and  a 
handsome  block  erected,  at  a  total  expense  of  about  $30,000.  The 
rooms  are  ample  for  the  work  of  the  Lodge  and  are  fitted  up  in  good 
taste.  There  is  a  good,  but  not  large  library.  So  well  is  the  hall 
adapted  for  society  work  that  its  rooms  are  rented  every  week  day 
night  but  one.  At  the  dedication  of  the  same,  February  18th,  1890,  the 
Grand  Lodge  officers  complimented  the  Lodge  highly  upon  their  new 
home.  Its  membership  includes  all  classes.  Ministers  and  laymen, 
merchants  and  mechanics,  lawyers  and  laborers,  rich  and  poor,  old 
and  young,  meet  upon  a  common  level  and  participate  in  the  affairs 
and  labors  of  the  Lodge. 

It  has  ever  been  the  aim  of  the  Lodge  faithfully  to  perform  all  its 
duties  and  obligations  to  the  fullest  extent,  to  be  honorable  in  all 
things,  to  care  for  its  needy  ones  and  their  families.  In  only  one  in- 
stance has  there  ever  been  an  appeal  from  its  action  on  such  matters. 
While  it  may  in  some  cases  be  imposed  upon,  it  has  never  been  mean. 
We  know  this,  that  during  its  existence  it  has  paid  out  more  than 


532  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

$14,000  to  its  members  and  their  widowed  families,  and  in  several 
cases  has  stood  between  those  of  very  limited  means  and  the  poor 
house.  The  assistance  rendered  transient  members  of  the  order 
would  reach  several  hundreds  of  dollars.  It  has  been  a  power  for 
good  and  a  blessing  in  the  town  of  Meriden. 

As  a  charter  member  and  its  first  presiding  officer,  the  writer  has 
been  identified  with  the  Lodge  to  the  present  time. 

Teutonic  Lodge,  No.  95,  was  organized  in  1875  by  a  number  of  per- 
sons, most  of  whom  had  been  members  of  Pacific  Lodge,  and  it  may 
with  some  degree  of  propriety  be  called  an  off-shoot  from  that  Lodge. 
As  its  name  indicates,  it  is  composed  almost  entirely  of  those  who 
were  born  in  Germany,  and  who  desired  to  be  organized  into  a  Lodge 
where  the  ritual  and  work  would  be  in  a  familiar  language,  and  where 
they  could  cultivate  those  social  traits  which  are  so  prominent  among 
that  class  of  our  citizens.  The  Lodge  has  prospered  fully  as  well  as 
could  be  expected.  Meetings  are  now  held  in  the  rooms  of  Pacific 
Lodge,  and  any  brother,  no  matter  whether  he  understands  their  lan- 
guage, is  cordially  welcomed.  It  has  now  about  125  members,  among 
whom  are  many  of  our  leading  and  most  respected  citizens  of  German 
birth  and  parentage.  It  cares  for  its  sick  and  needy  members  with 
fidelity.  Its  affairs  are  administered  in  a  very  prudent  and  economi- 
cal manner.  It  has  moneys  and  property  to  a  value  of  $4,000,  and  has 
expended  in  the  way  of  benefits  to  its  sick  members,  burials,  for  char- 
itable purposes,  etc.,  rising  of  ^6,000. 

Oasis  Encampment,  No.  16,  was  instituted  in  September,  1849.  Its 
meetings  have  always  been  held  in  the  rooms  of  Meriden  Center 
Lodge,  from  which  it  has  largely  drawn  its  membership.  It  pros- 
pered until  the  waning  interest  in  Odd  Fellowship,  when,  for  some 
years,  its  meetings  were  suspended.  In  1867  the  Encampment  was 
revived,  and  it  has  since  had  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity.  It  has  had 
in  the  neighborhood  of  300  members,  and  at  present  100  are  in  good 
standing. 

Atlantic  Encampment,  No.  28,  was  instituted  April  12th,  1872,  with 
about  20  charter  members,  most  of  whom  have  belonged  to  Oasis  En- 
campment. It  may  be  called  an  appendage  to  Pacific  Lodge,  in  whose 
rooms  the  meetings  have  always  been  held.  A  large  proportion  of 
those  belonging  are  members  of  Pacific  Lodge.  It  now  has  about  125 
members  in  good  standing,  the  number  recently  having  been  dimin- 
ished by  dismissals,  to  form  Wallingford  Encampment.  Atlantic 
Encampment  holds  a  high  rank  among  similar  bodies  in  the  state. 

Canton  Meriden,  No.  2,  is  composed  largely  of  members  of  Atlan- 
tic Encampment,  and  their  interests  are  closel}^  allied.  Only  the 
social  and  military  features  are  cultivated  by  the  40  young  men  con- 
stituting its  membership.  This  is  a  recent  introduction  into  the 
order,  and  some  years  mu.st  elapse  before  it  can  be  determined 
whether  it  were  best  to  continue  this  feature. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  533 

Rachel  Lodge.  Xo.  2,  D.  of  R.,  was  instituted  in  March,  1870,  and  is 
maintained  in  connection  with  Meriden  Center  Lodge,  Xo.  08,  its  mem- 
bership being  mainly  from  that  source.  Its  growth  has  been  slow  but 
steady,  and  the  affairs  are  well  managed.  While  the  social  features 
of  the  order  are  given  a  prominent  place,  its  charitable  and  benevo- 
lent work  is  not  neglected.  Its  needy  members  have  been  aided  to 
the  extent  of  a  thousand  dollars.  There  are  120  members  and  an  avail- 
able fund  of  $.500. 

Esther  Lodge,  No.  7,  D.  of  R.,  was  instituted  April  6th,  1871,  at  the 
rooms  of  Pacific  Lodge,  X^o.  87,  and  is  connected  with  that  body  to  a 
certain  extent.  The  Lodge  has  aimed  to  conform  strictly  to  the  laws 
of  the  order  and  hence  its  moneys  have  been  generously  expended  to 
carry  on  its  work.  There  are  TOO  members  and  funds  to  the  amount 
of  $.-)00. 

Eintracht  Lodge,  Xo.  19,  D.  of  R.,  as  its  name  indicates,  is  com- 
posed mainly  of  Germans.  It  was  instituted  July  7th,  1880.  and  its 
meetings  are  held  in  Pacific  Lodge  rooms.  The  Lodge  is  active  and 
by  prudent  management  has  accumulated  a  fund  of  $1,500,  besides 
doing  its  work  in  a  creditable  manner.  It  has  from  70  to  80  members 
and  occupies  a  position  which  enables  it  to  cultivate  a  large  field  of 
usefulness. 

The  Knights  of  Pythias  are  represented  in  Meriden  by  Myrtle 
Lodge,  No.  4,  which  was  instituted  in  1869,  with  35  charter  members. 
Its  growth  had  been  all  that  could  be  desired  until  the  summer  of 
1874  when,  owing  (so  it  is  said)  to  some  dissatisfaction  with  the  action 
of  the  Grand  Lodge,  Myrtle  Lodge  .surrendered  its  charter.  On  the 
application  of  some  of  its  former  members  this  charter  was  restored 
in  1888,  since  which  time  the  prosperity  enjoyed  has  placed  this  Lodge 
among  the  foremost  ones  in  the  state.  The  Lodge  looks  after  the 
needs  of  its  members  in  a  diligent  manner,  providing  liberally  for 
their  wants.  About  §1 ,700  has  been  expended  for  charitable  purposes, 
and  a  clear  fund  of  $500  remains  in  the  treasury.  The  Lodge  has  a 
fine  field  of  usefulness.     More  than  100  members  belong. 

In  connection  with  this  Lodge  is  the  Uniformed  Rank,  a  semi- 
militar}'  branch  of  the  order,  corresponding  somewhat  to  the  Knights 
Templar  of  Free  Masonry.  Its  members  are  the  young  men  of  the 
order,  who  enter  upon  their  work  with  much  enthusiasm.  About  forty 
persons  are  thus  interested  and  have  become  very  proficient.  Their 
showy  uniforms  attract  much  attention  when  they  appear  in  public. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  there  are,  in  the  city,  many  other 
orders:  The  Knights  of  Honor  have  two  Lodges;  the  Knights  of 
Columbus,  three  Councils:  the  Sons  of  St.  George,  one  Lodge;  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  two  Divisions;  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Foresters,  three  Courts;  the  Improved  Red  Men,  one  Tribe;  the 
Knights  of  Labor,  six  Assemblies;  the  Patriotic  Sons  of  America,  one 
Camp;  the  Royal  Arcanum,  one  Council;  the  Order  of  Shepherds,  one 


634  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Sanctuary;  the  United  Workmen,  one  Lodge;  the  American  Mechanics, 
one  Council;  the  Turnverien,  incorporated  in  1880;  and  besides  more 
than  a  dozen  temperance,  benevolent  and  beneficiary  orders. 

A  prelimary  meeting  to  organize  a  Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  was  held  at  the  town  hall,  February  1st,  1867;  and  in  the 
furtherance  of  that  object  a  charter  was  granted  April  15th,  1807, 
which  bore  the  names  of  the  following  comrades  as  charter  members: 
Albert  T.  Booth,  William  H.  Minchin,  Henry  A.  Kirtland,  Heber  S. 
Ives,  Charles  S.  Gallager,  N.  S.  Wood,  E.  O.  Puffer,  Frederick  H. 
Parker  and  George  C.  Geer. 

November  16th,  1868,  a  vote  was  taken  for  a  name  for  the  Post, 
which  resulted  in  a  unanimous  adoption  of  "  Merriam,"  in  honor  of 
Lieutenant  Edwin  J.  Merriam,  of  the  7th  Connecticut  Volunteers,  who 
died  at  Fortress  Monroe  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Deep 
Run,  Va.,  August  16th,  1864.  Soon  after  this  interest  in  the  Post 
,  declined  and,  in  1869,  it  was  practically  reorganized.  Slow  progress 
was  made  and  it  was  not  until  October  5th,  1874,  that  permanent  head- 
quarters were  secured,  in  the  commodious  hall,  on  Colony  street. 
Here,  in  addition  to  its  large  hall,  a  suite  of  rooms  has  been  fitted  up 
and  finely  furnished  for  the  use  of  the  members.  Among  the  other 
privileges  thus  provided  is  a  library  of  about  500  volumes,  which  has 
promoted  the  good  of  the  order. 

Merriam  Post  is  not  only  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  flourishing  in 
the  state,  but  it  is  also  one  of  the  largest  and  most  influential,  having 
a  membership  of  800.*  Like  most  other  organizations  it  has  had  its 
seasons  of  adversity,  and  the  comrades  will  not  soon  forget  the  unfor- 
tunate steamboat  excursion  to  West  Point  in  1871,  in  which  the  Post 
suffered  serious  loss  financially,  and  was  for  a  long  time  left  heavily 
in  arrears.  The  Post  by  giving  plays,  holding  fairs  and  by  careful, 
economical  management,  finally  succeeded  in  cancelling  its  financial 
indebtedness,  and  in  addition  to  the  possession  of  $3,200  worth  of  Post 
property  it  now  has  about  $11,000  in  its  Relief  and  Post  funds.  It 
al.so  owns  a  burial  plot,  50  by  60,  in  Walnut  Grove  Cemetery. 

From  $500  to  $1,000  is  spent  yearly  for  the  relief  of  its  members, 
and  all  its  funds  are  sacredly  pledged  for  the  relief  of  those  in  want. 
A  valuable  adjunct  in  this  work  of  the  organization  is  the  Woman's 
Relief  Corps,  No.  259,  which  has  a  helpful  membership. 

In  April,  1887,  Merriam  Post,  No.  8,  was  properly  incorporated  by 
the  Legislature  and  authorized  to  hold  property  to  an  amount  not 
exceeding  $50,000. 

The  following  have  served  as  Post  commanders,  in  the  years  named: 
Joseph  J.  Wooley,  1867-8,  1871;  Frank  J.  Carter,  1868-9;  Frank  G.  Otis, 
1872-4;  William  L.  Stoddard,  1875;  John  H.  Chapman,  1876;  Isaac  B. 
Hyatt,  1877-9;  William  G.  Gallager,  1880;  Wallace  A.  Miles,  1881; 
Frederick  A.  Higby,  1882;  Wilbur  F.  Rogers,  1883;  ConstansC.  Kinne, 

*  More  than  .500  have  belonged. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  536 

1884:  Ezekiel  R.  Merriam,  1885;  Julius  Augur,  1880;  Albert  F.  Hall, 
1887;  H.  L.  B.  Pond,  1888;  Charles  S.  Kelsey,  1889;  Allen  W.  Harvey, 
1890. 

The  Post  can  point  with  pride  to  the  noble  soldier's  monument  at 
the  head  of  Main  street,  which  will  continue  to  stand  in  sunshine  and 
storm  through  the  coming  generations,  long  after  the  brave  soldiers 
of  Meriden  have  passed  away — a  silent  but  impressive  testimony  of 
the  grand  work  of  Merriam  Post.  This  monument  was  erected  by  a 
public-spirited  interest  awakened  and  kept  alive  by  Merriam  Post, 
whose  members  in  1870  aroused  patriotic  .sentiment  here  to  .such  a 
high  pitch  that  at  a  patriotic  meeting  held  $10,000  was  voted  for  the 
monument.  Reverend  J.  J.  Wooley  making  the  motion,  which  was 
ably  seconded  by  Honorable  Orville  H.  Piatt. 

This  beautiful  memorial  cost  $11,000,  of  which  Merriam  Post  con- 
tributed $1,000.  The  monument  stands  on  town  property  on  an  emi- 
nence in  front  of  the  city  hall.  It  is  surrounded  by  an  iron  fence,  in 
front  of  which  are  placed  four  cannon,  captured  from  the  rebels,  and 
donated  by  the  government,  through  the  influence  of  Honorable  S. 
W.  Kellogg,  of  Waterbur3\  The  brass  tablets  on  which  the  names 
of  the  hei'oic  dead  are  inscribed,  were  imported  from  Germany. 
The  dedicator)'  services  were  held  in  1873,  and  were  imposing  and 
impressive,  the  oration  being  delivered  b}*  Honorable  Joseph  R. 
Hawlej'.  The  monument  has  every  year  since  been  suitably  trimmed 
with  flowers  on  "  Memorial  Day,"  and  the  appropriation  of  the  town 
aids  to  properly  observe  that  day.  The  tablets  contain  the  names  of 
158  of  Meriden's  soldiers  who  fell  in  the  cause  of  the  Union,  which  is 
a  large  proportion  of  those  serving,  the  enlistments  in  rank  and  file 
being  875  men. 

The  monument  is  of  Westerly  granite,  finely  proportioned,  and  is 
36  feet  high.  vSurmounting  it  is  a  chaste  granite  figure,  seven  feet 
high,  of  a  private  soldier  at  "  parade  rest."  The  monument  in  con- 
nection with  its  surroundings  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  objects  in 
the  city. 

Charles  L.  Upham  Camp,  No.  7,  Sons  of  Veterans,  recently  estab- 
lished, is  also  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

The  Meriden  Agricultural  Society  held  its  first  annual  fair  at  Brad- 
ley's Park,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  city,  in  September,  1872, 
under  the  direction  of  the  following  officers;  D.  E.  W.  Hatch,  presi- 
dent; Levi  E.  Coe,  secretary;  S.  H.  W.  Yale,  treasurer;  E.  D.  Castelow, 
superintendent.  The  exhibitions  were  there  continued  yearly  until 
1876,  when  the  fair  was  held  for  the  first  time  on  the  grounds  of  the 
Meriden  Park  Company,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city.  The  exhibi- 
tions at  the  same  place  for  the  next  three  years  were  the  occasions  of 
unabated  interest  and  financial  success.  In  1880  the  society  yielded 
its  privileges  on  these  grounds  to  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  which 
has  since  that  year  continued  to  hold  its  annual  fairs  at  that  place, 
usually  with  success. 


636  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  Meriden  Park  Company  was  organized  November  2(3th,  1875, 
with  a  capital  of  $22,000.  The  stock  was  divided  into  many  shares,  as 
it  was  intended  to  popularize  the  movement  to  open  a  fine  place  for 
exhibitions  and  sporting  purposes.  The  Moses  Burr  Farm  of  56  acres 
was  purchased  for  $12,000,  and  a  large  sum  of  money  was  spent  in  en- 
closing 30  acres  and  fitting  up  the  same.  A  good  half  mile  track  was 
constructed.  The  grounds  were  first  used  for  fair  purposes  by  the 
Meriden  Agricultural  Society,  in  1876,  and  in  1880  the  Connecticut 
annual  state  fair  began  to  be  held  at  that  place.  For  the  use  of  that 
society  the  grounds  were  enlarged  and  supplied  with  the  necessary 
buildings.  The  park  is  well  adapted  for  large  gatherings,  having 
sloping  sides,  which  afford  a  natural  amphitheater. 

Jonas  P.  Stow  was  the  first  president  of  the  Park  Company  and 
Horace  C.  Wilcox  one  of  the  largest  stockholders.  In  1889  the  officers 
of  the  company  were:  President,  N.  L.  Bradley;  vice-president,  George 
Cooley;  secretary,  S.  A.  Hull;  treasurer,  L.  E.  Coe. 

The  Meriden  Poultry  Association  had  as  its  officers  in  1889:  Presi- 
dent, L.  E.  Coe;  secretary,  Joshua  Shute;  treasurer,Wilbur  B.  Hall.  The 
association  has  held  several  annual  meetings  and  exhibitions  of  fine 
and  fancy  poultry,  which  were  successful  in  points  of  attendance  and 
interest.  An  impetus  to  careful  breeding  was  given  and  a  number  of 
persons  became  fanciers  of  improved  poultry.  In  late  years  these 
pursuits  have  been  followed  with  diminished  interest,  but  the  organi- 
zation of  the  association  is  nominally  maintained. 

A  flourishing  Grange  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  is  maintained  in 
Meriden. 

The  following  account  of  educational  affairs  in  Meriden  was  con- 
tributed by  Reverend  J.  T.  Pettee,  A.  M.,  acting  school  visitor : 

When  Meriden  was  set  off  from  Wallingford,  in  1806,  there  were 
seven  school  districts,  and  the  same  number  of  school  houses.  The 
districts  were :  The  Center,  the  Northwest  (now  the  Old  Road),  the 
Northeast,  the  East,  the  .Southeast,  the  West  and  the  Farms  (then 
called  the  Southwest  district).  In  1837  the  North  Center,  the  Corner 
and  Hanover  had  been  added  to  the  number. 

The  earliest  record  that  we  have  of  the  schools  of  Meriden  is  1814, 
and  this  occurs  almost  by  accident.  That  year  the  wisdom  of  our 
fathers  ordained  that  the  school  children  of  Meriden  should  be  vaccin- 
ated, and  at  a  special  town  meeting,  held  April  23d,  the  following  vote 
was  taken  :  "  Voted,  to  appoint  a  committee  of  two  from  each  school 
district  to  introduce  kine  pock  innoculation."  The  committee  ap- 
pointed were :  For  the  Center  district.  Doctors  Isaac  I.  Hough  and 
Theophilus  Hall;  Northwest  district,  Patrick  Clark  and  Matthew 
Foster;  Northeast  district,  Phineas  Hough  and  Eleazer  Scovil;  the  East, 
Samuel  Baldwin,  Jr.,  and  Ira  Hall;  Southeast  district,  Othniel  Ives  and 
Irah  Curtis  ;  Southwest  (now  the  Farms),  Ichabod  Wood  and  Moses 
Cowles;  West  district,  Dan  Andrews  and  Levi  Allen;  Plymert  (in 
Cheshire),  John  Plymert. 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  537 

This  vote  of  April  23d,  1814,  has  been  of  essential  service,  not  only 
in  enabling  me  to  fix  the  names  and  number  of  the  original  districts, 
but  in  marking  the  two  changes  in  names,  viz.:  in  the  Northwest  and 
Southwest  districts.  We  know  that  the  Northwe.st  of  this  list  is  the 
Old  Road  of  the  present,  because  Patrick  Clark  was  on  its  committee, 
and  Patrick  Clark  was  an  Old  Road  man ;  and  his  son,  P.  J.  Clark, 
showed  me  where  lie  attended  school  in  this  district  nearly  seventy 
years  ago.  In  the  same  way  we  know  that  the  Southwest  district  of 
this  list  was  the  present  Farms  district,  for  Ichabod  Wood,  one  of  the 
inoculating  committee  of  this  district,  we  recognize  as  the  father  of 
the  late  Deacon  Wood,  who  lived  in  what  is  now  the  Farms  district. 

Our  districts  then,  in  1814  (making  these  nominal  changes),  were 
the  Center,  the  Old  Road,  the  Northwest,  the  East,  the  Southeast,  the 
Farms  and  the  West — seven — and  I  presume  this  was  the  number  in 
1806,  the  year  that  the  town  was  incorporated. 

In  1837,  when  a  committee  of  one  from  each  district  was  appointed 
to  distribute  ^leriden's  share  of  the  "surplus  revenue,"  $4,386.72  (Con- 
necticut's share  was  $763,661\  the  name  of  the  districts  are  again 
given,  and  it  appears  that  the  Corner,  Hanover  and  the  Ives  had  been 
added  to  the  number;  if  we  inquire  "when  added,  and  by  what  author- 
ity," the  records  are  silent.  Now  the  organization  of  new  districts  is 
by  town  authority,  and  matter  of  town  record — it  was  not  so  in  the 
time  of  our  fathers.  Perhaps  school  matters  were  recorded  in  a  separ- 
ate volume;  if  so,  that  volume  is  lost,  and  we  have  nothing  to  show  the 
exact  time  of  the  organization  of  these  new  districts. 

I  will  now  take  up  the  original  seven  districts  in  the  order  in  which 
they  are  named  in  the  vote  of  April  23d,  1814,  and  locate,  if  possible, 
their  respective  school  houses. 

Tin-  Old  Center. — This  stood  in  what  is  now  High  street,  back  of 
the  old  Baptist  church,  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Broad  Street 
Cemetery,  directly  front  of  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Lyman  P. 
Butler.  If  standing,  as  I  think  it  was,  when  the  town  was  incorpor- 
ated, it  served  the  district  as  a  school  house  for  57  years,  or  until  the 
South  Center  was  built,  about  1863,  which  stood  on  Curtis  street,  where 
the  house  of  Mr.  Charles  G.  Kendrick  now  stands,  and  which  accom- 
modated the  children  of  the  south  end  of  the  district  until  the  brick 
school  house  on  Parker  avenue  was  built,  in  1869  ;  just  as  the  North 
Center,  which  stood  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Wall  streets,  and  after- 
ward gave  way  to  a  better  building  (still  standing  on  School  street), 
accommodated  those  from  the  north  part.  The  house  on  Parker  ave- 
nue and  its  "annex"  on  South  Broad  street,  built  in  1884,  with  their 
twelve  fine  school  rooms,  accommodate  the  whole  Center  district,  and 
the  names  South  Center  and  North  Center  have  disappeared.  The 
first  enumeration  of  the  Center  district  which  I  find  recorded,  January 
1st,  1864,  gives  203  children  ;  the  one  October  1st,  1889,  gives  872. 
Upon  the  building  of  the  South  Center,  in  1863,  the  old  building  on 


538  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

High  street,  after  having  been  used  a  while  for  storage  purposes,  was 
demolished. 

The  Old  Road. — There  is  something  to  my  own  mind,  very  interesting 
in  the  name  of  this  school  house,  standing  as  it  does  on  the  old  colonial 
road,  on  which  our  fathers  in  colonial  times,  traveled  from  Hartford 
to  New  Haven,  on  foot,  or  on  horseback,  as  there  were  no  carriages 
for  common  people  in  those  days,  and  if  there  had  been,  this  road,  a 
mere  bridle  path,  would  not  have  accommodated  them.  Originally, 
as  we  have  seen,  this  district  was  called  Northwest,  but  its  tax  payers 
did  well  in  changing  it  to  Old  Road  in  honor  of  the  historic  thorough- 
fare on  which  its  school  building  stands.  The  first  school  house  of 
this  district  stood  on  the  corner  of  Hicks  and  Colony  streets,  where 
the  second  was  also  built  about  1843.  This  second  school  house,  when 
built,  was  probably  the  finest  .school  building  in  Meriden.  It  is  still 
standing  on  its  original  site,  serving  some  useful  purpose  for  the 
Meriden  Malleable  Iron  Company.  The  first  school  house  was  moved 
off  when  the  second  was  built,  and  now  forms  part  of  a  dwelling  house 
on  Britannia  street.  No.  51.  Were  this  old  building  still  standing  it 
would  be  in  strange  contrast  with  the  beautiful  school  house  now 
standing  a  few  rods  east  of  its  old  location,  which  was  built  in  1875, 
at  a  cost  of  $15,000,  and  which,  with  its  well  kept  and  spacious  school 
grounds,  is  one  of  our  best  district  school  houses.  It  has  four  large 
school  rooms  and  two  good  recitation  rooms.  In  18G3  this  district, 
with  two  teachers,  had  a  registration  of  65,  and  returned  an  enumera- 
tion of  75;  in  1889  it  gave  employment  to  .six  teachers,  had  a  registra- 
tion of  275,  and  returned. an  entimeration  of  374. 

The  Northeast  District. — This  is  one  of  the  original  seven  that  appear 
upon  the  town  list  of  1814.  Its  first  school  house  is  .still  standing  near 
its  original  location,  on  Bee  street,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the 
present  school  house,  just  south  of  the  track  of  the  Meriden  &  Crom- 
well railroad,  next  the  residence  of  Mr.  William  A.  Ives.  It  has  been 
slightly  enlarged  since  it  was  used  for  school  purposes,  and  now  forms 
the  dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Edward  Fritz,  is  in  good  condition,  and  if 
"  kept  up  "  may  last  another  hundred  years.  The  present  house  of 
this  district  was  built  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  The  enumeration 
of  1889  gave  51.  The  attendance  is  small  because  so  many  of  the 
enumerated  children  go  to  Prattsville  and  the  'Center. 

TIic  East  District. — The  first  school  house  in  this  district  was  built 
sometime  previous  to  1814,  and  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  Middle- 
town  road,  on  the  corner,  by  Mr.  Almon  Hall's.  What  became  of  the 
building  I  do  not  know;  probably  it  was  not  worth  moving,  for  I  find 
from  the  Meriden  land  records  that  this  year  land  was  deeded  by 
Samuel  Baldwin  for  a  school  lot  on  what  is  now  the  estate  of  Hezekiah 
Dunklee.  The  house  here  built,  which  we  may  call  the  second  East 
District  school  house,  was  used  for  school  purposes  till  the  easterly  of 
the  two  present  school  houses  was  built,   nearly   opposite,    1846,   to 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  539 

be  followed  by  the  westerly,  in  which  two  as  good  schools  are 
taught  as  are  to  be  found  in  Meriden.  The  enumeration  of  the  district 
in  1889  was  87;  the  seating  capacity  of  the  school  house  82. 

The  Southeast  District. — Here  is,  perhaps,  the  oldest  of  our  school 
buildings,  having  been  built  in  1800— certainly  the  oldest  that  is  still 
used  for  school  purposes.  I  was  once  told  by  Mr.  Eli  Ives,  who  "  gradu- 
ated "  here,  that  it  originally  stood  some  twelve  rods  southeast  of  its 
present  location.  It  was  moved  to  its  present  site  in  1817;  a  few  years 
ago  it  was  enlarged — almost  rebuilt — refurnished  with  modern  school 
furniture,  and  is  now  one  of  the  prettiest,  though  perhaps  the 
smallest,  of  our  Meriden  school  houses. 

The  Farms  District. — When  the  town  was  incorporated  in  1806,  and 
as  late  as  1837,  this  was  called  the  Southwest  district.  Our  Meriden 
fathers  were  in  the  habit  of  dividing  the  town  into  four  highway  dis- 
tricts, and  as  these  were  determined  by  "  the  crossing  of  the  two  turn- 
pike," as  the  records  express  it  (the  Hartford  and  New  Haven  and 
the  Middletown  and  Waterbury).  they  bore  the  names  of  Northwest, 
Northeast,  Southwest  and  Southeast;  and  it  was  very  natural  that  they 
should,  as  far  as  they  could,  attach  the  same  names  to  the  school  di.s- 
tricts;  so  we  are  not  surprised  that  the  Old  Road  was  called  North- 
west, or  that  the  Farms  was  called  Southwest.  Once  on  the  record  it 
is  called  "  Falls  Plain;"  and  I  am  glad  that  it  is,  for  it  shows  us  where 
Hanover  children  went  to  school  before  the  Hanover  district  was 
formed,  "  Falls  Plain  "  being  the  ancient  name  of  all  of  that  level 
tract  in  and  around  Hanover,  derived  from  the  beautiful  falls  of  the 
Ouinnipiac  at  Hanover  and  Yalesville.  The  first  school  house  was 
built  in  1800;  repaired  and  enlarged  in  1869;  condemned  by  the  school 
board  in  1878;  moved  off  and  a  new  one  built  in  1879,  at  an  expense 
of  $1,500.  It  was  built  on  a  liberal  scale;  has  seats  for  68  pupils,  and 
will  answer  the  wants  of  the  district  for  many  years.  This  is  our 
only  overlying  district — i.  e.,  the  only  district  that  reaches  over  into 
another  town.  It  draws  just  about  as  many  children  from  Walling- 
ford  as  from  Meriden;  the  enumeration  in  1889  was  71 — 38  from 
Meriden  and  33  from  Wallingford. 

The  West  District. — The  first  school  house  in  this  district  stood  on 
the  north  side  of  Johnson  avenue,  opposite  the  place  where  the  Good- 
year road  comes  into  it.  About  the  year  1850  it  was  moved  on  to  the 
present  school  lot,  on  the  corner  of  Johnson  avenue  and  Spruce  street, 
where  it  stood  till  the  present  house  was  built  in  1870,  but  nearer  the 
corner  of  the  street,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Air.  William  Johnson, 
who  began  to  move  it  up  the  hill,  but  abandoned  the  design  and  tore 
it  down;  so  that  no  part  of  the  old  West  District  school  house  now 
remains,  unless  some  of  its  timbers  have  entered  into  the  construction 
of  other  buildings.  About  the  time  that  the  old  school  house  was  first 
moved,  say  1850,  this  district  dropped  the  name  West  and  took  that 
of  Ives,  and  was  known  as  the  Ives  district  till  1870,  when  it  changed 


540  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

again  and  took  the  name  of  Northwest,  which  it  still  bears.  About 
the  time  that  the  old  school  hou.se  was  moved  up  the  hill,  the  stone 
school  house  was  built  on  the  Deacon  Allen  road,  and  the  district  in 
which  it  stood  resumed  its  old  name,  West  district.  The  present 
large  and  commodious  school  hou.se  of  this  district  on  West  Main 
street  began  to  be  built  in  1868 — began  to  be  built,  I  say,  for  it  has 
grown  from  two  rooms  in  1868  to  ten  rooms  in  1890.  The  two  south 
rooms  were  built  in  1868:  the  two  north  rooms  in  1871;  the  two  west 
rooms  in  1877:  two  east  rooms  in  1883,  and  the  two  rooms  still  further 
east  in  1885.  And  this  growth  of  the  .school  house  represents  the 
growth  of  the  district,  which  in  1868  returned  174  enumerated  chil- 
dren, and  in  1889  returned  981.  ^ 

This  carries  us  through  the  original  seven  districts,  and  locates,  I 
believe,  all  of  the  old  school  houses.  They  were,  I  may  observe,  all 
built  pretty  much  alike,  of  about  the  same  size,  and  furnished  pretty 
much  in  the  same  manner:  small,  square,  one  story  buildings,  u.sually 
about  20  by  25,  painted  red  if  painted  at  all,  furnished  with  the  old- 
fashioned  stone  fire-place,  with  the  large  box  pine  desk  for  the  master 
or  mistress,  and  with  the  long,  broad  desk  or  shelf  .secured  to  the  wall 
on  two  sides  of  the  school  room.  This  was  for  the  older  .scholars — 
those  who  had  attained  to  the  dignity  of  writing  and  ciphering.  For 
younger  pupils  plain  seats  were  provided,  without  backs  or  foot-rests, 
in  the  middle  of  the  school  room.  These  were  usually  made  of  plank 
or  saw  mill  slabs,  with  stakes  driven  through  them  for  legs  in  the 
manner  of  milking  stools. 

Tlie  Corner  District. — This  name  does  not  appear  on  my  li.st  of  1814, 
nor  can  I  get  any  trace  of  it  till  about  1830,  when  its  first  school  house 
stood  on  the  corner  of  East  Main  and  State  streets,  about  where  Mr. 
Paddock's  fruit  store  now  stands.  A  gentleman  who  attended  there 
in  his  boyhood  speaks  of  it  as  "  surrounded  by  a  swamp,"  while  an 
elderly  iady,  with  a  touch  of  poetry,  refers  to  it  as  "  nestling  among 
the  willows."  The  Corner  school  was  kept  here  until  1836,  when  it 
was  removed  to  a  two  story  building  which  stood  on  the  north  side 
of  Church  street,  near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  present  Corner 
school  grounds.  This  building,  in  1853,  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Noah 
Linsley,  moved  to  the  south  side  of  Church  street,  and  fitted  up  as  a 
dwelling  house.  The  district  then  purcha.sed  the  building  which  had 
been  erected  for  Mr.  H.  D.  Smith,  and  where  he  and  Mr.  David  N. 
Camp,  who  was  a.ssociated  with  him  in  instruction,  taught  a  most 
excellent  high  and  select  school,  from  1847  to  1853,  known  as  the 
Meriden  Institute.  They  enlarged  it  from  time  to  time,  as  the  growth 
of  the  district  required,  and  used  it  till  the  present  brick  building  was 
built,  directly  in  front  of  it,  in  1868.  Then  the  old  building  was  sold 
to  Mr.  Jared  R.  Cook;  part  of  it  was  taken  down  and  its  timber  used 
in  the  construction  of  a  house  (the  French  roofed  house  that  stands 
near  the  brook)  on  Cook  avenue;  the  old  chapel-like  "  Institute  "  was 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY,  541 

moved  bodily  to  King  street,  where  it  now  stands,  the  first  house  from 
the  corner  of  Orange  street. 

The  "annexes"  of  this  school  on  Willow  and  King  streets  were 
built  in  1883  and  1887.  The  valuation  of  school  property  is  now  $97,- 
500.  The  earliest  enumeration  I  find  recorded,  that  of  1865,  gives 
495:  the  enumeration  of  October  1st,  1889,  gave  1,901,  an  increase  of 
1,406  in  24  years.  Then  five  teachers  did  the  work  ;  now  25  are  em- 
ployed. 

Hanover  District. — This  district  first  appeared  upon  the  list  in  1837. 
Before  it  was  organized  the  children  in  the  east  part  of  it  probably 
went  to  the  Farms  district,  those  in  the  north  part  to  the  West,  while 
tho.se  in  the  west  part  went  to  the  Plymert,  a  district  in  Cheshire,  whose 
old  school  hou.se  stood  on  Cheshire  street,  near  the  location  of  the 
present  school  house,  where  some  of  our  Meriden  children  have 
always  attended,  and  where  we  paid  for  their  instruction  as  late  as 
1876.  I  cannot  fix  exactly  the  date  of  the  building  of  the  fir.st  school 
house  in  this  district;  it  must  have  been,  however,  before  1844,  for  in 
the  Meriden  land  records,  vol.  9,  p.  324, 1  find  recorded  a  deed  from 
Dennison  Parker  to  the  Hanover  vSchool  District  of  a  piece  of  land  on 
which  the  school  hou.se  was  then  standing,  and  the  deed  bears  date 
July  24th,  1844.  I  have  no  difficulty,  however,  in  finding  the  place 
where  it  stood,  as  the  Hanover  people  well  remember — on  the  present 
school  grounds,  a  little  east  of  the  present  school  building.  It  was  a 
long,  one-story  building,  containing  two  rooms.  It  now  stands  on 
Cutler  avenue,  not  far  from  the  residence  of  Mr.  A.  L.Stevens.  While 
the  new  school  house  was  building,  and  for  some  time  before,  the 
school  was  kept  in  a  building  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  The 
present  school  house  was  erected  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  811,000.  It  is 
one  of  our  best  school  buildings,  with  four  well  lighted  and  well  ven- 
tilated rooms,  and  with  spacious  and  well  kept  school  grounds.  But, 
owing  to  the  fluctuations  of  business  and  changes  of  population,  there 
has  been  a  falling  off  in  registration  and  attendance  the  past  ten  or 
twelve  years;  for  several  years  but  three  rooms  have  been  occupied, 
and  the  enumeration  of  1889  gave  but  125  children. 

Prattsvillc  District. — This  is  comparatively  a  new  district.  Its  first 
school  house,  a  plain  two-story  building,  was  built  about  1849,  and 
stood  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  present  school  yard,  on  the  corner 
of  North  Broad  and  Camp  streets.  The  present  elegant  building  was 
erected  in  1875,  at  an  expense  of  $23,573.  It  is  almost  a  model  school 
house.  It  contains  eight  good  school  rooms,  two  good  play  rooms,  and 
is  but  two  stories  high.  In  1865  this  di.strict  employed  two  teachers, 
had  an  average  attendance  of  50  scholars,  and  returned  an  enumera- 
tion of  137.  In  1889  it  employed  seven  teachers,  had  an  attendance  of 
260,  and  returned  an  enumeration  of  557.  Before  the  organization  of 
this  district  the  children  in  this  part  of  Meriden  were  obliged  to  attend 
the  Old  Road,  the  Northeast,  or  the  North  Center  districts. 


542  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  Railroad  District. — This  is  probably  our  youngest  district.  Its 
name  shows  that  it  was  not  organized  till  after  the  opening  of  the 
Hartford  &  New  Haven  railroad  in  1840,  and  we  have  reasons  for  be- 
lieving that  its  first  school  hou.se  was  not  built  till  abotit  1853.  It  was 
a  plain,  one-story  building,  which  in  1868  was  somewhat  enlarged  and 
raised  to  the  dignity  of  two  stories,  in  which  form  it  still  stands  on 
its  original  site,  the  most  northern  of  the  present  school  buildings.  A 
new  building  of  two  rooms  was  built  to  the  south  of  it  in  1875,  and  this 
enlarged  by  adding  two  more  rooms  in  1885,  so  that  now  the  Railroad 
district  has  six  large  school  rooms,  one  small  one  and  one  recitation 
room,  in  which  are  employed  eight  efficient  teachers.  In  1864  but  one 
was  employed.     Then  the  enumeration  was  137;   in  1889  it  was  464. 

The  public  schools  of  Meriden  now  employ  87  teachers— 9  men,  78 
women.  The  enumeration  of  October  1st,  1890,  gave  5,895,  between 
the  ages  of  4  and  16.  Of  these,  4,355  were  registered  in  the  public 
schools,  about  1,200  in  the  private  and  parochial.  Of  the  remainder, 
338,  most  were  under  5  or  over  14  years  of  age. 

The  Meriden  High  School  was  organized  at  the  commencement  of 
the  school  year  in  1881.  Before  its  organization  high  school  studies 
were  pursued  in  several  of  the  grammar  schools,  in  the  higher  depart- 
ments of  which  girls  were  prepared  for  teaching  and  boys  for  college. 
But  April  12th,  1881,  the  town  authorized  "a  school  of  higher  grade  to 
relieve  the  pressure  on  the  grammar  schools,"  and  the  school  was 
opened  in  the  Turners'  Hall,  which  stood  where  the  High  School 
building  now  stands,  on  the  corner  of  Liberty  and  Catlin  streets,  but 
was  soon  removed  to  the  Prattsville  school  house,  where  it  was  kept 
till  the  German-American  school  building  was  completed,  when  it  took 
rooms  there,  which  it  occupied  till  the  present  High  School  building 
was  ready,  in  1885.  This,  built  at  an  expense  (including  land)  of 
nearly  $100,000,  is  one  of  the  be.st  high  school  buildings  in  the  state  of 
Connecticut.  It  is  furnished  with  a  valuable  library,  the  gift  of  Hon. 
I.  C.  Lewis  and  Mr.  Walter  Hubbard;  a  working  laboratory  furnished 
with  the  most  modern  chemical  and  philosophical  apparatus,  by  the 
liberality  of  Mr.  Henry  S.  Wilcox;  a  set  of  valuable  physiological 
charts,  presented  by  Doctor  Henry  A.Archer;  a  costly  cabinet  of  min- 
erals, presented  by  Reverend  Doctor  J.  H.  Chapin,  and  the  use  of  the 
large  and  valuable  collections  of  natural  history  specimens  belonging 
to  the  Meriden  Scientific  Association,  now,  by  courtesy  of  the  High 
vSchool  committee,  set  up  in  this  building.  The  school  now  (1891) 
numbers  about  250  pupils,  and  graduates  a  class  of  about  30  each  year. 

There  is  now  invested  in  the  lands,  buildings  and  furniture  of  the 
public  schools  about  $350,000.  The  cost  to  the  town  the  present  year 
is  $61,000,  and  to  the  districts  perhaps  $10,000  more. 

The  schools  of  Meriden  were  made  free  by  vote  of  the  town,  Octo- 
ber 19th,  1863.  At  the  annual  town  meeting,  October  5th,  G.  H.  Wilson, 
J.  H.  Farnsworth,  W.  E.  Benham,  John  Parker  and  Russell  B.  Perkins, 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  543 

were  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  the  matter  and  to  report  at 
an  adjourned  town  meeting  October  19th;  their  report  was  accepted, 
and  it  was  "  Voted,  That  from  the  beg-inning-  of  the  current  school 
year  (September  1st,  1863),  all  public  schools  of  the  town  shall  be  free, 
and  the  expense  of  said  schools,  heretofore  defrayed  from  the  avails 
of  rate  bills,  shall  be  paid  by  the  town."* 

Of  the  private  and  parochial  schools  which  are  assisting  in  the 
education  of  the  children  of  Meriden,  St.  Rose,  Catholic,  leads  the  way 
with  some  seven  or  eight  hundred  pupils;  the  German-American 
comes  next  with  some  200;  St.  John's  Lutheran  follows  with  108.  and 
the  Emanuel  Lutheran  with  100. 

In  the  past  other  schools  have  played  an  important  part  in  the 
same  good  work;  among  which  "  The  Meriden  Institute,"  a  select 
high  school,  established  by  Mr.  Henry  D.  Smith  in  1847,  and  very 
successfully  taught  by  him  and  Mr.  David  N.  Camp  till  1853,  deserves 
honorable  mention.  Here  "  the  higher  English  branches  were  taught, 
as  well  as  French  and  mathematics,  and  the  Greek  and  Latin  required 
the  enter  Yale  College."  The  number  of  scholars  varied  from  150  to 
200.  The  "  Institute "  building  stood  where  the  German  school 
building  now  stands — it  is  now  a  double  dwelling  house  on  King 
street. 

Post's  Academy,  which  stood  where  the  house  of  Mr.  Frank  Rhind 
now  stands,  corner  of  Elm  and  East  Main  streets,  built  1841,  burned 
about  1846,  gave  good  instruction  in  the  higher  branches.  The  school 
was  first  organized  in  the  house  of  the  late  William  J.  Ives  on  Broad 
street.  This  was  followed  by  the  Meriden  Academy,  instituted  by 
the  Meriden  Academical  Company,  and  kept  in  the  old  Baptist 
•church  on  Broad  street,  fitted  up  for  the  purpose,  under  the  principal- 
ship  of  Mark  B.  Moore,  James  H.  Atkins,  Mr.  Hill,  William  H.  Ross, 
J.  Q.  Bradish,  Samuel  Young,  Mr.  Wilder  and  H.  S.  Jewett,  from  1848 
to  1865;  followed  in  its  turn  by  an  excellent  private  school  kept  by 
Miss  E.  A.  Landfear,  in  this  and  a  neighboring  building,  till  1870. 

Nor  should  the  lesser  private  schools  be  forgotten.  Miss  Malone's, 
in  Captain  Collin's  house,  in  East  Main  street;  Mrs.  Augur's,  in  her 
own  house:  Mrs.  Bradley's  on  Colony  street;  Miss  Osborne's  on  Wash- 
ington street,  should  all  be  enumerated  among  the  educational  agen- 
cies of  the  town. 

Several  lyceums  and  scientific  as.sociations  have  al.so  been  useful 
educational  means.  The  Young  Men's  Institute,  which  flourished  thirty 
years  ago,  and  in  1855  had,  by  vote  of  the  town,  a  large  room  assigned  it 
in  the  town  hall;  the  East  Side  and  Up  Town  Lyceums;  the  debating  so- 
cieties held  for  successive  years  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building;  the  Agassiz 
Association;  the  Chatauqua  Circles  which  have  flourished  from  time 
■to  time,  one  of  which  is  now  in  successful  operation;  and  the  Meriden 
Scientific   Association,    Reverend    J.    H.    Chapin,    Ph.  D.,  president; 

*Town  Records,  Vol.  I.,  p.  380. 


544  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Honorable  C.  H.  S.  Davis,  M.  D.,  secretary;  which,  though  not  incor- 
porated till  1887,  is  already  sending  its  reports  and  "  Transactions  " 
all  over  the  world — none  of  these  should  be  overlooked,  or  forgotten 
by  one  who  would  earnestly  estimate  the  educational  agencies  of  the 
town. 

The  early  settlers  of  Meriden  as  a  class  were  devout  people  and 
esteemed  the  privilege  of  attending  public  worship  even  at  places  so 
remote  as  the  meeting  houses  of  Wallingford  and  Kensington.  Both 
were  really  far-removed  by  reason  of  the  bad  roads  which  made  travel- 
ing difficult.  Wallingford  seems  to  have  recognized  this  difficulty 
and,  in  1724,  voted  in  respect  to  the  85  families  living  in  that  section, 
"  that  they  may  hire  a  minister  for  four  months  this  winter  on  their 
own  charge."  Probably  this  attempt  at  separate  services  led  to  the 
desire  for  an  independent  church  in  their  midst,  which,  on  the  part 
of  Wallingford,  was  granted,  at  the  meeting  held  April  27th,  1725. 

The  following  May  Nathaniel  Merriam  and  others  petitioned  the 
general  assembl}'  for  the  consent  of  the  colony  to  such  an  arrange- 
ment, whereby  "  we  may  be  made  a  District  Society  for  setting  up 
and  carrying  on  and  supporting  the  Public  worship  of  God  among 
ourselves,  with  .such  Liberties,  powers  and  privileges  as  other  such 
societies  have  and  by  law  enjoy."  The  as.sembly  granted  the  prayer 
and  in  1725  was  organized  the  "  Meriden  Ecclesiastical  Society." 

For  the  next  two  years  the  society  had  worship  in  the  winter  only, 
the  meetings  being  held  in  private  houses.  A  purpose  to  build  a 
meeting  house  produced  considerable  contention  as  to  the  site,  each 
thickly  settled  section  of  the  district  claiming  the  location.  Even 
after  it  was  decided  to  build  on  the  west  slope  of  the  elevation,  which 
became  known  as  Meeting  House  hill,  there  was  no  hearty  acquies- 
cence and  some  of  the  dissenters  actually  hauled  away,  at  night,  some 
of  the  timbers  intended  for  the  house,  to  a  new  site  on  another  hill 
in  that  locality.  "  Of  course  such  a  step  excited  no  small  stir.  The 
other  party  assembled  amidst  great  excitement,  and  loud  and  bitter 
was  the  controversy.  A  town  meeting  was  called  and  the  very  men 
and  teams  who  had  toiled  all  night  to  carry  the  timbers  westward 
were  compelled  to  haul  them  back  to  the  old  site,  in  broad  daylight, 
amid  the  taunts  and  jeers  of  the  assembled  people."'''  In  the  light  of 
subsequent  events  and,  judging  the  two  localities  as  we  look  upon 
them  to-day,  it  would  have  been  better  to  have  selected  the  site  the 
discontented  ones  preferred.  The  site  first  selected  and  upon  which 
the  meeting  house  was  built,  had  no  particular  claims  except  a  possible 
closer  proximity  to  those  who  decided  in  its  favor. 

The  house  built  upon  the  spot  first  selected  was  of  the  plainest 
style  and  was  probably  ready  for  occupancy  in  the  fall  of  1728.  It  was 
only  30  feet  square,  but  was  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  district 
many  years,  in  which  it  was  kept  in  proper  repair.     In  December, 

♦  Doctor  Davis,  p.  212. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEx\   COUNTY.  .')45 

1728,  the  Reverend  Theophilus  Hall  began  to  preach  in  this  house, 
and  here,  October  9th,  1729,  it  was  resolved  to  form  a  church.  After 
a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  on  October  22d,  1729,  was  organized,  of 
the  following  persons,  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Meriden: 
John  Merriam,  Jr.,  and  wife,  Nathaniel  Merriam  and  wife,  Robert 
Royce,  Samuel  Royceand  wife,  Thomas  Yale  and  wife,  John  Merriam, 
Bartholomew  Foster,  Robert  Collins,  David  Levit,  Ezekiel  Royce  and 
wife,  Abel  Royce  and  wife,  Benjamin  Royce  and  wife,  Joseph  Mer- 
riam, Dan.  Balding  and  wife,  Amos  Camp  and  wife,  Benj.  Whiting 
and  wife,  Mrs.  John  Ives,  Mrs.  Benj.  Curtis,  John  Hecock  and  wife, 
John  Cole,  Mrs.  William  Hough,  Mrs.  John  Yaie,  Mrs.  Joseph  Cole, 
Mrs.  Nathaniel  Royce,  Mrs.  David  Rich,  Mrs.  Daniel  Harris,  Mrs.  S. 
Andrews,  Mrs.  Tim.  Jerom,  Mrs.  J.  Robinson,  Mrs.  W.  Merriam,  Mrs. 
Jas.  Royce.  Widow  Royce,  Samuel  Ives  and  wife,  Ebenezer  Prindle 
and  wife,  Mary  Hough,  Eunice  Cole,  John  Way  and  wife. 

On  the  14th  of  December,  1729,  Samuel  Royce  was  elected  the  first 
deacon  of  the  church,  and  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month  an  additional 
deacon  was  chosen  in  the  person  of  Robert  Royce.  On  the  same  day 
Reverend  Theophilus  Hall  was  ordained  the  pastor,  and  served  the 
church  until  his  death,  March  25th,  1767,  in  the  60th  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  born  in  Wallingford  and  graduated  at  Yale  in  1727,  when  he 
was  but  20  years  of  age,  and  all  his  manhood  years  were  devoted  to 
the  ministry  of  this  church,  whose  welfare  was  ever  uppermost  in  his 
thoughts.  He  was,  moreover,  "a  man  of  strong  intellectual  powers, 
much  esteemed  as  a  preacher,  of  great  firmness  and  stability,  and  a 
zealous  advocate  of  civil  and  religious  liberty."*  During  his  pastorate 
250  persons  were  added  to  the  church. 

Mr.  Hall  lived  near  where  is  now  Curtis  street,  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  city,  but  owned  a  hundred  acre  farm  north,  which  is  now 
the  central  part  of  the  city.  On  this  he  built  a  house  for  one  of  his 
sons,  which  later  became  the  building  known  as  the  "Central  Hotel," 
corner  Broad  and  Main  streets.  His  eldest  son,  Avery,  became  a  min- 
ister, and  was  the  pastor  of  a  church  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

The  building  of  a  new  meeting  house  was  agitated  as  early  as  1750, 
and  Mr.  Hall  offered  to  give  a  lot  for  the  same  on  his  farm,  about  a 
mile  northwest  of  the  old  site.  This  place  was  so  strongly  opposed 
that,  in  April,  1752,  Ezekiel  Royce  and  Daniel  Hough  petitioned  the 
assembly  against  its  selection.  They  claimed  that  it  was  too  far  north 
to  be  taken  as  the  center  of  population,  and  that  another  place,  south 
of  the  spot,  on  Mr.  Hall's  farm,  selected  by  the  committee,  could  be 
reached  by  the  people  with  far  less  travel.  The  assembly  sustained 
the  selection  of  the  committee,  and  on  the  lot  designated  by  it  the 
new  meeting  house  was  erected  in  H.w.  It  was  a  plain  frame  build- 
ing, 50  by  60  feet,  with  interior  arrangements  after  the  manner  of  so- 
called  two-story  meeting  houses  of  that  period.     In  1803  a  steeple  and 

*  Reverend  James  Dana. 
34 


546  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY. 

bell  were  added.  With  .some  further  improvement-s  and  repairs  the 
meeting  house  was  u.sed  until  1831,  when  the  present  edifice,  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Broad  and  Main  streets,  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
$7,000.  The  original  building  has  been  much  improved  and  better 
adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  congregation  occupying  it. 

A  historical  event  connected  with  this  old  Center  church  was  the 
riot  which  took  place  there  in  the  fall  of  1837,  in  consequence  of  an 
anti-slavery  meeting  held  in  it  by  a  Mr.  Ludlow,  an  abolition  lecturer, 
who  visited  Meriden  at  the  request  of  Levi  Yale,  Julius  Pratt,  Fenner 
Bush,  E.  A.  Cowles  and  a  few  other  influential  men.  The  announce- 
ment of  the  meeting  by  Mr.  Granger,  the  minister  in  charge,  had  the 
effect  of  arousing  much  opposition,  which  culminated  in  acts  of  vio- 
lence on  the  evening  the  meeting  was  held.  The  door  of  the  meeting 
house  being  barricaded  by  those  inside,  it  was  battered  down  by  u.sing 
a  long  stick  of  wood,  and  those  inside  were  treated  to  the  indignity 
of  a  shower  of  rotten  eggs  and  other  offensive  missiles.  Others,  on 
leaving  the  building,  were  violently  treated  by  the  e.xcited  opposition 
outside,  and  several  personal  encounters  took  place.  The  affair  was 
made  the  matter  for  several  trials  in  the  courts,  which  resulted  in  im- 
posing severe  penalties  upon  those  most  active  in  fomenting  the  strife. 
The  action  of  Mr.  Granger  in  admitting  such  a  meeting  was  criticised, 
but  was  finally  approved  by  the  society  and  the  Consociation  to  which 
the  church  belonged.  The  sentiment  of  the  church  against  .slavery 
developed  from  year  to  year,  until  April  15th,  1846,  when  a  strong 
position  against  it  was  taken  in  a  resolution  which  declared  it  sinful 
and  admitting  of  no  justification  in  the  sight  of  God. 

After  the  decease  of  the  first  pastor,  and  when  it  was  purposed  to 
install  his  successor,  John  Hubbard,  on  a  call  extended  him  October 
5th,  1767,  there  arose  a  disagreement  in  regard  to  the  matter  which 
seriously  affected  the  welfare  of  the  church.  Both  the  manner  in 
which  he  was  called  and  the  orthodoxy  of  Mr.  Hubbard  were  subjects 
of  controversy,  prolonged  in  their  discussion  several  years,  and  which 
arrayed  the  church  into  warring  factions.  Before  the  matter  was  set- 
tled the  ecclesiastical  and  civil  authorities  were  involved,  and  the 
subject  lost  its  local  significance;  and  when  Mr.  Hubbard  was  finally 
ordained,  June  22d,  1769,  several  of  the  ministers  of  the  state  refused 
to  participate  in  the  ceremonies.  In  consequence  of  the  triumph 
of  the  adherents  of  Mr.  Hubbard,  about  a  dozen  families  of  the 
society  seceded  and  set  up  separate  worship  in  a  house  one  mile  north- 
east of  the  meeting  house.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  most  of  them 
were  persuaded  by  Mr.  Hubbard's  amiable  disposition  and  concilia- 
tory conduct  to  return  to  the  folds  of  the  old  church,  where  they  sat 
many  years  under  his  ministrations.  Mr.  Hubbard  was  a  pastor  of 
more  than  usual  ability,  whose  opinions  were  perhaps  a  little  in  ad- 
vance of  his  time,  but  whose  piety  and  virtue  none  could  question. 
He  died  in  the  service  of  the  church,  November  18th,  1786. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVP:N   COUNTY.  547 

Before  the  death  of  Mr.  Hubbard,  John  Willard  was  settled  as 
colleague  pastor,  in  June,  1786,  and  his  pastorate  was  also  characterized 
by  disputes  arising  out  of  his  beliefs  in  regard  to  some  controverted 
doctrinal  points.  The  opposition  to  him  was  manifested  mainly  in 
indifference  to  attendance  upon  the  public  worship  held  by  him,  which 
caused  a  great  decline  of  interest  before  his  pastoral  relation  was 
severed  in  1802. 

The  ministry  of  Reverend  Erastus  Ripley,  which  began  in  1803 
and  continued  19  years,  was  not  wholly  fruitless,  but  the  church  was 
much  weakened  by  great  numbers  leaving  to  join  other  denomina- 
tions on  account  of  dissatisfaction  with  his  preaching,  which  was 
learned  but  so  destitute  of  animation  that  it  was  uninteresting.  Under 
the  preaching  of  Reverend  Charles  Rich,  in  1840,  about  one  hundred 
persons  were  added  to  the  church,  and  the  reviving  work  thus  begun 
was  continued  during  the  ministry  of  Reverend  George  W.  Perkins, 
beginning  May  19th,  1841.  In  1847-8,  especially,  was  there  a  power- 
ful work  of  grace,  at  the  end  of  which  season  the  membership  of  the 
church  was  about  400. 

Mr.  Perkins  was  a  minister  of  unusual  energy  and  ability,  perform- 
ing much  work  not  connected  with  his  charge.  In  1854  he  was  dis- 
missed from  the  church  at  Meriden  and  moved  to  Chicago,  where  he 
was  pastor  of  a  church,  editor  of  a  newspaper  and  also  established  a 
theological  seminary.  He  died  in  that  city  November  13th,  1856,  but 
his  remains  were  brought  to  Meriden  and  lie  in  the  cemetery  on 
Hanover  street. 

The  revived  interest  in  the  work  of  the  church,  together  with  the 
fact  that  the  village  of  West  Meriden  was  .so  rapidly  growing  and  had 
no  place  of  worship,  caused  the  society  to  consider  the  propriety  of 
building  a  new  meeting  house  in  that  locality,  and  sell  the  meeting 
house  at  the  Center,  where  were  two  other  houses  of  worship.  Accord- 
ingly September  19th,  1846,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  commodious  house 
on  the  land  of  James  S.  Brooks,  who  subscribed  $1,000  toward  the 
project.  The  following  year  a  frame  edifice,  56  by  90  feet,  in  the 
Grecian  order  of  architecture,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  The 
building  had  a  spire  196  feet  high  and  was  considered  very  attractive, 
both  as  to  its  exterior  and  interior  arrangements.  It  w^as  dedicated 
January  27th,  1848,  and  was  last  used  for  religious  meetings  March 
30th,  1879,  when  it  was  occupied  for  memorial  services,  preparatory 
to  the  occupancy  of  the  new  edifice,  farther  north  on  Colony  street. 
Subsequently  the  old  church  building  was  moved  farther  back,  on  the 
same  lot,  where  it  was  transformed  into  the  present  opera  house.  On 
the  old  site  the  fine  Wilcox  Block  was  erected  by  Horace  C.  Wilcox, 
the  purchaser  of  the  frame  meeting  house.  In  1848  a  parsonage  was 
also  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,000. 

When  the  Colony  street  meeting  house  was  occupied,  in  January, 
1848,  a  separation  of  the  society  took  place.     The  pastor.  Reverend  G. 


548 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 


W.  Perkins,  and  297  members  went  to  the  new  house  as  the  First  Con- 
gregational church;  the  officers  and  100  members  remained  in  the  old 
building  as  the  Meriden  Center  church.  On  the  3d  of  March,  1848,  a 
division  of  the  property  was  made,  each  society  taking  equal  parts  of 
the  common  furniture  and  the  Sabbath  school  library  of  the  original 
society.  The  Center  society  also  paid  the  Colony  street  society  $1 ,000 
for  its  interest  in  the  Broad  street  meeting  house;  and  thus  these  two- 
bodies,  parts  of  the  original  society,  the  one  retaining  the  name  and 
the  records,  the  other  the  old  meeting  house  and  the  ordained  officers, 
each  entered  upon  a  distinct  career,  but  both  glorying  in  their  com- 
mon origin  and  indivisible  history,  until  the  time  this  demand  for 
separate  effort  was  brought  upon  them. 

In  the  First  church  the  election  of  new  officers  was  rendered 
necessary  and,  in  March,  1848,  Benjamin  H.  Catlin,  Homer  Curtiss, 
David  N.  Camp  and  John  Yale  were  ordained  as  deacons.  The 
wisdom  of  the  removal  to  West  Meriden  was  soon  made  apparent  in 
the  increased  membership.  In  the  course  of  three  months  many  per- 
sons joined  the  church,  so  that  the  rolls,  in  May,  1848,  bore  the  names 
of  352  persons.  The  work  of  the  church  progressed  thereafter,  under 
the  several  pastors,  with  varying  interest,  but  generally  with  increased 
effect,  so  that  the  congregation  outgrew  the  capacity  of  the  frame 
meeting  house.  A  larger  edifice  of  modern  architecture  was  demanded 
and  was  erected  during  the  pastorate  of  Reverend  Alfred  H.  Hall. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1874,  the  .society  voted  to  erect  a  new 
church  and  appointed  a  committee  of  twelve  to  carry  out  its  wishes. 
Eli  Butler  was  appointed  chairman,  and  Horace  C.  Wilcox,  Doctor  G. 
H.  Wilson  and  William  A.  Read  were  chosen  as  the  executive  com- 
mittee. The  plans  for  the  building  were  prepared  by  Cutting  &  Hol- 
man,  of  Worcester,  Mass.  Ground  for  the  foundation  was  broken 
July  1st,  1875,  on  the  site  of  the  old  parsonage,  and  the  corner  stone 
was  laid  June  8th,  1876.  The  architecture  of  the  church  is  Medieval 
Gothic  and  the  material  of  the  outer  walls  is  Westerly  granite,  of 
which  2,200  tons  were  used.  A  tower,  24  by  24  feet,  relieves  the  front 
and  when  completed  will  be  190  feet  high.  The  in.side  columns  are 
from  the  Stony  Creek  quarries.  The  capitals  on  the  same  are  of 
Berea,  Ohio,  sandstone,  the  carvings  being  symbolical  and  from  orig- 
inal designs  by  Doctor  G.  H.  Wilson,  in  which  the  best  phases  of 
natural  and  revealed  life  are  harmoniously  exhibited. 

The  building  is  divided  into  the  audience  room  proper,  84  by  116 
feet,  which,  with  the  galleries,  seats  1,300  people;  and  the  chapel  and 
its  accessories,  such  as  library,  reception  and  committee  rooms,  parlors, 
etc.  The  interior  of  the  building  is  finished  in  hard  woods  and  hand- 
somely furnished,  including  a  large  organ  of  Western  oak,  in  East- 
lake  design.  The  best  effects  of  church  embellishment  have  been 
employed,  and  at  the  time  of  its  completion  the  edifice  was  regarded 
the  finest  in  the  state.     The  entire  cost  was  nearly  $157,000,  much  of 


HISTOFY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  549 

which  was  contributed  in  amounts  ranging  from  $5,000  to  $30,000. 
The  new  edifice  was  dedicated  April  2d,  1879,  by  Doctor  Leonard 
Bacon,  assisted  by  many  ministers  of  neighboring  churches. 

Since  the  occupancy  of  the  new  church  building  the  membership 
has  steadily  increased,  the  number  belonging  in  1889  being  564.  Con- 
nected with  the  church  are  many  valuable  auxiliaries,  the  chief  one 
being  the  Sabbath  school,  of  which  Erastus  Hubbard  is  the  superin- 
tendent, and  which  had  563  members  in  1889.  A  Sabbath  school  was 
organized  in  1818,  with  130  scholars,  but  until  1830  its  meetings  were 
held  in  warm  weather  only.  Since  the  latter  date  all  year  meetings 
have  been  held.  In  1824  a  pastor's  Bible  class  was  formed,  which  was 
well  attended.  Six  of  the  original  members  became  ministers.  Adult 
classes  have  been  taught  since  1832.  The  Center  Sunday  .school  has 
250  members,  and  William  G.  Hooker  is  the  superintendent. 

The  pastors  of  the  First  church  from  the  time  of  its  organization, 
in  1729,  to  the  present  time,  have  been  as  follows:  Reverends  The- 
ophilus  Hall,  settled  December  29th,  1729,  died  March  25th,  1707:  John 
Hubbard,  settled  June  22d,  1769,  died  November  18th,  1786;  John 
Willard,  settled  1786,  dismissed  1802;  Erastus  Ripley,  settled  1803,  dis- 
missed 1822;  Charles  J.  Hinsdale,  settled  1823,  dismissed  1833:  Arthur 
Granger,  settled  1836,  dismissed  1838;  George  W.  Perkins,  settled  1841, 
dismissed  1854;  George  Thatcher,  settled  1854.  dismissed  1860;  Hiram 
C.  Hayden,  settled  1862,  dismissed  1866;  W.  H.  H.  Murray,  settled  1866. 
dismis.sed  1868;  W.  L.  Gaylord,  settled  1870,  dismissed  1875;  A.  H. 
Hall,  settled  1875,  dismissed  1879;  Thomas  M.  Miles,  settled  1879,  dis- 
missed 1881;  Lewellyn  Pratt,  settled  1882,  dismissed  1883;  Charles  H. 
Everest,  settled  1884,  dismissed  1885;  C.  H.Williams,  settled  1886,  dis- 
missed 1889;  Asher  Anderson,  settled  1889. 

The  Reverend  William  McLean  supplied  the  church  one  year, 
1834-5;  and  in  the  fall  of  1840  to  1841  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  the 
Reverend  Charles  Rich,  who  declined  a  settlement.  Other  ministers 
have  supplied  the  pulpit  for  short  periods. 

The  deacons  of  the  church  since  its  organization  have  been:  Sam- 
uel Royce,  Robert  Royce,  Benjamin  Whiting,  Benjamin  Royce,  Eze- 
kiel  Royce,  Ebenezer  Cowles,  John  Hough,  Isaac  Hubbard,  Samuel 
Royce,  Nathaniel  Yale,  Zenas  Mitchell,  Silas  Royce,  Walter  Booth, 
Phineas  Hough,  Nathaniel  C.  Sanford,  Benjamin  H.  Catlin,  Homer 
Curtiss,  David  N.  Camp,  John  Yale,  Edward  C.  Allen,  Arthur  L.  Fiske, 
and  the  present  board  of  deacons:  William  H.  Catlin,  Homer  A.  Cur- 
tiss, Erastus  Hubbard,  Nathan  Olds,  Robert  P.  Rand,  Robert  T.Spen- 
cer, Henry  W.  Seips  and  Henry  S.  Wilcox. 

James  C.  Twichell  is  the  clerk  of  the  church,  and  Benjamin  H. 
Catlin  the  treasurer.  Walter  H.  Squire  is  the  clerk  of  the  society,  and 
its  committeemen  are:  N.  L.  Bradley,  Eli  I.  Merriman  and  Henry  S. 
Wilcox. 

When  the  Center  Church  began  its  separate  existence,  in  January, 


flSO  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

1848,  the  deacons  in  service  were  Walter  Booth,  Silas  Royce,  Phineas 
Hough  and  Nathaniel  C.  Sanford.  On  the  15th  of  March,  the  same 
year,  Reverend  Asahel  A.  Stevens  was  installed  as  the  first  pastor, 
under  this  arrangement,  and  served  the  congregation  until  December 
11th,  1854,  when  he  was  obliged  to  leave  on  account  of  the  failure  of 
his  voice.  Prior  to  his  going,  Reverend  A.  vS.  Cheesbrough  was  called 
as  a  supply,  and  so  continued  until  November,  1855.  Reverend  Lewis 
C.  Lockwood  was  installed  June  3d,  1857,  and  dismissed  February  22d, 
1858.  From  June,  1858,  until  June,  1862,  Reverend  O.  H.  White  sup- 
plied the  pulpit.  Reverend  Joseph  WooUey  was  installed  the  pastor 
of  the  church  October  22d,  1862.  Reverend  Edward  Hungerford 
served  the  church  next,  his  pastorate  being  very  successful.  After 
the  dismissal  of  Reverend  Edward  Hungerford,  in  October,  1879,  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  until  March  1st,  1880,  when  Reverend  Alfred  H. 
Hall  was  installed  pastor,  and  under  his  faithful  ministrations  the 
church  had,  in  1889,  265  members. 

The  following  have  been  raised  up  as  Congregational  ministers  in 
Meriden:  Jeremiah  Root  Barnes,  Daniel  Collins  Curtis,  Erastus  Curtis, 
Lemuel  Ives  Curtis,  Joseph  Edwards,  Isaac  Foster,  Lawrence  M.  Fos- 
ter, Avery  Hall,  Thomas  Holt,  Lyman  C.  Hough,  Jesse  Ives,  Henry 
Norton  Johnson,  Matthew  Merriman,  Charles  Edward  Murdock, 
Charles  Loveland  Merriman  and  Ralph  Tyler. 

St.  Andrew's  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal)  was  organized  in  1789. 
In  a  historical  discourse  delivered  by  Reverend  Doctor  Deshon,  he 
stated  that  in  all  probability  several  churchmen  lived  in  this  locality 
as  early  as  1729.  They  "  were  in  the  habit  of  meeting  together  for 
worship  in  accordance  with  the  usages  of  the  Prayer  Book,  and  whose 
faith  was  sustained  by  lay  services  among  themselves,  and  the  occa- 
sional visits  of  clergymen."  It  is  probable,  too,  that  when  the  "Union 
Parish"  was  formed  in  Wallingford,  in  1741,  and  a  rude  house  was 
built  for  worship,  that  some  from  Meriden  attended.  In  1770  a  mis- 
sionary of  the  church  reported  that  there  were  in  the  district  of  Meri- 
den six  families  of  Episcopalians,  having  fourteen  communicants. 
Most  of  them,  no  doubt,  bore  the  name  of  Andrews,  the  father  of  the 
family  and  his  eight  sons  being  staunch  churchmen.  The  youngest 
son,  Samuel,  was  educated  for  the  ministry  in  England,  and  being  or- 
dained in  1761,  became  the  first  rector  of  the  church  in  Wallingford, 
the  parish  at  that  time  including  Meriden. 

Another  son,  Moses,  was  a  small  farmer  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town.  This  Moses  Andrews  and  others  of  that  family  and  of  the 
Episcopal  church  became  objects  of  suspicion  to  the  patriot  authori- 
ties, in  the  troublous  times  of  the  revolution,  and  he  w.hs  forbidden  to 
leave  his  farm  on  any  pretense  whatever,  without  permission  of  the 
.selectmen  of  Wallingford.  Denied  the  liberty  of  attending  Episcopal 
worship,  he  fitted  up  a  room  in  his  house,  in  which  the  services  of  the 
church  were  held,  Mr.  Andrews  himself  acting  as  lav  reader.    Thus  for 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   KAVEN   COUNTY.  551 

a  period  of  years  a  dozen  or  more  persons  were  wont  to  assemble  each 
Sunday,  and  these,  properly,  were  the  first  regular  Episcopal  meetings 
in  Meriden.  It  is  said  that  occasionally  Congregational  neighbors  at- 
tended these  humble  services,  and  that  some  of  them  were  so  much  im- 
pressed with  the  order  and  devotion  which  prevailed,  that  they  accepted 
the  teachings  of  the  church.  Among  the.se  were  Joseph  Merriam  and 
his  wife,  Mindwell.who  were  afterward  leading  Episcopalians,  the  hus- 
band being  senior  warden  many  years;  the  wife,  whose  life  rounded 
out  a  full  century  of  years,  being  a  faithful  attendant  tipon  the  public 
service  of  the  church  even  unto  the  95th  year  of  her  age. 

After  the  revolution  more  toleration  prevailed,  and  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  church  was  discussed  with  so  much  favor  that  a  preliminary 
meeting  was  held,  at  which  the  following  agreement  was  signed : 
"Meriden,  April  13,  1789. — We,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  do 
declare  our  conformity  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  desire  of  join- 
ing the  worship  and  sacraments  of  said  church,  do  consent  and  agree 
to  support  the  same.  Reuben  Ives,  Clerk;  Denison  Andrews,  Mo.ses 
Andrews,  Isaac  Atwater,  David  Andrews,  Simon  Perkins,  John  B. 
Douglass,  Ezra  Butler,  Watts  Hubbard,  Seth  DeWolf,  Soloman  Yale." 

This  purpose  was  commended  by  the  proper  authorities,  and  the 
organization  of  the  present  parish  of  St.  Andrew's  followed,  as  will  be 
seen  from  this  simple  record: 

"  Meriden,  Dec.  28,  A.  D.  1789. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  adherents  of  the  Episcopal  church,  voted 
that  we  will  be  a  society;  also  voted  that  Moses  Andrews  be  the  clerk, 
Denison  Andrews  and  Isaac  Atwater,  committee. 

"  Test:  Reuben  Ives,  Missionary. 

"  The  parish  was  immediately  placed  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ives  of  Cheshire,  in  accordance  with  the  following  votes: 

"  Voted,  That  we  will  hire  Mr.  Ives  to  preach  four  days  for  this 
year. 

"  Voted,  To  keep  up  meetings  for  this  year." 

The  parish  had  the  missionary  labors  of  Mr.  Ives,  in  the  above 
manner,  except  that  some  years  he  came  six  times,  until  Easter,  1824, 
the  lay  services  being  also  continued  meantime,  Mo.ses  Andrews  and 
others  being  the  readers.  In  1803,  Reverend  Virgil  H.  Barber 
preached  on  six  Sundays,  coming  from  Wallingford. 

In  1825,  Reverend  Ashbel  Baldwin  became  the  first  resident  clerg}'- 
man  of  the  parish,  whose  interests  now  demanded  a  rector.  Since 
that  time  the  church  has  had  a  recognized  place  among  the  religious 
bodies  of  the  town,  its  services  being  conducted  by  ordained  clergy- 
men. 

The  building  of  a  church  was  considered  as  early  as  1792,  when 
Isaac  Atwater,  Seth  Wolf  and  Simeon  Perkins  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  erect  one,  but  did  not  succeed.  In  1795  the  project  was  re- 
newed, and  it  was  decided  to  build  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the 


552  HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

green,  if  the  site  could  be  obtained.  Three  years  later  it  was  consid- 
ered to  build  on  the  land  of  Joseph  I\Ierriam,  near  the  present  railway 
station  on  West  Main  street.  Later  in  the  same  year  the  site  on  Broad 
street,  south  of  the  Congregational  meeting  house,  was  selected  and 
the  frame  of  the  church  raised.  Plans  of  various  natures  to  complete 
the  house  were  entertained,  among  them  being  an  application  to  the 
assembly  for  a  lottery  privilege  to  raise  funds,  and  to  enlist  the  co- 
operation of  Baptists  and  Presbyterians,  by  giving  them  the  use  of  the 
church  when  not  occupied  by  the  Episcopalians,  neither  plan  being 
adopted.  After  ten  years'  effort  and  denial  the  church  was.  com- 
pleted and  consecrated  October  18th,  1816,  by  Bishop  John  Henry 
Hobart,  of  New  York,  as  St.  Andrew's  Church.  At  the  same  time  he 
confirmed  38  persons. 

It  was  a  plain  and  modest  building, 45  by  36  feet,  with  nothing  ex- 
ternally to  distinguish  it  but  the  round-headed  windows  over  the  gal- 
lery. The  interior  of  the  church  was  neatly  arranged,  according  to 
the  fashion  of  the  times.  A  gallery  ran  around  three  sides  of  the 
building.  A  hi:ge  pulpit  stood  at  the  west  end,  surmounted  by  a 
canopy,  flanked  on  either  side  by  a  lofty  flight  of  steps,  and  cushioned 
and  festooned  most  lavishly  with  crimson  damask.  In  front  of  the 
pulpit  was  a  formidable  structure  which  served  for  a  reading  desk. 
In  front  of  the  reading  desk  was  a  small  communion  table,  enclosed 
by  a  semi-circular  rail.  The  space  under  the  stairs  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  church,  by  the  side  of  the  door,  was  used  for  a  vestry  room. 

After  more  than  thirty  years'  use  a  church  of  finer  appearance  was 
built,  and  the  old  house  served  as  a  place  of  worship  for  the  Catholics, 
being  later  converted  into  a  dwelling.  Its  successor  was  a  fine  Gothic 
chapel,  of  brownstone,  45  by  80  feet,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  Its 
corner  stone  was  laid  June  8th,  1848,  and  the  church  was  consecrated 
by  Bishop  Bi-ownell,  Februarv  6fh,  IS.X).  Before  man}'  years  the 
parish  had  outgrown  this  building,  and  as  population  had  shifted  to 
the  western  part  of  the  town,  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  new  edifice  at 
some  intermediate  point,  between  West  Meriden  and  the  old  site. 
For  this  purpose  a  fine  lot,  near  the  town  hall,  was  purchased,  upon 
which  was  reared  the  present  St.  Andrew's  church,  the  material  in 
the  second  edifice,  which  was  taken  down,  being  used  in  its  con- 
struction. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  present  St.  Andrew's  church  was  laid 
August  8th,  1866,  by  Bishop  John  Williams,  the  ceremonies  connected 
therewith  being  impressive  and  largely  attended.  This  beautiful 
house  of  worship  was  completed  for  dedication  November  7th,  1867. 
The  original  cost  was  about  $40,000,  but  subsequent  repairs  and  ad- 
ditions have  greatly  added  to  its  cost  and  beauty.  The  latest  improve- 
ment was  made  in  the  fall  of  1889,  and  in  the  December  following  the 
church  was  reopened  for  divine  worship.     There  are  675  sittings.     In 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    KAVEN   COUNTY.  553 

1889  a  parish  house  was  also  completed,  at  a  cost  of  $16,000,  which 
was  dedicated  b}'  the  bishop  of  the  diocese  on  St.  Andrew's  day. 

In  1825,  when  the  parish  had  its  first  settled  rector,  there  were 
within  its  limits  65  families  and  70  communicants.  On  the  accession 
of  Doctor  Giles  H.  Deshon,  in  1850,  the  families  numbered  95,  having 
117  communicants.  His  pastorate,  extending  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
January  1st,  1883,  was  the  most  important  in  the  history  of  the  church, 
and  the  first  one  continued  long  enough  for  the  rector  to  demonstrate 
his  usefulness  to  the  parish.  His  labors  were  abundantly  bles.sed,  and 
in  the  last  year  of  his  ministry  there  were  30(»  families  and  375  com- 
municants. The  parish  monies  raised  amounted  to  $9,579.54,  and  the 
Sunday  school  had  nearly  400  attendants. 

It  is  pleasing  to  record  the  continued  growth  of  the  parish  under 
the  successor  of  Doctor  Deshon — the  Reverend  A.  T.  Randall — who 
became  the  a.ssistant  minister  in  June,  1880,  and  the  rector  on  Easter, 
1885.  The  statistics  for  1889  show  525  families  in  the  parish,  the  whole 
number  of  individuals  being  2,100.  In  the  Sunday  school  were  39 
teachers  and  563  scholars.  The  monies  raised  for  parish  purposes 
amounted  to  SI  1.212.77. 

The  rectors  of  the  parish  since  the  ministry  of  Reverend  Reuben 
Ives,  in  1824,  have  been  the  following:  1824,  Ashbel  Baldwin;  1826, 
Nathaniel  Bruce:  1828,  James  Keeler;  1832,  Robert  A.  Hallam:  1835, 
Edward  Ingersoll;  1837,  John  M.  Guion;  1839,  Melancthon  Hoyt;  1840, 
Sabura  S.  Stocking;  1841.  Charles  W.  Everest:  1843,  John  T.  Gushing; 
1844,  Cyrus  Munson;  1849.  Abram  N.  Littlejohn;  1850, Giles  H.  Deshon; 
1885,  A.  T.  Randall. 

Since  1871  the  church  has  had  the  services  of  assistant  ministers  as 
follows:  Frank  B.  Lewis,  Chauncey  B.  Brewster,  Alexander  J.  Miller, 
John  H.  White,  Fred.  W.  Harriman,  E.  W.  Babcock,  A.  T.  "Randall, 
T.  D.  Martin,  Jr.,  F.  H.  Church,  S.  H.  Watkins  and  G.  W.  Griffith. 

List  of  wardens  from  1791:  1791,  Joseph  Merriam,  Denison  An- 
drews; 1792,  Joseph  Merriam,  Seth  D.  Wolf;  1793,  Levi  Douglas, 
Simeon  Perkins;  1794,  Joseph  Merriam,  Levi  Douglass;  1796,  Levi 
Douglass,  Simeon  Perkins;  1797,  Joseph  Merriam,  Simeon  Perkins; 
1805.  Joseph  Merriam,  Moses  Andrews;  1806,  Joseph  Merriam, 
Lemuel  Bradley;  1807,  Joseph  Merriam,  Yale  I.  Hough;  1808,  Samuel 
Tibbals,  Dan.  Andrews;  1809.  Samuel  Tibbals,  Asahel  Merriam; 
1810,  Samuel  Tibbals,  :Moses  Cowles;  1812,  Samuel  Tibbals,  Dan. 
Andrews;  1813,  Samuel  Tibbals,  Amasa  Merriam;  1814,  Samuel 
Tibbals,  Marvel  Andrews;  1816,  Samuel  Tibbals,  Asahel  Merriam; 
1823.  Samuel  Tibbals.  Elisha  Curtis;  1831,  Elisha  Curtis,  Asahel  Mer- 
riam; 1848,  Edwin  E.  Curtis,  Bryant  Hotchkiss;  1863,  Edwin  E.Curtis, 
Asa  H.  Churchill;  1869,  Edwin  E.  Curtis  (till  April,  1885),  Lemuel  J. 
Curtis;  1886,  Lemuel  J.  Curtis,  George  R.  Curtis;  1888,  George  R.  Cur- 
tis, Benjamin  Page.     George  M.  Curtis  is  the  parish  clerk. 

The  Fmst  Baptist  Church  of  Meriden  had  a  history  co-ordinate  with 


554  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

that  of  the  Baptists  in  Wallingford  for  many  years.  Organized  in  the 
old  town  of  Wallingford  the  church,  by  the  formation  of  the  town  of 
Meriden,  in  1806,  found  most  of  its  interests  within  the  latter  town, 
and  thereupon  took  its  present  name.  The  principal  events  up  to  this 
time  were,  briefly,  the  meeting  together,  August  28d,  1786,  of  seven 
males  and  five  females,  and  the  avowal  of  a  solemn  purpose  to  form 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Christ  in  Wallingford;  the  public  recog- 
nition of  this  church,  October  7th,  1786,  as  the  third  Baptist  organiza- 
tion in  the  colony,  Groton  and  Southington  preceding  it  in  the  order 
of  time;  the  slow  progress  of  the  church,  the  meetings  being  held  in 
private  houses  15  years,  when,  in  1801,  a  small  house  was  specially 
fitted  up  for  worship;  the  faithful  adherence  to  the  cause  they  had 
espoused,  with  no  minister  to  preach  the  Word  to  them,  except  for 
brief  periods,  until  the  beginning  of  the  church  in  Meriden  proper. 
With  the  exception  of  1789,  when  Reverend  Daniel  Wildman  was  the 
pastor,  and  1791,  when  Reverend  Nathaniel  Norton  preached  one 
year,  the  meetings  were  in  charge  of  "leading  brethren,"  the  first  one 
so  serving  the  church  being  Isaac  Hall,  who  was  elected  November  3d, 
1786.  At  the  same  time  Ephraim  Hough  was  chosen  the  first  deacon 
and  Joel  Ives  the  church  clerk.  Later  "  leading  brethren  "  were 
Deacons  Hough  and  Higby,  Joel  Ives,  Samuel  Miller  and  Nathaniel 
Yale. 

Samuel  Miller  having  well  improved  his  gifts,  a  number  of  years 
in  the  above  capacity  was.  May  20th,  1806,  ordained  to  the  ministry, 
and  entered  upon  pastoral  relations  to  the  church,  being  the  first 
minister  of  the  Meriden  church  proper.  His  service  extended  through 
23  years,  until  his  death  in  1829,  covering  a  most  critical  period  in 
the  history  of  the  church,  in  which  for  several  years  it  barely  main- 
tained an  existence. 

When  Meriden  became  a  town,  the  effect  was  to  naturally  make 
the  village  the  center  of  those  interests  which  engaged  the  attention 
of  the  people  at  that  time,  and  thither  tended  population.  The  humble 
Baptist  meeting  house,  derisively  called  the  "  Temple,"  on  account 
of  its  simple  appearance,  stood  three  miles  distant,  near  the  south- 
eastern line  of  the  town.  Besides  being  remote  from  the  center,  it 
served  its  purpo.se  poorly  in  other  ways,  and  after  some  delay,  it  was 
determined,  in  1815,  to  abandon  it  and  to  erect  a  new  meeting  house 
at  Meriden  Center.  A  plain  structure  was  begun,  on  a  lot  on  the  east 
side  of  Broad  street,  near  where  is  now  the  Baptist  parsonage.  The 
interior  was  not  finished  and  the  few  members  engaged  in  this 
work  found  it  a  difficult  undertaking,  since  they  could  get  no  assist- 
ance from  the  people  of  the  village,  where  were  already  Congrega- 
tional and  Episcopalian  meetinghouses.  To  some  extent  Methodists 
in  town  aided  in  building  the  meeting  house  and,  by  vote  of  the  Bap- 
tist Society  in  December,  1817,  they  were  privileged  to  use  the  build- 
ing when  not  otherwise  engaged.     It  was  not  wholly  completed  until 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  565 

the  fall  of  1824,  when  it  was  repaired  and  painted.  The  church  hav- 
ing been  greatly  weakened  by  the  withdrawal  of  so  many  members 
to  form  the  church  at  Wallingford,  May  loth,  1817.  was  probably  now 
for  the  first  time  able  to  put  its  place  of  worship  in  an  inviting  condi- 
tion.    In  1827  a  sale  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  renting  the  pews. 

In  the  fall  of  1829  the  church  was  blessed  by  the  most  extensive 
revival  in  its  history  to  that  time,  which  was  the  means  of  adding 
many  members.  The  place  of  worship  became  too  small  to  accom- 
modate the  hearers.  In  June,  1830,  it  was  decided  to  move  the  meet- 
ing house  to  the  west  side  of  the  street,  add  to  its  length,  build  a  spire 
to  the  house,  and  to  place  a  basement  under  it,  for  use  as  a  vestry. 

In  this  room  secular  meetings  were  also  held,  the  town  in  1846 
holding  its  meetings  there  "  at  a  rent  of  $40  and  extra  charge  for 
damage  that  may  be  done." 

Another  season  of  revival  interest  caused  the  house  to  become  too 
small,  and  as  the  Congregational  meeting  house  was  reported  for  sale 
the  Baptist  society  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  in  1846  to  purchase 
it.  But  with  a  view  of  having  a  more  central  location,  a  lot  adjoining 
the  Congregational  one  was  bought,  on  which  to  erect  a  new  Baptist 
meeting  house.  Strange  as  it  may  seem  the  Congregationalists  pro- 
tested against  this  purpose  and  secured  an  injunction  to  prevent  the 
building,  alleging  "  that  they  had  no  objection  to  the  Baptists  as  a 
Christian  people,  as  good  neighbors  and  worthy  citizens;  but  that 
their  pastor  (Harvey  Miller)  had  a  peculiarly  sharp  ringing  voice,  so 
that  beyond  a  question  he  would  disturb  their  society  in  worship." 
The  injunction  was  dissolved  because  being  against  the  society,  when, 
if  complaint  were  made,  it  should  have  been  taken  against  Mr.  Miller. 

The  meeting  house  on  that  lot  was  built  in  1847  and  occupied  the 
following  April.  It  was  originally  53  by  70  feet  and  cost  complete 
$9,500.  The  building  committee  were  Joel  Miller,  Charles  Blanchard, 
O.  Crocker,  N.  F.  Goodrich,  L.  Tuttle,  S.  I.  Hart  and  Alanson  Birdsey, 
who  were  empowered  by  the  society  "  to  use  their  own  judgment  in 
regard  to  the  steeple  and  the  singers'  seats."*  In  1869  an  addition  to 
the  meeting  house  was  made  on  its  west  end  in  order  to  accommodate 
an  organ  presented  by  Edward  Miller,  who  has  been  much  interested 
in  the  music  of  the  church,  following,  as  a  leader  of  the  singing,  his 
father,  Joel  Miller,  who  had  served  many  years  in  that  capacity.  The 
church  building  has  been  improved  in  more  recent  years  and  in  1889 
was  commodious,  having  700  sittings  and  in  every  way  inviting.  It 
was  valued  at  $15,000  and  the  parsonage  at  $5,000. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1886,  the  first  centennial  of  the  church  was 
properly  observed,  the  attendant  services  being  interesting,  impres- 
sive and  largely  attended.     Edward  Miller  served  as  chairman  of  the 

*The  old  church  was  sold  to  several  men  in  the  village,  who  converted  it  to 
secular  uses,  private  schools  being  also  kept  in  it,  and,  after  1848,  it  was  known 
as  the  "  Academy  on  the  Hill." 


556  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

executive  committee,  and  an  account  of  the  proceedings  was  pub- 
lished under  the  direction  of  the  pastor,  Reverend  J.  V.  Garton,  Eli 
C.  Birdsey  and  William  A.  Kelsey.  At  this  meeting  it  was  reported 
that  the  church  had  468  members,  which  number  has  since  been  in- 
creased. This  indicates  the  vigor  of  the  church,  from  whose  fold  had 
gone  many  members  to  form  the  Main  street  and  the  German  churches. 
Missionary  efforts  under  the  direction  of  the  church  have  also  been 
successfully  carried  on.  In  1861  the  "  Olive  Branch  Mission  "  was 
established,  at  East  Meriden,  aud  placed  in  charge  of  Deacon  R.  B. 
Perkins.  A  new  building  for  its  use  was  completed,  in  1886,  and  the 
Sunday  school  therein,  conducted  by  him,  has  76  members. 

The  first  Sunday  school  in  Meriden*  was  organized  in  the  First 
Baptist  church,  about  1825,  by  Deacon  Ambrose  Hough,  and  has  had 
a  continuous  existence.  For  more  than  fifty  years  Ezra  Rutty  was 
the  treasurer  of  the  school.  In  1889,  D.  S.  Root  was  the  superintend- 
ent, and  the  school  had  8.50  members. 

It  is  a  singular  coincidence  that  two  of  the  pastors  of  the  church, 
whose  labors  were  crowned  with  many  conversions,  should  die  in  its 
service,  even  at  the  close  of  the  precious  harvests  garnered  through 
their  instrumentality.  The  one  was  the  first  pastor,  Samuel  Miller; 
the  other,  Harvej'  Miller,  also  a  native  of  the  town,  who  was  the  pas- 
tor 18  years,  and  deceased  August  27th,  1856,  aged  42  years.  His  suc- 
cessor, D.  Henry  Miller,  the  minister  from  April,  1857,  until  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  when  he  became  chaplain  of  the  15th  Connecticut  Regiment, 
was  also  the  instrument  in  adding  many  members. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  church  its  pastors,  the  years  when 
they  were  settled  and  the  length  of  their  service,  have  been  as  fol- 
lows: Reverends  Daniel  Wildman,  1789,  one  year;  Nathaniel  Norton, 
1791.  one  year;  Samuel  Miller,  1806,  twenty-three  years;  Ru.ssell  Jen- 
nings, 1830,  two  years;  Nathaniel  Hervey,  1833,  one  year;  George  B. 
Atwell,  1835,  two  years;  Leland  Howard,  1837,  one  year;  Harve}'  Miller, 
1S38,  eighteen  years;  D.  Henry  Miller,  1857,  five  years;  A.  Frank 
Mason,  1863,  one  year;  Henry  A.  Cordo,  1864,  two  years;  Almond  Bar- 
relle,  1868,  three  years;  Henry  A.  Cordo,  1871,  one  year;  Benjamin  O. 
True,  1873,  six  years;  J.  V.  Garton,  1880,  and  continues. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  there  have  also  been  supplies,  among 
the  number  being  the  Reverend  S.  Wheat,  Elders  Higby,  Parsons, 
Graves,  Beach,  William  Bentley,  Otis  Saxton  and  others. 

The  deacons  of  the  church  and  the  years  they  were  chosen  were 
the  following:  Ephraim  Hough,  1788;  Charles  Ives,  1789;  Jesse  Dicker- 
man,  1789;  Jeduthan  Higby,  1792;  John  Hall,  1800;  Ambrose  Hough, 
1802;  Sedgwick  Rice,  1814;  Asa  Butler,  1814;  Othniel  Ives,  1816;  Ran- 
som Ives,  1816;  John  Hall,  reelected,  1830;  Gershom  Bird.sey,  1830; 
Augustus  Hall,  1830;  Nathan  F.  Goodrich,  1830;  Samuel  I.  Hart,  1851; 

*This  honor  is  also  claimed  by  the  First  Congregational  church. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  557 

^Horace  H.  Pratt,  1851;  Lyman  Clark,  185B;  *Russell  B.  Perkins,  1853; 
Alanson  Birdsey,  1860;  Orsamus  Crocker,  1865;  William  D.  Cutler, 
1866:  *George  O.  Downing,  1871:  Daniel  H.  Hart.  1871;  Waldo  C. 
Twiss.  1883;  *Seth  J.  Hall,  1883:  ^William  H.  Paine.  1886. 

The  Main  Street  Baptist  Church'was  organized  June  4th,  1861,  and 
was  first  known  as  the  West  Meriden  Baptist  Church.  The  present 
name  became  fixed  by  act  of  incorporation.  May  30th,  1886.  Thirty- 
seven  persons  constituted  the  original  membenship,  some  of  whom 
had  been  dismissed  from  the  First  Meriden  church  to  form  this  body. 
Among  those  active  in  this  movement  were  members  of  the  Clark, 
Page,  Breckenridge,  Gay,  Root  and  Watrous  families.  Lyman  Clark 
was  the  first  deacon,  but  a  fewjweeks  later  Phineas  A.Spencer  (who 
had  joined  the  new  church  after  its  organization")  was  al.so  elected  a 
deacon.     Charles  Page  was  the  first  clerk. 

On  the  lot  purchased  for  church  purposes,  on  East  Main  street,  near 
where  is  now  the  central  part  of  the  city,  a  brick  chapel  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  §1,700.  This  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  until  the 
church  edifice  adjoining  was]^ dedicated,  in  1868.  The  spire  of  this 
church  was  built  a  few  years  later.  The  structure  is  attractive  and 
commodious,  being  in  the  Gothic  style,  82  feet  long,  and  with  the 
transepts  on  each  side,  having  an  entire  width  of  nearly  100  feet. 
The  material  is  brick,  trimmed  with  brownstone.  In  the  latter  part 
of  1883  it  was  thoroughly  renovated  and  improved,  at  an  outlay  of 
$10,000,  and  was  again  opened  January  4th,  1884.  A  parsonage,  on 
the  same  lot,  adds  to  the  value  of  the  propert}^  which  is  worth 
$50,000. 

The  membership  of  the  church  numbers  about  400,  and  various 
societies  for  the  dissemination  of  the  church  work  are  well  supported. 
Under  the  auspices  of  the  Young  Men's  Home  Mission  L'nion,  the 
West  Chapel  Mission  was  established  in  1883,  and  is  maintained  chiefly 
by  this  church.  Mission  services  are  held,  and  a  Sunday  school,  of 
which  Deacon  P.  A.  Spencer  is  the  superintendent,  has  more  than  a 
hundred  children  in  attendance.  The  Sunday  school  of  the  Main 
street  church  has  about  260  members.  A.  H.  Gardner  is  the  superin- 
tendent. 

The  church  has  had  many  pastoral  changes  and  numerous  other 
officers,  as  are  indicated  in  the  appended  lists.  Pastors:  E.  M.Jerome, 
May  11,  1861— May  13,  1866;  H.  G.  Mason,  October  15,  1866— Augu.st 
30,  1870;  O.  T.  Walker,  September  11,  1870— November  1,  1873:  A.  M. 
Worcester,  June  13,  1875— June  17,  1877;  C.  E.  Cordo,  October  8,  1877 
—January  20,  1881;  J.  G.  Noble,  supply,  January  1,  1882— June  1, 
1882:  J.  G.  Noble,  pastor,  June  1,  1882— July  1,  1884:  L  R.  Wheelock, 
April  12,  1885 — +.  Deacons  :  Lyman  Clark,  June  4.  1861 — August 
30,  1877;  P.  A.  Spencer,  July  12,  1861— +;  G.  A.  Gladwin.  October  28, 
1868— August  30,  1877;   S.  C.  Paddock,  October  28,  1868— September 

*  Present  deacons,      t  Serving  in  1889. 


558  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

12.  1877;  R.  M.  Breckenridge,  August  30, 1877— September  11,  1884;  J. 
L.  Richmond,  August  30,  1877—*;  Horace  Yale,  September  12,1877— 
September  12,  1878;  G.  A.  Gladwin,  September  12,  1878— *;  W.  A. 
Breckenridge,  vSeptember  11,  1884—.*  Clerks:  Charles  Page,  June  4, 
1861— April  7,  1863;  George  E.  Baldwin,  April  7,  1863— January  4, 1866; 
R.  M.  Breckenridge,  January  4,  1866 — *. 

The  German  Baptist  Church  of  Meriden  was  formed  June  19th, 
1873,  of  19  members.  Many  additional  members  were  received,  and 
three  years  later  68  members  were  reported.  A  separate  meeting- 
house, centrally  located,  had  also  been  secured,  in  which  the  church 
has  since  worshipped.  The  pastors  of  this  church  have  been:  Rever- 
ends  J.  H.  Moehlman,  until  1885;  J.  A.  Weimer,  1887-8;  and,  in  1889, 
Henry  Bens  was  called  to  the  pastorate.  The  church  had  82  resident 
members  in  1889.     Charles  Nold  is  clerk  of  the  society. 

A  missionary  effort  of  the  Baptists  among  the  Swedes  of  the  city 
promises  to  yield  permanent  results,  and  a  churc  horganization  of  that 
nationality  is  contemplated.  Since  1886  preaching  in  the  Swedish 
language  has  been  held  in  the  Main  street  church  and  in  a  hall  on 
Britannia  street.  But  the  members  attending  are  now  included 
among  those  of  the  Main  street  and  Fir.st  churches. 

The  following  account  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Meriden  was  prepared  by  Reverend  J.  T.  Pettee,  A.  M.  About  1830 
a  very  plain  house  of  worship  was  built  on  what  is  now  East  Main 
street,  on  land  of  Captain  Lyman  Collins,  just  west  of  the  entrance  to 
the  East  Cemetery;  here  occasional  meetings  were  held  by  the  Metho- 
dists for  several  years,  when  the  building  was  sold  to  Horace  Redfield, 
moved  down  to  Curtis  street,  converted  into  a  carpenter's  shop,  and 
afterward  burned.  No  record  of  the  "  class  "  of  those  early  days  has 
been  preserved,  but  I  learn  from  our  older  citizens  that  Darling 
Stewart,  Noah  Hall,  Jesse  G.  Baldwin,  Elias  Baldwin,  Seymour  W. 
Baldwin  and  Charles  Baldwin  and  their  families  were  among  the 
worshippers  in  this  First  Methodist  meeting  hou.se,  and  that  Charles 
Baldwin  often  occupied  the  pulpit,  and  was  known  as  "  Priest 
Baldwin." 

In  1839  there  was  Methodist  preaching  in  a  small  hall  at  Hanover; 
the  next  year  in  a  small  hall  at  West  Meriden.  About  the  year  1842 
the  Primitive  Methodists,  as  they  were  called,  sent  preachers  to  Meri- 
den, who,  availing  themselves  of  the  general  religious  interest  awak- 
ened throughout  the  country  by  the  apprehension  that  the  end  of  all 
things  was  at  hand,  were  quite  successful  in  their  ministrations.  The 
names  of  Collins,  Raine,  Miller  and  Somersides,  in  this  connection, 
will  be  remembered  with  interest  by  all  who  worshipped  in  the 
"  Tent,"  and  the  "Old  Bethel."  This  last  was  the  name  given  to  a 
long  shop  and  storehouse,  on  Mr.  Charles  Parker's  premises,  which 
stoodj'ust  north  of  his  old  office,  built  in  conformity  with  the  ground 
♦Serving- in  1889. 


HISTORY   or   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  559 

which  is  there  descending-,  so  that  the  preacher,  when  officiating, 
stood,  as  in  a  pit,  lower  than  his  congregation.  This  answered  very 
well  for  winter,  but  was  rather  warm  for  summer.  To  relieve  this 
inconvenience  a  large  tent  was  pitched  during  the  summer  months  in 
what  was  then  an  open  lot,  between  the  j^resent  High  and  Broad 
streets.  This  was  cool  and  commodious,  and  afforded  for  the  summer 
a  not  uncomfortable  place  of  worship. 

In  1844,  under  the  judicious  management  of  Reverend  John  Parker, 
who  had  long  exercised  his  ministry  in  the  New  England  Conference, 
but  had  been  constrained,  a  few  years  before  this,  by  failing  health 
to  settle  in  Meriden,  the  first  regular  Methodist  society  was  organized: 
and  next  year,  as  a  branch  of  the  Cheshire  circuit,  began  to  receive 
preachers  from  the  New  York  Conference.  In  1847  it  was  erected 
into  an  independent  station,  and  to  the  present  time  has  received  its 
preachers  regularly  from  the  New  York,  and  the  New  York  East  Con- 
ferences. The  membership  of  the  society  when  first  organized  was: 
Reverend  John  Parker  and  wife;  Charles  Parker  and  wife:  Edmund 
Parker  and  wife;  Hiram  Bradley  and  wife;  John  Range  and  wife; 
William  Curtis  and  wife;  Mrs.  Tryphena  Parker,  Miss  Betsey  Parker 
(now  Mrs.  Jerralds),  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beach,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jasper  Higby, 
Asaph  Merriam,  Mrs.  Patrick  Lewis,  Mrs.  Cook  and  Miss  Marietta  R. 
Clark,  now  Mrs.  Reverend  J.  T.  Pettee  (Mr.  Pettee  himself  being  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  Middletown). 

The  preachers  appointed  to  the  Meriden  station  from  the  New 
York  and  New  York  East  Conferences  have  been:  Reverends  George 
A.  Hubbell,  John  E.  Searles,  Albert  Nash,  Parmilee  Chamberlain, 
Francis  Bottome,  Nathaniel  Meade,  George  C.  Creev^,  John  L.  Peck, 
William  McAllister,  George  A.  Hubbell  (for  the  second  time),  Charles 
Kelsey,  Charles  Fletcher,  Frederick  Brown,  Freeman  P.  Tower,  John 
Pegg,  Daniel  A.  Goodsell  (now  Bishop),  William  H.  Boole,  I.  J.  Lan- 
sing, B.  M.  Adams,  J.  S.  Breckenridge,  G.  H.  McGrew,  M.  W.  Prince, 
and  the  present  incumbent  (1891),  Doctor  John  R.  Thompson,  with 
Reverend  George  C.  Boswell  as  assistant. 

In  1847  the  church  and  parsonage  on  Broad  street  were  built,  at  an 
expense  of  about  $10,000.  This  church  was  occupied  by  the  society 
till  they  left  it  for  their  present  house  of  worship  on  the  corner  of 
East  Main  and  Pleasant  streets,  which,  under  the  judicious  manage- 
ment of  Reverend  F.  P.  Tower,  through  the  munificence  of  Honorable 
Charles  Parker,  supported  by  the  generous  contributions  of  other 
brethren,  was  built  in  1867,  at  a  cost  inclusive  of  land  and  organ,  of 
$85,000,  and  presented  as  a  centenary  offering  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  to  mark  for  Meriden  the  grand  centennial  of  American 
Methodism.  A  debt  of  some  $27,000  rested  upon  it,  which  was  raised 
in  1874  under  the  administration  of  Reverend  D.  A.  Goodsell.  so  that 
when  the  New  York  East  Conference  sat  here  in  the  spring  of  1875, 
not  an  unpaid  for  brick  or  slate  looked  down  to  reprove  them.     In  1888 


560  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  church  was  rejuvenated  at  an  expense  of  $4,000,  the  accessories 
now  considered  essential  to  a  church  beingadded,so  that  now,  in  such 
conveniences,  it  is  second  to  no  church  in  the  city.  The  present  mem- 
bership of  this  church  is  750;  its  Sunday  school  f)04. 

In  1885.  60  members  received  letters  from  this  church  and  organ- 
ized the  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  the  next  yearerected 
the  chapel  on  West  Main  street.  While  the  chapel  was  building  the 
society  was  accommodated  in  the  large  hall  of  the  Y.  M.C.  A.  building. 
Its  first  pastor  was  Re;verend  W.  F.  Markwick.  It  is  now  flourishing 
under  the  pastorate  of  Reverend  D.  N.  Griffin.  Its  membership  is 
233:  its  Sunday  school  262. 

The  Universalist  Church  was  organized  in  1854.  Among  the  first 
adherents  of  this  faith  in  this  town  were  Noah  Pomeroy  and  members 
of  his  family;  and  at  his  house  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  a  Mr. 
Brooks,  of  Massachusetts,  preached  the  first  Universalist  sermon  in 
Meriden  some  time  in  1821.  Several  dozen  persons  were  in  attend- 
ance, but  it  does  not  appear  that  enough  interest  was  created  to  con- 
tinue the  meetings.  Three  years  later  another  sermon  was  preached 
in  Mr.  Pomeroy's  house,  this  time  by  Reverend  Nehemiah  Dodge,  a 
former  Baptist  minister  of  some  celebrity,  but  who  had  become  a 
Universalist.  It  aroused  more  interest  in  the  doctrine,  and  also  some 
opposition  from  Baptists  who  had  attended. 

Six  more  years  elapsed  until  another  meeting  was  held,  Reverend 
John  Boyden  coming  from  Berlin,  April  4th,  1830,  and  preaching  in 
the  North  Center  school  house.  He  also  preached  three  times  in  1833, 
his  meetings  being  attended  by  about  tvv'enty  persons.  At  this  time 
the  avowed  Universalists  of  Meriden  were:  Noah  Pomeroy,  Calvin 
Coe,  Daniel  Yale,  Darling  Dayton  and  a  few  others  later,  among  them 
being  Hezekiah  Rice. 

Occasional  meetings  were  now  held,  in  1834,  by  Reverends  Horace 
Smith,  Stephen  R.  Smith,  Thomas  Miller  and  W.  A.  Stickney,  the 
latter  also  preaching  in  1835.  In  the  latter  year  a  fruitless  attempt 
was  made  to  secure  a  separate  house  of  worship,  the  meetings  there- 
tofore having  been  held  in  private  houses,  school  houses,  or  in  the  pub- 
lic hall  connected  with  the  tavern  at  the  Center. 

Occasional  meetings  were  held  in  the  next  18  years  by  various 
clergymen,  and  in  1853  the  matter  of  building  a  church  was  again 
taken  up  and  monies  raised  to  secure  a  permanent  minister.  In  April, 
1854,  Reverend  James  Gallager,  of  Easton,  Pa.,  commenced  preach- 
ing as  a  candidate,  and  was  so  acceptable  that  he  was  settled  as  the 
first  Universalist  pastor  in  Meriden.  his  pastorate  commencing  the 
second  Sabbath  in  June,  1854.  He  was  a  man  of  great  force  of  char- 
acter, and  was  much  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  preached  his 
farewell  sermon  here  January  25th,  18.57,  and  removing  to  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  died  at  that  place  on  the  16th  of  July  the  same  year. 

The  society  at  Meriden  which  he  had  served  completed  its  organi- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  561 

zation  June  6th,  1854,  when  the  following  officers  were  chosen:  J.  S. 
Blake,  B.  R.  Stevens,  J.  L.  Ives,  E.  Dayton  and  M.  Barnes,  executive 
committee;  Charles  Pomeroy,  clerk;  I.  C.  Lewis,  treasurer;  and  P.  S. 
Pelton,  collector.  Other  members  of  the  society  were:  Noah  Pomeroy, 
Calvin  Coe,  E.  E.  Smiley,  William  H.  Golden,  Moses  Waterman,  J.  V. 
Thayer,  B.  F.  vStevens,  H.  E.  Welton,  James  T.  Pomeroy,  E.  R.  Aspin- 
wall,  John  C.  Marvin,  J.  N.  Foster,  N.  W.  Pomeroy.  P.  S.  Bliss,  Silas 
Gladwin,  G.  E.  Leonard,  Aaron  Gardner  and  I.  P.  Lewis — 26  in  all. 
The  following  year  13  new  names  were  added  to  the  society's  list, 
and  much  interest  in  its  affairs  was  manifested.  Both  the  business 
and  religious  meetings  were  held  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  until  the 
church  was  completed. 

The  society  being  left  without  a  pastor  did  not  allow  its  meetings 
to  be  intermitted,  but  voted,  August  11th,  1858,  that  "  we  continue 
meetings  regularly  every  Sunday,  with  or  without  a  preacher."  Ser- 
mons were  read  by  laymen,  and  those  attending  were  profited  there- 
by.    Various  visiting  ministers  also  preached  for  the  society. 

In  July,  1859,  Reverend  Henry  Eaton  became  the  pastor,  but  at  the 
end  of  six  months  was  compelled  by  failing  health  to  resign.  In  this 
period,  however,  the  society  began  the  work  of  building  a  church.  On 
the  5th  of  October,  1859,  a  building  committee  was  appointed,  consisting 
of  Doctor  T.  F.  Davis,  I.  C.  Lewis,  Silas  Gladwin,  Robert  Hoadley  and 
Moses  Waterman,  who,  in  the  same  month,  adopted  a  plan  for  a  build- 
ing prepared  by  T.  W.  Silloway,  of  Boston.  A  central  location  for 
the  church  was  secured  east  of  the  new  town  hall,  upon  which  an 
attractive  and  substantial  edifice  was  erected  and  furnished  at  a  cost 
of  nearly  §10,000.  It  was  dedicated  December  5th,  1860,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a  large  assemblage  of  persons,  the  attending  services  being 
very  impressive,  as  conducted  by  a  number  of  visiting  clergymen. 
In  the  fall  of  1891  the  old  church  building  was  removed,  and  on  its 
site  a  new  edifice  was  begun,  which  will  cost  about  $50,000.  The  ma- 
terial is  Connecticut  brown  stone. 

After  the  society  had  the  services  of  several  clergymen  as  sup- 
plies following  the  short  pastorate  of  the  Reverend  Frederick  Foster 
(the  first  minister  in  the  new  church),  which  ended  March  3d,  1861, 
another  pastor  was  secured  in  the  person  of  Reverend  J.  H.  Farns- 
worth,  who  was  installed  November  1st,  1862.  He  remained  seven 
years,  and  his  services  placed  the  societ}'  upon  a  permanent  basis. 
Soon  after  his  removal  to  Springfield,  Vt.,  Reverend  Martin  J.  Steere 
was  settled  over  the  church,  in  the  latter  part  of  1869.  He  remained 
several  years.  Since  1872  the  church  has  had  a  number  of  ministers, 
one  of  the  chief  ones  being  Reverend  J.  H.  Chapin,  Ph.  D.,  who 
preached  for  the  society  several  years,  and  has  given  to  it  some  of  his 
best  energies.  The  pastor  in  1890  was  Reverend  W.  S.  Perkins;  the 
deacons  were  D.  C.  Easton  and  William  B.  Barnes;  the  parish  committee 
35 


562  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

were  Charles  H.  Fales,  D.  C.  Pease  and  William  H.  Miller,  the  latter 
also  being  the  clerk  and  treasurer  of  the  parish. 

Of  the  large  and  flourishing  Sabbath  school  Isaac  C.  Lewis  was  for 
many  years  the  superintendent.  It  has  been  continued  with  much 
interest. 

St.  John's  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  was  organized 
December  3d,  186.^,  among  the  constituent  members  being  Anton 
Reuss,  George  Nagle,  William  Nagle  and  Moritz  Kraemer.  Decem- 
ber 25th,  186.0,  Reverend  G.  Guerick  was  installed  the  first  pastor,  and 
in  October,  1866,  he  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  H.  A.  Schmidt,  who 
remained  until  June,  1869.  The  following  August,  Reverend  Charles 
A.  Graeber  became  the  pastor,  and  continued  until  April  1st,  1886. 
Since  the  latter  date  the  pastor  of  the  church  has  been  Reverend 
Adelbert  Krofft. 

The  church  soon  took  steps  to  secure  its  own  house  of  worship,  of 
which  the  corner  stone  was  laid  October  19th,  1866.  A  frame  house, 
88  by  90  feet,  was  erected,  on  -Liberty  street,  which  was  enlarged  m 
1879.  In  1891  a  fine  new  brick  edifice  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  old 
one,  at  a  cost  of  $25,000.  A  parochial  school  has  been  maintained 
since  1886.  Of  this,  C.  A.  Burgdorf  was  the  principal  in  1889,  and  th.e 
pupils  in  attendance  numbered  110.  In  1886  the  church  became  a 
corporate  body. 

The  membership  of  the  church  has  been  twice  diminished  by  the 
withdrawal  of  so  many  persons  that  the  influence  of  the  church  work 
has  been  much  affected;  fir.st  in  1876,  when  many  connected  them- 
selves with  other  organizations;  and  in  January,  1889,  when  a  number 
withdrew  to  form  a  new  organization. 

The  New  Emanuel  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  was  organized 
out  of  the  latter  secession  on  the  28th  of  January,  1889,  51  persons 
pledging  themselves  as  members,  and  worship  was  established  in  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall,  Reverend  Charles  A.  Graeber  and  others  acting  as 
pastoral  supplies.  In  the  movement  to  erect  a  church  an  eligible  lot 
on  Hanover  street  was  secured,  upon  which  a  frame  building  was 
erected,  whose  cornerstone  was  laid  November  17th,  1889.  The  mem- 
bership of  the  parent  church  is  about  100,  and  that  of  the  New  Eman- 
uel is  about  one-fourth  less. 

St.  Rose  of  Lima  Church  (Roman  Catholic)  is  the  oldest  church  of 
that  denomination  in  Meriden.  Catholicism  was  introduced  into 
Meriden  soon  after  the  completion  of  the  Hartford  railroad,  which 
was  the  means  of  bringing  a  number  of  Irish  families  into  the  town. 
These  were  gathered  together  by  missionary  priests,  who  said  mass  to 
them  in  a  private  house,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  city.  Later, 
services  of  this  nature  were  held  by  Father  Philip  O'Reilley  and  Father 
Teevens,  the  latter  taking  charge  of  the  newly  organized  parish  in 
1849.  Soon  after  this  was  formed,  the  old  Episcopal  church,  which 
stood  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Olive  streets,  was  bought  and  used 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTV.  563 

by  the  Catholics.  It  was  a  frame  house,  3G  by  45  feet,  and  had  been 
used  by  the  Episcopalians  until  they  occupied  their  Gothic  church,  in 
1850.  In  this  mass  was  celebrated  about  nine  years,  by  Father  Hugh 
O'Reilley,  who  took  charge  of  the  parish  work  in  1851,  and  by  Father 
Thomas  Quinn,  who  became  the  first  settled  pastor  of  the  parish  in 
1854.  Under  his  direction  the  hand.some  St.  Rose  church  was  begun 
in  1858,  its  completion  involving  an  outlay  of  $25,000.  This  was  a 
heavy  burden,  but  the  parish  was  relieved  of  it  by  Father  Thomas 
Walsh,  who  became  the  pastor  in  the  spring  of  1859,  succeeding 
Father  Quinn.  Although  regarded  so  costly  and  commodious,  the 
growth  of  the  parish  was  so  rapid  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  fur- 
ther enlarge  and  improve  the  church.  This  was  done  m  1868,  at  an 
outlay  of  $30,000.  Another  improvement  was  made  more  recently, 
the  church  being  re-opened  May  21st,  1882,  when  Bishop  McMahon 
officiated. 

Until  his  death,  July  2d,  1883,  at  the  age  of  53  years,  the  services  of 
Father  Walsh  were  untiring  in  the  interest  of  the  parish,  of  which  he 
remained  the  priest,  and  of  the  diocese,  of  which  he  was  vicar-general. 
At  his  decease,  St.  Ro.se-ranked  as  the  fourth  Catholic  church  in  the 
state,  the  parish  having  4,000  members.  The  parochial  school,  kept 
in  a  fine  and  commodious  building,  erected  in  1874  at  a  cost  of  $20,000, 
had  an  attendance  of  700  children  daily.  Father  Walsh  was  a  devout, 
learned  man,  highly  respected  by  the  entire  community.  When  he 
was  laid  to  his  rest,  in  St.  Patrick's  Cemetery,  July  5th,  1883,  the  cere- 
monies were  attended  by  a  larger  concourse  of  people  than  had  before 
here  gathered  on  a  similar  occasion. 

Under  his  successors  the  work  of  the  parish  has  gone  on,  the  mem- 
bership increasing  and  the  fine  church  property  being  made  still 
more  extensive  and  valuable.  In  the  fall  of  1888,  St.  Rose  Chapel,  on 
Liberty  street,  was  completed.  It  is  of  brick,  37  by  70  feet,  and  attrac- 
tive in  its  appearance. 

In  1889,  the  corporation  of  the  parish  consisted  of  the  pastor. 
Reverend  Father  P.  F.  M'Alenney,  Maurice  O'Brien  and  Patrick 
Hopkins. 

The  Catholic  parochial  school  building  is  very  fine,  and  contains 
twelve  rooms.     Between  9()0  and  1,000  children  are  in  attendance. 

St.  Laurent's  Church  (French  Catholic)  was  formed  in  1880.  In  the 
past  two  decades  many  French  people  became  citizens  of  Meriden,  the 
census  of  1880  showing  over  one  thousand.  Most  of  these  were 
Catholics  and  in  order  to  permit  them  to  worship  in  their  own  language 
it  was  decided  to  form  them  into  a  new  parish.  The  preliminary 
meeting  was  held  June  2d,  1880,  and  four  days  later  the  first  mass  of 
the  parish  was  said  in  G.  A.  R.  Hall.  .Subsequently  and  until  the 
spring  of  1881,  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  town  hall.  A  purpose 
to  build  a  church  was  given  warm  encouragement  and  the  work  was 
soon  begun.    July  5th,  1880,  being  a   holiday,  the  members  of  the 


664  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

parish  devoted  it  to  digging  for  the  foundations  of  the  church,  ort 
Camp  street.  A  band  furnished  music,  lunches  were  served  by  the 
women  of  the  parish,  and  at  sunset  the  excavation  was  completed. 
The  basement  of  the  church  was  fitted  up  as  a  place  of  worship,  for 
which  use  it  was  dedicated  April  10th,  1881,  when  also  the  corner 
stone  of  the  church  was  laid  by  Bishop  McMahon.  For  several  years 
work  on  the  main  building  was  suspended  but  was  again  resumed  in 
the  spring  of  1886  and  completed  for  dedication  November  4th,  1888. 

The  church  forms  an  attractive  edifice  in  the  French  Gothic  style, 
the  walls  being  of  North  Haven  brick,  with  buttresses  capped  with 
granite.  The  dimensions  are  60  by  118  feet  and  the  front  towers  when 
completed  will  be  165  feet  high.  The  sanctuary  windows  are  over  21 
feet  high  and  were  all  imported  from  Holland.  The  interior  of  the 
church  is  handsomely  finished  and  the  value  of  the  property  is  nearly 
$60,000.  In  1889  the  corporation  of  the  parish  was  composed  of  the 
resident  priest.  Father  A.  Van  Oppen,  under  whose  pastorate  the 
church  is  prospering,  and  trustees  D.  Dolbec  and  Philippe  Turcotte. 

In  the  spring  of  1891  the  Polish  and  German  members  of  St. 
Laurent's  and  St.  Rose's  parishes  formed  themselves  into  a  new  church, 
by  the  name  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  church,  with  Father  Kost  as  the 
priest.  Ground  for  a  church  edifice,  85  by  45  feet,  was  broken  on 
Church  street,  on  the  30th  of  May,  and  the  building  will  be  completed 
as  the  funds  of  the  parish  will  permit. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Meriden  had  its  origin  in 
the  winter  or  1865-6  and  was  incorporated  June  27th,  the  latter  year, 
by  act  of  the  general  assembly.  Under  this  charter  the  first  board  of 
regular  officers  was  elected  in  July,  1866.  In  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  having  a  subscription  fund  of  $7,000,  a  lot  on  Colony  street  was 
purchased,  on  which  was  a  frame  building  of  two  stories,  22  by  50 
feet,  which  was  fitted  up  for  association  uses.  On  the  first  floor  a 
reading  room  and  library  was  opened.  The  second  floor  was  devoted 
to  the  use  of  general  meetings,  lectures,  also  noonday  prayer  meet- 
ings being  therein  sustained,  each  day,  for  about  four  years. 

Having  outgrown  this  humble  building,  steps  were  taken,  in  1875-6,. 
to  raise  a  fund  to  displace  it  with  a  more  commodious  structure.  The 
president  of  the  association.  Welcome  E.  Benham,  was  especially 
active  in  this  movement  and  his  well-conceived  purpose  and  persistent 
effort  in  this  direction  were  warmly  seconded  by  the  community. 
Four  persons  subscribed  $1,000  each;  53  persons  gave  $100  each; 
and  nearly  $22,000  in  all  was  raised,  when  the  work  of  building- 
was  begun.  W.  E.  Benham,  James  R.  Sutliff  and  S.  J.  Hall  were 
appointed  the  building  committee  and  H.  M.  Jones  was  secured  as 
the  architect.  The  plans  adopted  involved  an  outlay  of  $28,000,  and 
ground  for  the  edifice  was  broken  May  18th,  1876.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  with  ceremonies  October  19th,  1876,  and  on  the 
31st  of  July,    the  following   year,    the    building    was  dedicated.     A 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  565 

■debt  remaining  on  it  was  fully  settled  in  February,  1880,  when  the 
entire  value  of  the  property  was  placed  at  $40,000.  The  rentals  of  the 
building,  not  occupied  by  the  association  for  its  own  uses,  are  about 
$3,000  per  year. 

The  building  is  imposing  in  appearance,  being  four  stories  high 
above  the  basement,  and  is  46  feet  wide  and  89  feet  long.  The  front 
is  constructed  of  Philadelphia  pressed  brick,  with  free-stone  and  iron 
trimmings,  granite  sills  and  steps,  and  there  is  a  slated.  Mansard  roof. 
Business  rooms  occupy  the  basement,  first  floor  and  part  of  the  second, 
where  are  also  the  reading  room  and  the  general  rooms  of  the  asso- 
ciation.  On  the  third  floor  are  assembly  halls,  and  a  gymnasium 
-occupies  the  fourth  floor.  Many  religious  and  benevolent  societies 
have  here  held  their  meetings.  The  building  is  substantiallv  finished 
and  furnished  throughout,  and  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in  Connecticut 
and  one  of  the  first  in  New  England  exclusively  for  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
purposes. 

In  1886  the  charter  of  the  association  was  amended  and  its  property 
was  placed  in  care  of  a  board  of  seven  trustees,  members  of  Protestant 
evangelical  churches.  These  were  W.  E.  Benham,  chairman:  Benjamin 
Page,  clerk:  S.  J.  Hall,  treasurer;  James  R.  Sutliff,  S.  B.  Little,  James 
H.  Breckenridge,  E.  A.  Bell.  A  board  of  directors  of  one  member 
each  from  all  the  Protestant  churches  in  the  city  is  chosen  annually 
to  cooperate  with  the  officers  in  managing  the  affairs  of  the  associa- 
tion. 

Since  the  incorporation  the  presidents  of  the  association  have  been: 
J.  H.  Breckenridge,  from  July,  1866,  to  September,  1868;  E.  W.  Hatch, 
from  September,  1868,  to  September,  1869;  F.  H.  Williams,  from  Sep- 
tember. 1869,  to  September,  1870;  F.  G.  Otis,  from  September,  1870.  to 
September,  1872;  W.  E.  Benham,  from  September,  1872,  to  .September, 
1890. 

In  1882  the  association  secured  William  A.  Venter  as  its  first  gen- 
eral secretary  and  he  served  in  that  capacity  until  October,  1889.  In 
the  following  December  A.  H.  Wilcox  succeeded  him  in  the  same 
office. 

In  1885  a  ladies'  auxiliary  of  the  association  was  organized,  which 
has  become  a  most  valuable  adjunct.  The  same  year  a  gymnasium 
was  established  and  a  teacher  employed.  In  December,  1887,  a  branch 
of  the  a.ssociation  was  opened  on  Broad  street,  which  was  kept  open 
one  year.  Many  other  auxiliaries,  or  divisions  of  the  association  forces, 
have  promoted  the  general  good,  the  members  being  zealous  and  active 
in  these  matters. 

In  July,  1886,  the  publication  of  the  monthly  Association  News  was 
begun  as  a  small  sheet,  setting  forth  the  work  of  the  society.  It  was 
enlarged  in  January,  1888,  and  again  in  January,  1889,  to  12  columns, 
quarto  size. 

In  the  library  of  the  association   are  more  than   6,000  volumes  of 


506  HISTORY    OF    NKW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

popular,  standard  and  reference  books,  which  may  be  freely  read  in 
the  rooms  or  taken  home  on  the  payment  of  a  small  fee.  The  free 
reading  room,  open  all  day  and  evening,  contains  over  100  choice  peri- 
odicals, and  is  largely  patronized. 

The  association  has  the  support  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Meriden, 
and  has  proved  to  be  a  valuable  promotive  agent  in  elevating  the 
moral  tone  of  the  community. 

The  Connecticut  .State  Reform  .School*  was  atithorized  by  the  legis- 
lature of  1851,  which  appropriated  $10,000  for  this  object,  on  condition 
that  the  people  of  the  state  would  donate  an  equal  sum  for  the  same 
object.  In  1852  the  school  was  located  in  Meriden,  on  a  tract  of  land 
secured  for  this  purpose  of  Salmon  Merriam  and  others,  and  embrac- 
ing, in  1888,  195  acres.  It  lies  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  New 
Haven  railroad  station,  extending  from  North  Colony  street  toward 
the  Hanging  hills,  more  than  a  mile  in  the  rear.  About  100  acres  are 
comparatively  level  and  are  well  tilled  for  farm  and  garden  crops. 
Much  of  the  remainder  of  the  land  is  in  pasture  and  wood  lots.  A  fine 
stream  of  water  through  the  center  of  the  tract  adds  to  the  value  of 
the  farm,  which  has  been  somewhat  damaged  by  the  recent  construc- 
tion through  it  of  the  Waterbury  railroad.  A  number  of  fine  farm 
buildings  have  been  erected,  including  a  main  barn,  42  by  83  feet, 
three  stories  high,  which  is  a  model  of  completeness  in  its  arrange- 
ments. There  are  orchards,  gardens  and  a  green-house.  The  farm 
cost  $18,000. 

On  a  commanding  eminence,  near  the  North  Colony  street  part  of 
the  lands,  are  the  buildings  of  the  school  proper,  standmg  on  hand- 
somely kept  grounds,  adorned  with  shrubs  and  flowers.  The  site 
affords  one  of  the  finest  landscape  views  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
Around  it  lies  the  city  with  its  manifold  interests;  in  front,  several 
miles  distant,  is  Mount  Lamentation;  and  in  the  rear  and  nearer  are 
the  ever  beautiful  Hanging  hills.  The  main  building  is  of  brick  and 
was  begun  in  1853.  It  fronts  the  east,  and  is  300  feet  long  by  50  feet 
deep.  The  central  part  is  four  stories  high;  the  ends  three  stories. 
In  the  rear  is  a  three  story  wing,  40  by  120  feet.  In  this  building  are 
all  the  conveniences  for  the  care,  comfort,  instruction  and  employ- 
ment of  375  boys,  besides  affording  a  home  for  the  superintendent 
and  other  officers  of  the  school. 

When  it  was  erected  the  congregate  or  prison  system  prevailed, 
and  continued  until  1878.  Under  this  system,  a  yard  in  the  rear  of 
the  building  was  enclosed  v/ith  a  high  stone  wall,  which  has  lately 
been  devoted  to  other  uses,  and  other  features  in  the  building,  under 
the  old  system,  have  also  been  changed.  Since  the  adoption  of  the 
family  system  of  government,  ten  years  ago,  five  large  cottage  build- 
ings have  been  erected,  north  and  south  of  the  mam  structure,  each 
being  of  brick,  three  stories  high  above  the   basement.     While  they 

*  From  reports  and  data  by  Saxton  B.  Little. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  567 

differ  in  outside  appearance  and  architectural  design,  they  each  cost 
$16,000,  and  have  the  same  general  interior  arrangement,  each  com- 
foi;tably  accommodating  fifty  boys  and  those  in  charge  of  them.  A 
beautiful  chapel,  with  500  sittings,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  In 
it  are  held  religious  meetings  and  general  assemblages,  for  the  instruc- 
tion or  amusement  of  the  members  of  the  school,  who  are  here  treated 
with  a  view  to  bring  them  under  reformatory  influences  and  to  lead 
them  to  better  lives.  Each  family  section  has  its  own  male  supervisor 
and  matron  and  special  teachers. 

There  are  six  shops  in  the  institution,  in  which  are  made  the  neces- 
sary clothing,  shoes,  etc.,  worn  by  the  boys,  who  themselves  do  this 
work;  and  two  shops  in  which  225  boys  are  employed  in  cane-seating 
chairs. 

All  the  buildings  have  an  abundant  supply  of  water  from  the  city 
water  works  and  from  a  private  spring,  owned  by  the  institution,  IJ 
miles  distant,  which  is  conducted  to  the  farm  by  means  af  a  3-inch 
pipe.  This  supplies  water  for  irrigation  and  farm  uses.  The  build- 
ings are  also  supplied  with  city  gas  and  have  all  the  modern  conven- 
iences to  make  them  complete  and  comfortable.  Their  aggregate 
cost  has  been  a  little  more  than  $250,000,  and  they  are,  in  appearance 
and  adaptation,  finer  than  many  kindred   institutions  in  other  states. 

The  government  of  the  institution  is  vested  in  a  board  of  eight 
state  trustees,  one  from  each  county,  and  four  resident  trustees,  who 
elect  the  superintendent  and  other  officers  to  manage  its  affairs. 

The  first  superintendent  was  Philemon  Hoadley,  elected  in  1853, 
and  served  two  years.  In  1855  Roswell  Hawley,  M.  D.,  was  elected, 
and  served  four  years.  E.  W.  Hatch,  M.  D.,  was  elected  in  1859,  and 
was  at  the  head  of  the  institution  about  twenty  years.  In  1854  Saxton 
B.  Little  was  elected  assistant  superintendent,  and  served  until  the 
abandonment  of  the  congregate  system  of  government,  proving  a 
most  efficient  educator  of  this  class  of  pupils. 

The  present  superintendent,  George  E.  Howe,  was  elected  in  1878, 
and  under  his  administration  the  life  of  the  school  was  changed  to  the 
open  or  family  system,  being  made  more  reformatory  in  its  nature, 
and  divesting  it  of  the  penal  features  which  were  before  connected 
with  the  institution.  His  previous  extended  experience  in  that  de- 
partment of  labor  has  enabled  him  to  reorganize  the  school  and  bring 
it  up  to  a  standard  which  has  excited  the  admiration  of  philanthropists 
and  others  interested  in  making  good  citizens  of  those  who  have  had 
the  misfortune  to  inherit  or  contract  vicious  habits.  He  has  the  co- 
operation of  about  twenty  assistants  at  the  institution,  and  the  active 
aid  of  the  resident  trustees.  These  were,  in  1S89:  Colonel  Charles  L. 
Upham,  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  Owen  B.  Arnold  and  D.  S.  Williams. 

The  institution  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  inmates  March  1st, 
1854,  and  since  that  time  4,652  boys  have  been  placed  under  its  care. 
The  age  at  entrance  has  varied  from  six  to  nineteen  years,  the  greatest 


568  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

number  being  placed  at  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  fifteen.  The  com- 
mitments in  1888  were  176.  Of  those  entered  463  have  been  placed 
with  farmers,  44  placed  at  various  trades,  150  escaped  from  the  insti- 
tution and  did  not  return,  941  were  discharged  on  the  expiration  of 
sentence,  and  2,461  were  returned  to  their  parents.  The  number  re- 
maining in  the  institution  December  1st,  1889,  was  450.  The  state 
permits  parents  and  guardians  to  place  boys  in  the  school  without  a 
commitment  from  court  on  the  payment  of  $8  per  week,  and  176  boys 
have  thus  been  placed  and  subjected  to  the  rules  of  the  school. 

Ever}'  boy  in  the  institution  is  required  to  attend  school  three  hours 
each  week  day,  ten  months  in  a  year,  and  is  taught  the  rudiments  of 
an  English  education  which  will  fit  him  to  transact  the  ordinary  busi- 
ness of  life,  and  moral  culture  is  also  instilled.  A  moral  review  is  held 
every  evening,  at  which  time  a  record  is  made  in  a  book  of  every  boy's 
conduct  during  the  day.  These  records  determine  each  boy's  standard 
in  the  .school,  and  the  "  Honor  Grade  "  has  proven  to  be  a  valuable 
disciplinary  means. 

"The  paramount  object  of  the  institution  is  not  to  confine,  but  ta 
reform  those  committed  to  its  care,  and  its  success  is  encouraging  in  a 
high  degree.  Not  all  are  reformed,  for  human  nature  is  the  same  here 
as  elsewhere,  nevertheless  a  large  proportion  of  those  coming  here  go 
away  far  better  bo5-s,  and  with  prospects  of  becoming  more  useful 
citizens  than  if  this  noble  charity  did  not  exist." 

The  Curtis  Home  owes  its  existence  solely  to  the  benevolence  and 
munificent  benefactions  of  Lemuel  J.  Curtis,*  who  established  it  for 
the  relief  of  old  ladies  and  orphan  children  in  needy  circumstances. 
The  institution  stands  on  three  and  one-half  acres  of  ground  at  the 
head  of  Crown  street,  and  overlooks  much  of  the  city  of  Meriden. 
The  building  was  begun  May  1st,  1883,  and  June  28th,  1884,  the  home 
was  dedicated  b}'  Bishop  Williams,  of  the  diocese  of  Connecticut,  the 
services  being  held  in  the  pretty  little  chapel  connected  with  it.  The 
home  is  46  by  114  feet,  four  stories  high,  with  a  deep  slated  roof.  The 
architecture  is  in  the  Gothic  style,  the  walls  being  of  North  Haven 
brick,  trimmed  with  terra  cotta,  the  front  presenting  a  most  attractive 
appearance.  The  interior  is  handsomely  finished  and  supplied  with 
modern  appointments.  Separate  dormitories  are  provided  for  boys, 
girls  and  old  ladies.  The  entire  cost  was  about  $40,000.  In  his  life- 
time Mr.  Curtis  maintained  the  home  single  handed,  and  at  his 
death  left  a  large  benefaction,  placed  in  trust  of  the  vestry  of 
St.  Andrew's  parish.  That  body  and  a  board  of  local  managers,  se- 
lected from  the  churches  of  the  city,  are  also  the  managers  of  the  in- 
stitution. The  first  local  board  was  composed  of  Airs.  J.  T.  Pettee, 
president:  Miss  Celia  J.  Curtis,  vice-president;  Mrs.  L.  E.  Coe,  corre- 
sponding secretary;  Mrs.  Annie  Palmer,  recording  secretary.  The 
latter  was  also  the  first  matron,  and  occupied  the  home  May  1st,  1884. 

*.See  Biographical  Sketch. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  569 

Doctor  C.  H.  S.  Davis  was  the  first  physician.     In  the  course  of  a  few 
years  twenty  inmates  were  sheltered  within  its  friendly  walls. 

The  City  Mission  Society  of  Meriden  is  another  charitable  organiza- 
tion which  deserves  and  has  received  philanthropic  support.  It  was 
instituted  for  the  amelioration  of  the  poor  several  years  ago,  and  be- 
came a  chartered  body  April  5th,  1889,  with  the  following  corporators: 
Mary  L.  Seymour,  Phebe  E.  Hinman,  Lucy  A.  Geer,  Anna  Wheeler, 
Ruth  B.  Austin,  Martha  E.  Pales,  Seraphine  C.  Ives.  Sarah  G.  Higby, 
Mary  G.  Patten,  Emma  R.  Thomas  and  Jennie  Fay.  The  society  is 
empowered  to  hold  property  to  the  amount  of  $100,000,  whose  proceeds 
are  to  be  applied  for  the  care  of  the  poor  and  the  prevention  of 
pauperism.  In  the  furtherance  of  this  object  the  society  has  had 
especial  encouragement  in  the  noble  gift  of  Isaac  C.  Lewis.  On  the 
21st  of  October,  1SS9,  he  deeded  to  the  society  the  hand.some  "  Lewis 
Block,"  on  East  Main  street,  which  he  had  erected  in  1888-9  at  a  cost 
of  more  than  $70,000.  the  income  from  which  shall  forever  be  devoted 
to  its  uses.  This  block  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city  and  its  rentals 
will  insure  a  fine  working  fund  for  the  society,  which  is  thus  permitted 
to  enter  upon  an  extended  sphere  of  usefulness. 

The  Meriden  Hospital  is  a  charitable  institution  of  recent  date.  On 
the  17th  of  April,  1885,  the  general  assembly  of  the  state  granted  a> 
charter  to  a  number  of  citizens  of  ^Meriden  to  establish  a  hospital  and 
giving  power  to  conduct  the  same.  Under  the  provisions  of  this 
charter  the  incorporators  organized  December  2Sth,  1885,  by  electing 
the  following  directors:  N.  L.  Bradley,  chairman;  George  R.  Curtis, 
treasurer;  Seth  J.  Hall.  Charles  Parker,  E.  J.  Doolittle,  H.  C.  Wilcox, 
J.  H.  Chapin,  Walter  Hubbard  and  L.  E.  Coe.  The  advisability  of 
erecting  a  hospital  has  been  frequently  discussed,  but  no  definite 
action  in  this  direction  has  yet  been  taken. 

The  Cemeteries  of  Meriden  are  attractive  and  well  kept.  There 
are  six  distinct  and  well  known  places  of  interment  in  the  town,  four 
being  within  the  city  limits.  The  oldest,  called  the  Ancient  Burying 
Ground,  is  on  what  formerly  was  known  as  the  Meeting  House  hill, 
about  two  miles  southea.st  of  the  town  hall.  It  is  a  retired  place,  onlj* 
a  lane,  seldom  used,  leading  by  it.  But  it  is  a  spot  of  considerable 
natural  beauty,  pleasantly  located  on  the  south  brow  of  the  long  slop- 
ing elevation,  designated  on  late  maps  as  Parker's  hill.  A  fine  and 
extended  view  of  the  country  lying  west  and  south  is  commanded. 

In  the  latter  direction  the  hou.ses  in  the  borough  of  Wallingford 
can  be  plainly  seen,  and  it  was  probably  a  matter  of  sentiment  which 
led  to  the  selection  of  this  place.  Here,  within  view  of  the  old  home, 
were  interred  the  dead  of  the  new  parish.  The  use  of  the  ground  was 
discontinued  about  the  time  of  the  revolution  and  being  isolated  from 
the  main  highways,  it  became  neglected  in  the  course  of  years.  The 
o^raves  were  marked  by  plain  slaty  slabs,  which  fell  out  of  place  and 
the  epitaphs  became  illegible.     The  grave  j'ard  itself  was  apart  of  the 


570  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

common  field  and  there  was  little  to  indicate  the  respect  which  should 
be  shown  to  the  graves  of  these  pioneers.  But  in  1851  the  town  voted 
to  fence  in  the  yard  with  a  stone  wall.  This  was  not  done  and 
December  20th,  1856,  another  vote  was  taken,  not  only  to  enclose  the 
ground  but  to  erect  a  monument  containing  the  names  of  those  there 
interred.  The  following  year  these  instructions  were  properly  car- 
ried out.  A  substantial  brown  freestone  shaft  was  erected  and  was 
enclosed  by  a  high  iron  fence,  60  feet  square.  It  was  a  worthy  tribute 
to  the  dead  and  deserved  to  be  well  kept.  In  the  course  of  years,  how- 
ever, the  iron  fence  was  torn  down  and  finally  removed;  and  the  monu- 
ment itself  has  been  marred  by  chipping  off  parts  to  be  carried  away 
as  relics.  In  more  recent  years  reasonable  care  has  been  given  the 
yard  which,  in  1889,  was  plainly  enclosed  and  free  from  brush.  Only 
a  few  of  the  headstones  remained.  Their  inscriptions  were  quaiut 
and  expressive  of  the  virtues  of  those  whose  decease  they  commem- 
orated.    Two  of  them  were  marked  as  follows: 

In  Memory  of 
Theophilus  Hall, 
Pastor  of  ye  Church,  who  having  for  37  years  discharged  the  duties  of  his  func- 
tion  with    distinguished   fideHty  and   accomplished  Christian  life,  the  uniform 
disciple  of  Jesus  Christ,  deceased  March  35,  1767,  in  the  (iOth  year  of  his  Age. 
They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  ye  brightness  of 
ye  firmament. 
Dean  Ezekiel  Rice,  Esq.,  Aged  66  years.  Departed  this  Life  Sptr  4th,  176.5. 

To  God  and  Man  a  faithful  Friend ; 

In  Serving  both  his  life  did  spend. 

His  Sun  is  set,  his  work  is  done. 

Lies  here  beneath  this  Gloomy  Stone. 

The  town  monument  was  legibly  inscribed  in  the  following 
manner: 

On  the  south  side: 

Erected 
By  the  town  of  Meriden, 
1857. 
On  the  east  side; 

In  Memory  of  the  First  Settlers  of  the  Town  of  Meriden  who  were  buried 
within  and  near  this  enclosure,  and  whose  names  as  far  as  known  are  inscribed  on 
this  Monument. 

The  Meeting-House  in  which  they  worshiped,  and  the  first  erected  in  this 
town,  stood  about  fifty  rods  west  of  this  memorial. 

On  the  north  side: 

Obituary.— Rev.  Theophilus  Hall,  Pastor  of  the  First  Church,  Match  35, 
1767,  Si.  60;  Mehitable  Hall,  Sept.  11,  1767,  as.  16;  Timothy  Jerome,  Feb.  23,  1757, 
ae.  36;  Abigail  Way,  Sept.  13,  1741,  a;.  13;  Daniel  Hough,  July  35,  1708,  ae.  49; 
Thos.  Beech,  May  14,  1741,  a;.  83;  Phebe  Merriam,  Feb.  33,  1753,  <s.  33;  Hannah 
Ives,  Nov.  5,  1770,  ae.  70;  Captain  Josiah  Robinson,  Apr.  3,  1766,  ae.  67;  Theophilus 
Mix,  July  3,  1750,  as.  53;  Rachael  Andrus,  Jan.  11,  1756,  ae.  33;  Timothy  Andrews, 
Nov.  25,  1743,  se.  23;  Hannah  Royce,  Jan.  13,  1761,  a;.  91;  Samuel  Johnson,  Mar. 
2,  1777,  as.  23. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  571 

On  the  west  side: 

Obituary. — Benjamin  Curtiss,  Oct.  29,  1754,  te.  52;  Aaron  Curtiss,  Dec.  18, 
1763,  SB.  20;  Rebekah  Lyman,  Nov.  8,  1748,  ae.  44;  Joseph  Cowles,  Nov.  30,  1760, 
se.  83;  Mindwell  Cowles,  April  17,  1770,  se.  89;  Sarah  Bishop,  May  31,  1760,  ae.  43; 
Elizabeth  Merriam,  June  11,  1767,  as.  70;  Elizabeth  Penfield,  Nov.  20,  1765,  ae.  18; 
Deacon  Samuel  Royce,  May  14,  1757,  ae.  85;  Ezekiel  Rice,  Esq.,  Sept.  4,  1765,  ae. 
66;  Ebenezer  Roys,  Jan.  20,  1759,  ae.  53;  Joseph  Merriam,  Aug.  24,  1752,  ae.  49; 
Deborah  Merriam,  Aug.  12, 1761,  ae.  52;  Ruth  Merriam,  Nov.  12, 1755,  se.  72;  Mind- 
well  Rice,  June  15,  1769,  ae.  27. 

With  the  removal  of  the  church  to  the  Center  came  a  demand  for 
a  burial  place  in  the  same  locality,  which  was  secured  in  the  lot  on 
Broad  street,  at  the  corner  of  Olive.  This  was  deeded  by  Reverend 
John  Hubbard,  March  15th,  1771,  and  originally  contained  three- 
quarters  of  an  acre,  which  was  purchased  by  a  popular  subscription, 
as  is  shown  in  the  following  paper: 

"  Whereas  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish  of  Meriden,  did  in  their 
meeting  on  the  18  of  February  last,  agree  to  purchase  a  piece  of  land 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard,  for  a  burying  yard,  we,  the  subscribers 
being  desirous  of  a  speedy  accomplishment  of  said  affair,  do  herewith 
our  names  subscribe  the  several  sums  that  we  will  give  towards  pur- 
chasing said  piece  of  land,  and  do  promise  to  paye  them  to  the  parish 
committee  within  nine  months  after  said  committee  shall  procure  a 
deed  to  secure  the  same  to  the  use  of  the  parish  as  aforesaid. 

Meriden,  March  11,  1771. 
s.  d.  s.  d. 

Samuel  Leavitt    3     0     Hannah  Hall,  Jr 2     0 

Noah  Yale 5     0     Abel  Hawley 2     0 

Ebenezer  Cowles 3     6     Samuel  Johnson 3    0 

Ezekiel  Rice 1     5     Solomon  Rice 1     0 

Daniel  Howell 3     6     Joseph  Cowles 3     0 

Ebenezer  Cowles,  Jr 1     0     Wait  Rice 1     0 

Samuel  Whitney 1     6     Bezaleel  Ives   3     0 

John  Miles,  Jr 1     0     Timothy  Collins   1     6 

Theo.  Hall 2     0    Thomas  Hough 1     0 

Josiah  Merriam 1     0     Ezra  Rice 2     0 

Titus  Rice 1     4     Aaron  Hull 1     0 

Thomas  Menhaur 1     6     Moses  Hall 1     3 

Thomas  Berry 2     0     Benjamin  Rice 2     0 

Timothy  Foster 3     4     Aaron  Lyman 4     0 

■  Abigail  Rice 2     1     Amasa  Rice 1     0 

To  this  place  some  of  those  interred  in  the  old  burial  ground  were 
removed.  In  the  course  of  seventy  years  the  Broad  Street  burial  ground 
was  filled  up  and  a  new  cemetery  was  demanded.  vSome  difficulty  was 
encountered  in  selecting  a  place  which  should  accommodate  all  parts 
of  the  town,  both  the  east  and  the  west  section  claiming  the  location. 
After  a  discussion  of  several  years  ground  for  the  East  Meriden  Cem- 


572  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

etery  was  purchased  in  1845,  of  the  estate  of  William  Yale  and  of 
Lyman  Collins,  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  Center  church.  This  was 
substantially  enclosed,  and  in  1847  the  stone  arch  over  the  entrance 
way  was  erected.  The  cemetery  is  laid  out  with  care,  and  is  neatly 
kept.  Many  tasty  monuments  show  the  resting  place  of  those  here 
interred,  representing  numerous  old  families. 

The  West  Meriden  Cemetery  was  opened  by  an  association  bear- 
ing this  name,  whose  preliminary  meeting  was  held  October  20th, 
1846.  Elah  Camp  was  chosen  president;  Doctor  Benjamin  H.  Catlin, 
vice-president;  Curtis  L.  North,  secretary;  Horace  Curtis,  treasurer. 

Three  acres  of  land  were  purchased,  November  22d,  1846,  of  Asahel 
Merriman,  and  the  town  was  petitioned  to  open  a  street  to  the  same. 
Soon  after  Hanover  street  was  opened  by  the  cemetery,  which  was 
-enlarged  by  the  addition  of  an  acre  in  1864.  It  is  laid  out  with  modern 
landscape  effects,  and  contains  about  800  family  lots.  There  are 
numerous  costly  monuments,  and  the  grounds  are  kept  in  good  con- 
dition by  the  association.  The  officers  in  1889  were:  John  D.  Billard, 
■president;  Charles  H.  Collins,  secretary  and  treasurer;  P.  J.  Clark,  H. 
J.  Church  and  John  D.  Billard,  directors.  The  association  was  duly 
incorporated  June  14th,  1866. 

Walnut  Grove  Cemetery,  south  of  the  city,  in  its  area,  beauty  of 
location  and  possibility  of  development  is  the  most  important  in  the 
town.  It  had  its  origin  in  a  purpose  formed  as  long  ago  as  1868,  when 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  con.sider  the  wisdom  of  opening 
3.  new  cemetery.  It  recommended  that  the  town  purchase  the  Nor- 
man B.  Wood  farm  for  $12,000,  and  in  case  a  cemetery  association  was 
formed  before  January  1st,  1872,  to  transfer  the  same  to  such  a  corpor- 
ation. After  some  delay  in  arranging  the  details  of  such  an  organi- 
zation, the  Meriden  Cemetery  Association  was  formed  August  6th, 
1875,  Eli  Butler,  president,  and  John  Ives,  secretary,  and  the  town 
transferred  the  propert}'  to  that  body,  which  became  a  legal  corpora, 
tion  March  3d,  1876.  On  the  7th  of  October  of  that  year  the  cemetery 
was  appropriately  dedicated,  nearly  all  the  clergy  in  the  city  partici- 
pating.    The  fir,st  interment  was  made  soon  after. 

The  original  area  of  the  Wood  farm  of  60  acres  was  diminished 
by  locating  the  new  vSouth  Meriden  road  through  the  western  part, 
"which  cut  off  about  ten  acres,  but  the  cemetery  was  subsequently  en- 
larged by  adding  about  the  same  number  of  acres  to  its  area  on  the 
north  end,  and  in  1889  it  contained  nearly  60  acres,  about  seven  acres 
having  been  highly  improved  for  burial  purposes.  Already  some  fine 
monuments  have  been  erected,  which  add  to  the  natural  beauty  of  the 
cemeter3\  In  1889  the  officers  of  the  association  were:  William  W. 
Lyman,  president;  O.  B.  Arnold,  vice-president;  John  Ives,  secretary 
and  treasurer. 

St.  Patrick's  Cemetery  is  the  property  of  St.  Rose  Parish,  of  Meri- 
■den.     It  has  a  beautiful  and  advantageous  location  on  Wall  street,  and 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  573 

is  finely  improved.  The  blocks  are  16  by  20  feet,  and  are  carefully 
kept.  Chaste  memorials  have  been  erected,  and  it  is  yearly  becoming 
a  more  beautiful  spot.  St.  Patrick's  Cemetery  was  blessed  by  Bishop 
McFarland,  May  8th,  1864.  Previous  Catholic  interments  at  Meriden 
were  made  in  a  small  lot  on  South  Broad  street,  which  was  vacated 
when  the  present  cemetery  was  opened. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


MERIDEN.— BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


Nathaniel  L.  Bradley.— Eli  Butler.— Andrew  J.  Coe.— Levi  E.  Coe.— Lemuel  J.  Curtis. 
—Charles  H.  S.  Davis.— Seth  J.  Hall.— George  E.  Howe.— Emily  J.  Leonard.— Sax- 
ton  B.  Little. — William  W.  Lyman. — Edward  B.  Manning. — Edward  Miller. — 
Samuel  C.  Paddock. — Charles  Parker.— Cephas  B.  Rogers.— John  Sutliff.— John 
Tail.— Henry  K.  White.— Horace  C.  Wilcox.— Grove  H.  Wilson.— Bertrand  L.  Yale. 
— Pei-sonal  Paragraphs. 


N.  L.  Bradley  was  born  in  Cheshire,  Conn.,  December  27th,  1829. 
In  Mr.  Bradley  we  have  a  suggestive  illustration  of  a  successful  man. 
The  strong  qualities  which  lay  at  the  base  of  all  his  development  he 
inherited  largely  from  his  parents.  To  the  faithful  exercise  of  these 
is  to  be  attributed  the  abundant  success  which  he  has  attained.  The 
inheritance  of  character  determines  the  trend  of  a  man's  life,  and  is 
the  prophecy  also  of  its  end.  Mr.  Bradley's  father  and  mother  were 
Levi  and  Abigail  Ann  ( Atwater)  Bradley.  Levi  Bradley  was  a  thrifty 
farmer  and  a  man  of  large  influence  in  his  town,  whose  moral  worth 
made  for  a  wholesome  and  strong  virtue  in  the  community.  In  a  con- 
scientious observance  of  all  his  religious  duties  he  was  most  heartily 
joined  by  the  entire  family  circle.  His  sympathies  were  decidedly 
Christian,  as  evidenced  by  the  liberal  support  he  accorded  to  the 
work  of  religion.  He  found  abundant  time  also  for  the  study  of  his- 
tory, in  which  he  was  much  interested,  even  to  the  close  of  his 
life.  Because  of  such  an  example,  it  would  be  natural  to  expect 
moral  excellence  and  mental  and  physical  soundness  in  t)ie  children. 

N.  L.  Bradley  was  the  youngest  son  among  five  children,  whose 
names  in  order  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Emeline,  wife  of  Alfred  P. 
Curtis,  of  Meriden;  Samuel  A.,  of  Cheshire;  William  L.,  of  Boston; 
Nathaniel  L.,  of  Meriden;  and  Abby  Ann,  wife  of  Walter  Hubbard, 
of  Meriden.  Of  these  only  two  are  at  present  living — William  L. 
and  Nathaniel  L.  Mr.  Bradley  received  his  education  in  the  academy 
at  Meriden.  His  first  principal  was  John  D.  Post,  and  Dexter  R. 
Wright  was  the  last.  At  the  close  of  his  academical  studies  he  became 
a  clerk  with  E.  B.  M.  Hughes,  hardware  merchant,  New  Haven,  Conn., 
for  one  year.  Then,  because  of  the  strong  desire  of  his  parents,  he 
returned  home,  very  much  to  the  regret  of  Mr.  Hughes,  and  devoted 
himself  to  the  work  of  the  farm. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  575 

At  twenty-one  years  of  age  Mr.  Bradley  had,  as  yet,  conceived  no 
other  purpose  in  life  than  that  of  being  a  farmer.  Farming  was  not 
remunerative  and  its  toils  not  satisfying  to  his  ambition.  The  little 
fortune  he  had  accumulated  he  placed  in  a  clock  factory  in  Southing- 
ton,  a  town  about  four  miles  away.  His  compensation  was  §1.25  per 
diem.  It  was  here  that  his  genius  for  work  discovered  itself.  Conse- 
quently he  was  offered  the  contract  for  making  clocks  in  the  factory, 
which  he  readily  accepted.  In  the  event  of  the  great  accumulation  of 
goods,  which  necessitated  the  stopping  of  work,  it  was  proposed  to 
Mr.  Bradley  that  he  visit  New  York.  Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and 
Washington  for  the  purpose  of  selling  the  goods  of  the  company. 
The  success  of  his  venture  was  so  gratif3-ing  to  the  president  that 
other  salesmen  were  dismissed  and  Mr.  Bradley  was  elected  a  director, 
and  also  the  representative  salesman  of  the  company. 

The  yea.T  1852  marked  the  inception  of  the  great  industry  in 
Meriden  with  which  Mr.  Bradley's  name  has  since  been  associated. 
A  joint  stock  company  was  formed  (^Bradley,  Hatch  &  Co.),  with  a 
capital  of  $5,000.  William  L.  Bradley  and  Walter  Hubbard  were 
members  of  the  firm.  So  rapidly  grew  the  business  that  after  two 
years,  in  1854,  more  capital  became  an  imperative  need.  The  Hatch 
brothers  not  having  any  money  for  investment  chose  to  go  out  of 
the  company.  Walter  Hubbard  sold  out  his  dry  goods  business,  and 
with  William  L.  and  Nathaniel  L.  Bradley  organized  the  company, 
under  the  corporation  title  of  Bradley  &  Hubbard.  The  property  of 
the  joint  stock  company  of  Bradley,  Hatch  &  Co.  was  purchased  and 
a  large  business  was  permanently  located  where  the  immense  factory 
plant  now  stands.  The  business  was  conducted  under  a  copartnership 
until  1875,  when  a  joint  stock  company  was  again  formed,  having 
the  name  of  The  Bradley  &  Hubbard  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
has  since  been  so  conducted. 

The  first  factory  consisted  of  a  small  wooden  building  without 
power.  Now  there  is  a  large  group  of  brick  buildings,  the  area  of 
whose  floor  space  is  equal  to  about  seven  acres.  At  first  six  workmen 
were  employed:    now  fully  1,100  operatives  are  enrolled. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  business  Mr.  Bradley  acted  as  manufacturer 
and  salesman.  In  the  course  of  time  salesrooms  were  opened  in  New 
York,  to  the  interest  of  which  Mr.  Hubbard  gave  attention  quite  ex- 
clusively. Offices  and  salesrooms  are  now  established  in  New  York, 
Boston,  Chicago  and  Philadelphia.  Their  products  have  a  ready  and 
large  sale,  not  only  in  the  United  States,  but  in  foreign  countries  as 
well.  The  most  improved  machinery  is  used.  The  closest  attention 
is  given  to  produce  the  best  manner  of  work.  The  highest  style  of 
art  is  made  subservient  to  the  taste  of  the  trade.  Each  succeeding 
year  evidences  the  greatest  possible  skill  in  intelligent  artisanship. 

The  showrooms  of  the  Bradley  &  Hubbard  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany is  one  of  the  beautiful  places  to  which  visitors  to  Meriden  are 


576  HrSTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

taken.  Here  we  have  a  true  exponent  of  the  city's  indu.stry  and  its 
mechanical  ability.  And  it  i.s  a  proof  also  of  the  enterprise  of  Me.ssrs. 
Bradley  and  Hubbard,  and  of  their  efficient  superintendent  and  sec- 
retary, Mr.  C.  F.  Linsley.  Their  manufacture  is  in  the  line  of  chan- 
deliers and  brackets  for  oil,  gas  and  electric  light,  ornamental  lamps, 
bronzes,  stationers'  hardware  and  tables,  andirons  and  fenders,  clocks 
in  ornamental  iron  cases,  taking  the  place  of  French  marble  cases,  and 
a  variety  of  elegant  ware  in  brass  and  bronze  which  is  not  readily 
classified. 

Mr.  Bradley's  life  in  Meriden  covers  the  most  important  period  of 
the  city's  growth,  whose  population  at  the  time  of  his  beginning  busi- 
ness there  was  about  3,000  people.  He  has  been  intimately  identified 
with  the  development  of  its  municipal  interests.  The  demands  of  his 
business,  however,  have  not  permitted  him  to  accept  many  official 
burdens,  although  urged  to  do  so.  At  one  time  he  was  elected  alder- 
man, and  acting  mayor.  He  is  a  director  in  the  First  National  Bank,, 
the  City  Savings  Bank,  Meriden  Fire  Insurance  Company,  Meriden 
Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company,  Meriden  Horse  Railroad  Company 
and  the  Meriden  Publishing  Company.  He  is  also  interested  in  other 
financial  enterprises  in  Meriden.  He  has  been  a  liberal  supporter  of 
every  public  enterprise.  In  politics,  charities  and  the  religious  life  his 
influence  is  strong.  He  is  not  too  busy  to  give  attention  to  the 
improvement  of  his  town  in  its  physical  features.  The  streets,  parks 
and  cemeteries  are  objects  of  his  special  care.  He  is  president  of  the 
Meriden  Park  Company. 

Any  sketch  of  Mr.  Bradley's  life  and  character  would  be  incom- 
plete without  a  reference  to  his  interest  in  religious  enterprises.  He 
gives  freely  and  constantly  to  proper  objects  of  charity;  every  good 
work  has  his  sympathy  and  aid.  He  was  among  the  first  to  liberally 
provide  for  the  work  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  to- 
whose  building  he  subscribed  generously.  -He  has  been  very  closely 
related  to  the  work  of  the  First  Congregational  church,  of  which 
he  is  a  member.  For  nearly  twenty  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  committee  of  the  society,  and  through  all  that  time  has 
earnestly  studied  and  labored  to  build  up  a  harmonious  and  pros- 
perous fellowship. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  1860,  Mr.  Bradley  married  Hattie  £.„ 
daughter  of  Selden  and  Lucy  Hooker  (Hart)  Peck,  of  Kensington,  Conn., 
a  lady  who  encourages  the  good  spirit  of  her  husband  and  cooperates 
in  his  benevolent  and  religious  designs.  One  son  has  been  born  ta 
them,  Clarence  P.  Bradley,  who  is  a  director  in  the  Bradley  &  Hubbard 
Manufacturing  Company. 

The  family  estate  and  residence  are  among  the  richest  and  most 
beautiful  in  Meriden,  on  one  of  the  principal  streets  of  the  city. 

Eli  Butler,  banker,  Meriden,  Conn.,  was  born  July  6th,  1814,  and 
died  May  24th,  1881.      The  ancestry  chart  dates  Jrom  the  days  of 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY.  HTT 

Richard  and  Elizabeth  Butler,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  whose  "will  "  was 
proved  in  1684.  Eli  Butler  was  the  second  son  in  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren born  to  Lemuel  and  Salina  (Merriman)  Butler.  His  boj'hood  was 
spent  on  the  farm,  except  that  in  the  winter,  until  he  was  about  four- 
teen years  of  age,  he  attended  the  district  school.  Beyond  that  age 
his  education  was  obtained  in  earning  a  living  and  in  making  money, 
rather  than  by  the  tuition  of  the  pedagogue.  But  that  form  of  educa- 
tion worked  well  in  his  case,  for  he  was  by  nature  a  master  mind  which 
could  find  "  sermons  in  stones,  books  in  the  running  brooks,  and  good 
in  everything." 

Mr.  Butler  was  not  profuse  in  words,  though  they  were  at  com- 
mand in  abundance  when  he  felt  he  had  anything  to  say  either  in 
committees  or  in  public:  he  was  sometimes  courtly  in  manner,  giving 
an  impression  of  being  a  little  distant  and  yet  free  in  the  presence  of 
his  friends,  and  very  fond  of  their  company,  quiet  in  disposition,  but 
enjoying  the  social  pleasantries  of  his  neighbors:  fond  of  reading  and 
of  games  in  the  parlor.  He  was  a  man  of  indomitable  will,  and  yet 
it  was  not  stubborn,  for  it  was  intelligent.  He  was  able  to  weigh 
matters  on  all  sides,  and  possessed  a  judgment  of  unusual  balance. 
His  discriminations  were  accurate,  and  rarely  were  they  ever  faulty. 
When  in  conference  with  other  men  he  was  able  to  listen  patiently 
to  their  opinions,  and  then  positively,  independently  and  clearly  ex- 
pressing his  own,  to  lead  them  in  the  courses  of  action  which  seemed 
to  him  wisest  and  best. 

These  qualities  made  him  a  born  leader  of  men,  and  they  shone 
conspicuously  in  him,  for  instance,  in  the  erection  of  the  First  Con- 
gregational church  of  Meriden.  That  church,  as  much  as  anything 
else  in  his  city,  stands  as  a  monument  to  him.  It  is  a  magnificent 
granite  edifice  of  costly  workmanship.  He  was  chairman  of  both  the 
building  and  finance  committee  from  the  time  the  church  was  com- 
menced until  it  was  completed.  With  him  were  associated  positive 
men  of  diverse  natures,  and  leaders  in  the  life  of  the  city  of  Meriden. 
As  might  be  supposed,  there  was  a  variety  of  opinion  to  get 
along  with,  and  opinion  positively  expressed.  But  Mr.  Butler,  as 
chairman  of  the  two  efficient  committees,  kept  all  forces  working 
in  harmony  from  first  to  last,  and  the  noble  temple  stands  forth  as 
the  magnificent  ecclesiastico-architectural  ornament  of  the  city  of 
Meriden. 

It  is  an  interesting  commentary  on  his  ability  as  a  leader  of  men 
that  he  voluntarily  yielded  up.  in  the  last  few  years  of  his  life,  the 
final  decision  on  many  questions,  to  some  trusted  friends,  giving  as 
his  reason  that  his  convictions  of  the  proper  course  to  pursue  were 
not  so  clear  as  they  had  been  all  his  life.  He  had  the  uncommon 
sense  to  perceive  a  certain  slight  cloudiness  of  conviction  coming  over 
him,  and  the  still  more  uncommon  sense  to  declare  that  he  would  lead 
only  when  he  knew  he  was  right  beyond  any  question  in  his  own 
36 


678  HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN  COUNTY. 

mind.     Clear  sight  and  clear  conviction  had  always  been  conspicuous 
traits  in  him. 

Like  many  prosperous  Meriden  men,  Mr.  Butler  began  his  busi- 
ness career  by  selling  goods  in  the  West  and  South  from  a  peddler's 
wagon.  He  afterward  opened  a  dry  goods  store  in  Radfordsville, 
Alabama,  a  town  about  twenty  miles  from  Selma.  There  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  generous  fortune.  In  1853  he  returned  to  Meriden 
and  invested  considerable  of  his  property  in  the  best  paying  home 
interests. 

His  business  connections  in  Meriden  were  widely  ramified.  He 
was  founder,  director,  stockholder  or  capitalist  of  many  of  the  princi- 
pal business  concerns  of  his  city.  Besides  being  chief  executive 
officer  in  the  Home  Bank,  he  had  been  for  years  a  director  of  the 
Hartford  &  New  Haven  Railroad  Company,  and  continued  to  be  a 
stockholder  when  it  was  merged  in  the  Consolidated  Railroad  Com- 
pany. He  was  director  of  the  Meriden  Cutlery  Company,  director  of 
Pratt,  Reed  &  Co.;  also  of  E.  Miller  &  Co.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
and  president  of  the  Meriden  Gas  Light  Company;  also  president  of 
the  Meriden  Fire  Insurance  Company.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
and  the  president  of  the  Walnut  Grove  Cemetery  Association;  also  of 
the  Butler  &  Lyman  Land  Company.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Meriden  Malleable  Iron  Company,  and  of  the  Meriden  Glass 
Works,  and  also  of  the  Wilcox  &  White  Organ  Company,  and  besides 
a  director  of  the  Stanley  Works,  New  Britain. 

But  Mr.  Butler's  name  is  most  naturally  associated  with  the  Home 
Bank  of  Meriden,  one  of  the  chief  business  centers  of  the  city.  The 
bank  was  organized  in  1855,  Mr.  Butler  being  the  youngest  director. 
One  year  later  only  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  bank,  taking  pre- 
cedence of  older  directors,  and  held  the  office  until  he  died.  It  is  not 
a  little  to  his  praise  that  when  the  business  devastation  of  1857  lay 
upon  the  country,  and  nearly  every  bank  was  closed,  the  Home  Bank, 
under  his  guidance,  was  one  of  the  very  few  which  always  kept  open 
doors. 

Mr.  Butler  was  originally  a  whig,  but  at  the  campaign  of  Fremont 
and  Buchanan  came  out  a  republican,  and  remained  an  ardent  sup- 
porter of  his  party  until  the  last.  He  declined  various  local  political 
honors  which  his  party  wanted  to  thrust  upon  him,  such  as  representa- 
tive to  the  general  assembly  and  mayor  of  the  city  of  Meriden.  He 
consented  to  be  made  alderman  and  councilman  for  a  few  years,  and 
was  one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  city  government.  He  was 
especially  interested  in  three  great  departments  of  town  and  city 
affairs — the  schools,  the  streets  and  the  water  service — for  he  thought 
that  such  matters  as  those  determined  the  quality  of  the  city  and  its 
excellence  of  standing  among  the  cities  of  the  land. 

Mr.  Butler  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Juliette 
Ives,  a  Meriden  lady,  and  connected  with  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 


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HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 


579 


honorable  families.  Four  children  were  born  to  them,  two  .sons  and 
two  daughters;  the  daughters  were:  Mary  South,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, September  27th,  1843;  and  Ro.se  Salina,  who  died  when  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  March  IHth,  1866.  The  eldest  .son,  Edwin  Howell, 
who.se  patriotism  made  him  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  now  lives  in 
Kensington,  and  William  O.  resides  in  a  spacious  house,  the  gift  of 
his  father,  and  located  quite  near  the  homestead  residence.  Mrs. 
Butler  died  March  1st,  1855.  The  second  wife  was  Miss  Rachel 
Crampton,  eldest  daughter  of  William  and  Esther  Crampton,  of  Farm- 
ington.  Conn.  Mr.  Butler  was  married  to  her  October  6th,  1858.  She 
was  a  member  of  a  much  respected  and  long  settled  family  of  Farm- 
ington,  and  has  been  distinguished  and  beloved  in  Meriden  for  her 
many  Christian  works  and  virtues.  Herself  and  husband  found  a 
delightful  companion.ship  in  each  other  for  23  years,  and  their  home 
was  a  mo.st  pleasant  meeting  place  for  all  their  friends. 

Mr.  Butler  was  a  Congregationalist,  and  by  the  unanimous  and 
hearty  voice  of  the  First  Congregational  church  of  Meriden  held  the 
office  of  deacon  for  many  years.  He  was  a  warm  supporter  of  his 
church,  always  present  at  its  meetings  and  generous  in  his  contribu- 
tions to  its  various  objects  of  benevolence.  The  poor  always  found  in 
him  a  friend  and  helper. 

At  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Butler  a  large  concourse  of  prominent  citi- 
zens gathered  at  his  late  residence,  and  his  former  pastor,  Reverend 
T.  M.  Miles,  of  Lawrence,  Mass.,  conducted  the  services.  He  reminded 
the  many  business  comrades  present  that  the  strong  staff  again.st 
which  they  had  heavily  leaned  was  broken,  and  voiced  the  general 
estimate  of  the  man  by  the  choice  of  the  Scripture  text  for  the  occa- 
sion, the  words  of  David  concerning  Abner,  H.  Sam.  3:38:  "  Know  ye 
not  that  there  is  a  prince  and  a  great  man  fallen  this  day  in  Israel." 
Andrew  J.  Coe  was  born  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  September  15th,  1834. 
The  name  Coe  is  a  common  one  in  some  of  the  eastern  counties  of 
England,  and  it  is  a  noteworthy  circumstance  that  in  that  country,  as 
in  this,  it  has  given  the  name  to  various  fruits  originated  by  members 
of  the  family.  Robert  Coe,  with  his  wife,  Anna,  and  their  three  sons, 
came  from  Suffolk  county,  England,  sailing  April  10th,  1634,  and 
reaching  Boston  in  the  following  June.  They  settled  in  Watertown, 
near  Boston,  and  Mr.  Coe  was  made  a  freeman  September  3d,  1634. 
The  sons  and  grandsons  in  one  of  the  lines  of  descent  were  Robert, 
2d,  John  and  Joseph,  covering  in  all  four  generations.  Joseph,  in  the 
fou'-th  generation,  married  Abigail  Robinson,  and  lived  in  Durham, 
Conn.  To  them  were  born  five  children,  and  Joseph,  their  eldest, 
born  September  5th,  1713,  married  Abigail  Curtis  in  1739.  They  had 
ten  children,  and  Joseph,  the  sixth  in  order,  born  May  31st,  1753, 
married  Elizabeth  Cornwell,  and  lived  in  Middlefield,  Conn.  Ten 
children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  the  eighth  was  Calvin  Coe,  born 
April  11th,  1794.     Calvin  Coe  was  the  father  of  Andrew  J.,  the  sub- 


680  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ject  of  this  sketch.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Harriet  Rice. 
Calvin  Coe  purchased  land  in  the  town  of  Meriden,  Conn.,  and  settled 
there.  Calvin  and  Harriet  (Rice)  Coe  were  married  January  31st, 
1820,  and  brought  up  a  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  eight  sur- 
vive.    Andrew  J.  was  the  si.xth  in  order  of  birth. 

The  families  of  both  father  and  mother  were  remarkable  for  lon- 
gevity, five  of  the  father's  family  having  reached  an  average  age  of 
about  92  years;  and  the  mother's  father  having  died  at  the  age  of  87. 
and  her  mother  at  nearly  97.  Andrew  J.'s  father  died  in  December, 
1886,  aged  nearly  93  years,  after  a  married  life  of  nearly  67  years,  and 
his  mother,  born  in  May,  1800,  still  survives. 

Calvin  Coe  was  an  enterprising  farmer,  alert  to  adopt  new  methods 
and  appliances,  to  procure  improved  breeds'  of  animals,  and  to  try 
every  promising  variety  of  fruit  or  other  farm  product.  The  first  of 
any  improved  breed  of  cattle  brought  to  the  state  were  Devons,  which 
he  and  Mr.  Hurlbut,  of  Winchester,  bought  from  the  importers. 
Messrs.  Coe  and  Hurlbut  went  to  Baltimore  for  the  purpose  of  get- 
ting the  new  breed.  The  respect  shown  him  by  his  fellow-townsmen 
may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  he  served  many  years  as  first 
selectman  of  the  town. 

Harriet  Rice  Coe,  the  mother  of  Andrew  J.,  is  still  living,  and 
though  lamed  by  paralysis  on  one  side,  is  able  to  walk  and  ride  out. 
Her  memory  is  somewhat  impaired,  but  though  more  than  90  years  of 
age,  she  is  still  a  cyclopedia  of  information  upon  historical  subjects, 
sacred  and  profane,  and  upon  all  matters  of  local  or  family  history. 
She  is  also  a  most  competent  adviser  in  practical  affairs,  and  is  still 
able  to  fortify  her  opinions  by  very  apt  quotations  from  vScripture, 
poetry  or  other  literature,  with  which  her  mind  is  richly  stored.  She 
is  still  an  infallible  speller. 

The  Rice  family  were  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  in  Meriden, 
and  her  father,  Hezekiah  Rice,  was  a  thorough  representative  of  that 
early  type  of  which  Lecky  says,  "  It  is  probable  that  no  nation  ever 
started  on  its  career  with  a  larger  proportion  of  strong  characters  or  a 
higher  level  of  moral  conviction  than  the  English  colonies  in  Amer- 
ica." Mrs.  Coe's  mother,  Lydia  Stow  Rice,  was  a  philosophic  and  in- 
dependent reasoner  upon  all  subjects,  and  had  the  intellectual  gifts 
which  characterized  the  Stow  family.  Early  education  coinciding 
with  the  natural  bent  of  her  mind,  she  had  to  a  remarkable  degree 
the  habit  of  viewing  all  questions  on  both  sides  in  the  light  of  pure 
reason,  uninfluenced  by  prejudice,  feeling  or  interest.  Her  brother, 
Joshua  Stow,  commenced  an  address  at  their  mother's  grave  by  say- 
ing, "  Here  lies  the  best  of  mothers.  She  taught  us  not  so  much 
what  to  think  as  how  to  think."  This  same  brother,  Joshua  Stow,  was 
a  member  of  the  Connecticut  constitutional  convention  of  1818,  and 
was  the  author  of  the  article  in  the  constitution  securing  complete 
religious  freedom  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  state,  thus  giving  Con- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  581 

necticiit  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  of  the  states  to  provide  that 
religious  opinions  "  shall  be  forever  free  to  all  persons."  He  was  also 
the  leader  of  the  first  party  of  .settlers  to  the  Western  Re.serve,  or  New 
Connecticut,  of  Ohio,  overcoming  many  obstacles,  among  which  was 
the  refusal  of  the  commandant  of  Fort  Stanwix('the  frontier  post,  now 
Rome,  N.  Y.)  to  let  them  pass.  The  commandant  feared  they  would 
make  trouble  with  the  Indians;  but  Mr.  Stow  met  the  chiefs  at  Buffalo 
and  secured  their  permission  and  friendship.  Another  brother,  Silas 
Stow,  presided  over  the  first  constitutional  convention  of  New  York, 
and  his  son,  Horatio  Stow,  over  the  second  constitutional  convention 
of  that  state. 

In  the  girlhood  days  of  Mrs.  Harriet  Rice  Coe,  young  girls  were 
expected  to  be  useful,  and  she  has  now  a  pair  of  fine  linen  sheets,  the 
linen  of  which  was  spun  by  herself  when  she  was  nine  years  old.  But 
such  labors,  though  they  may  have  left  less  time  for  frivolous  amuse- 
ment, did  not  apparently  interfere  with  the  acquisition  of  knowledge 
and  social  cultivation.  In  her  youth  she  was  said  to  be,  by  a  compe- 
tent observer,  "  company  for  young  or  old."  While  she  acquired  the 
manners  that  belonged  to  the  old  school,  of  dignity  and  repose,  she 
was  at  the  same  time  ready  in  conversation  and  a  good  listener.  The 
foundations  of  character  and  womanhood  must  have  been  solidly  laid 
in  early  years,  for  the  woman  who  fulfilled,  as  well  as  she  did,  the 
duties  incident  to  rearing  a  family  of  nine  children,  besides  managing 
the  household  on  a  large  farm,  could  give  little  time  to  anything  else. 

Andrew  J.  Coe's  early  education  was  received  in  the  district  school 
in  Meriden,  and  in  the  academy  located  where  now  the  Meriden  Cor- 
ner school  stands.  That  academy  was  taught  by  the  life-long  friend 
of  Mr.  Coe,  Henry  D.  Smith,  of  Plantsville.  Mr.  Coe  has  always  cher- 
ished profound  esteem,  in  common  with  the  general  public,  for  his 
academic  instructor.  Full  preparation  for  college  was  made  in  a  pri- 
vate school  in  Middletown,  and  in  the  year  1851  he  entered  Wesleyan 
University,  and  graduated  in  1855. 

Upon  graduating  from  the  university,  he  went  to  the  study  of  law 
in  a  lawyer's  office  in  Central  Iowa.  But  in  the  new  country  malarial 
fever  was  prevalent,  and  he  was  soon  prostrated  by  it.  He  returned 
to  Meriden,  when  he  had  sufficiently  recovered,  and  pursued  the  study 
of  law  in  the  office  of  D.  R.  Wright.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1858.  In  1800  he  was  elected  on  the  republican  ticket  to  the  state 
legislature,  to  represent  his  own  town,  and  in  that  legislature  served 
on  the  judiciary  committee.  At  the  close  of  1860  he  removed  to  Chi- 
cago. But  malarial  fever  again  obliged  him  to  return  to  New  Eng- 
land. Upon  recovery  he  went  to  New  York,  and  for  three  years  prac- 
ticed law  in  partnership  with  Wesley  Gleason,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Gleason  &  Coe. 

But  repeated  attacks  of  illness  of  a  malarial  type,  his  system  having 
become  saturated  with  the  malarial  poison. compelled  him  to  abandon 


582  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

indoor  occupation,  and  hence  at  this  period  he  came  again  to  the  old 
homestead  and  engaged  in  fruit  culture  and  farming. 

In  the  year  1867  he  again  represented  Meriden  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture. At  this  session  he  was  made  chairman  of  the  finance  committee, 
the  committee  on  contested  elections,  and  by  request  of  parties  in  in- 
terest of  the  committee,  to  adjust  the  court  house  contest  between 
Danbury  and  Bridgeport.  He  was  also  made  chairman  of  the  special 
committee  appointed  in  that  year  to  examine  the  accounts  of  the 
state  treasurer,  the  other  members  being  Henry  Keeney,  Alfred  E. 
Burr  and  Robert  Buell,  all  of  Hartford. 

At  that  legislature  the  city  charter  of  Meriden  was  granted,  and 
by  unanimous  nomination  of  the  citizens  of  Meriden  of  both  parties, 
Mr.  Coe  was  appointed  the  first  judge  of  the  city  court.  This  office 
he  resigned  in  1869,  to  engage  in  the  fertilizer  business  with  the 
Bradley  Fertilizer  Company,  of  Boston.  He  assumed  charge  of  the 
Southern  department  of  the  business,  making  Charleston,  S.  C,  his 
headquarters.  He  remained  sixteen  years  actively  engaged  in  that 
business.  He  was  also  one  of  the  parties  to  found  the  Cleveland 
Dryer  Company,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  manufacturers  of  fertilizers. 

Mr.  Coe  several  years  ago  relinquished  all  active  interest  in  manu- 
facturing fertilizers,  and  has  since  resided  upon  the  homestead  farm, 
employing  from  15  to  20  farm  hands.  It  has  been  his  ambition  to 
apply  the  teachings  of  science  in  agriculture  to  every  department  of 
farm  work,  and  for  this  purpose,  as  well  as  for  the  wider  duties  of 
society  and  citizenship,  he  has  made  himself  a  thorough  student  and 
practitioner  of  the  findings  of  scholarship  and  experiment.  Many  of 
the  best  books  of  science,  of  travel,  of  scholarly  investigation,  and 
also  the  best  periodical  literature,  are  found  in  his  library  and  on  his 
tables.  He  is  much  interested  in  education,  especially  in  the  common 
schools,  for  the  sake  especially  of  those  whose  only  school  advantages 
are  had  in  them.  He  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  press  of  the 
day,  writing  articles  on  agricultural  and  educational  topics,  and  dis- 
cussing economic  and  scientific  questions.  Occasionally  he  appears 
on  the  lecture  platform.  In  politics  he  was  a  republican,  but  since 
the  tariff  question  has  been  the  chief  party  issue,  he  has  held  an  in- 
dependent position;  believing  in  the  teachings  of  economic  and  moral 
science,  he  is  a  free  trader.  He  maintains  a  wide  circle  of  acquaint- 
ance with  the  best  minds,  and  has  many  friends  among  the  best  in- 
formed of  the  people.  The  choice  gift  of  a  ready  memory  makes  him 
an  interesting  conversationalist,  and  both  from  books  and  from 
society  his  mind  is  stored  with  many-sided  knowledge. 

The  Coe  residence  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  imposing  in  the 
suburbs  of  Meriden.  It  is  built  on  rising  ground,  and  is  therefore 
conspicuous  from  its  location,  as  well  as  its  proportions.  And  many 
portions  of  the  farm  are  visible  from  its  windows.  It  is  built  of  brown- 
stone,  quarried  and  faced  on  the  farm,  and  the  inside  finish  is  of  but- 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  583 

ternut  and  other  woods,  also  the  product  of  the  farm.  In  this  home 
an  hour  spent  with  Mr.  Coe  is  made  very  enjoyable  by  the  courtesies 
of  the  occasion  and  by  the  intelligent  drift  of  the  conversation. 

Levi  E.  Coe  was  born  in  Middlefield,  Middlesex  county.  Conn., 
June  6th,  1828.  Five  years  later  than  this  date  a  little  boy  might  have 
been  noticed  trudging  along  the  highway  and  across  the  fields  from 
his  father's  house  to  the  district  school  of  Middlefield,  more  than  a 
mile  distant.  And  only  a  few  years  later  a  "forte"  for  the  last  of 
the  three  "  R's"  of  old-time  designation  was  noticed  in  him.  He  took 
to  mathematics  as  to  a  natural  element,  and  while  yet  a  mere  boy 
would  tackle  and  master  problems  in  arithmetic  which  were  far  be- 
yond his  years.  If  the  solution  should  elude  his  easy  grasp,  he  would 
pursue  it  with  intense  eagerness,  nor  rest  in  his  search  until  the  shy 
fugitive  was  fully  within  his  grasp.  From  the  common  arithmetic  he 
advanced  quickly  to  algebra  and  geometry. 

This  mathematical  boy  was  Levi  Elmore  Coe,  the  fourth  child  and 
third  son  of  Levi  and  Sarah  Ward  Coe,  of  Middlefield.  Levi  E.  is  the 
eighth  generation  of  the  Coe  family  in  this  country.  The  name  has 
an  honorable  place  in  history,  so  early  as  the  persecutions  of  Queen 
Mary  of  England,  in  1555.  Then  Roger  Coe,  of  Milford,  vSuffolkshire, 
suffered  martyrdom  ;  and  Fox,  the  great  historian  of  the  martyrs  of 
that  period,  gives  a  full  account  of  the  trial. 

From  the  Coe  family,  so  distinguished  for  religious  conviction  as 
to  have  a  martyr  record,  descended  the  first  Coe  emigrant  to  this  new 
world.  In  1634,  April  lOth,  in  the  ship  "Francis,"  John  Cutting,  mas- 
ter, Robert  Coe,  born  in  Suffolkshire,  England,  in  1596,  and  Anna, 
his  wife,  born  in  1591,  with  their  three  sons,  sailed  from  Ipswich. 
The  Massachusetts  colony  had  been  founded  only  six  years,  and  in 
June,  1634,  the  ship  "  Francis  "  gave  up  her  load  to  increase  the  col- 
ony. Robert  Coe  settled  in  Watertown,  near  Boston,  and  in  Septem- 
ber of  that  year  was  made  a  freeman  of  the  colony. 

But  stress  of  circumstance  soon  made  a  wider  dispersion  of  the 
Massachusetts  freemen  desirable,  and  the  council  granted  permission 
to  certain  citizens  to  remove  their  residence,  and  found  new  centers  of 
population  along  the  Connecticut.  Families  from  Watertown,  New- 
town and  Dorchester  took  their  march  westward,  and  the  Watertown 
people,  among  whom  was  Robert  Coe,  settled  in  Wethersfield.  But 
Robert  did  not  remain  there  long.  In  1640  he  and  a  fellow-townsman 
purchased  for  themselves  and  about  twenty  other  planters  Rippo- 
wams,  now  Stamford,  of  the  New  Haven  colony,  for  /^33,  and  com- 
menced a  settlement  there.  Three  years  later  a  new  court  was 
established  for  the  new  settlement,  and  Robert  Coe  was  made  assist- 
ant judge. 

The  three  sons  of  Robert  Coe  bore  respectively  the  names  of  John. 
Robert  and  Benjamin,  and  in  the  line  of  descent  from  the  second  son, 
Robert,  there  were  in  successive  generations,  John,  of  Stratford,  Conn., 


584  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

who  married  Mary  Hawley ;  Joseph,  David,  Eli,  Levi  and  Levi 
Elmore. 

Joseph,  representing  the  fourth  generation  in  this  line  of  descent, 
married  Abigail  Robinson  and  settled  in  Durham,  Conn.;  and  one  of 
his  sons,  David  Coe,  who  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Nathan  Camp, 
of  Durham,  took  up  his  residence  in  Middlefield,  on  the  spot  where 
since,  his  son  Eli  (Squire  Coe)  built  the  house  in  which  he  afterward 
lived  and  died.     His  wife  was  Rachel  Miller. 

Colonel  Levi  Coe,  son  of  Eli  and  father  of  Levi  Elmore,  was  born 
July  nth,  1788,  and  married  Sarah  Ward,  a  descendant  of  the  Wards 
and  Millers,  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Middletown,  Conn. 
He  won  his  title  of  colonel  by  his  efficiency  in  the  state  militia.  His 
farm  was  located  in  the  western  part  of  Middlefield,  and  his  pride  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  was  equaled  only  by  his  pride  as  a  militia 
man.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  all  town  and  church  affairs,  and 
bore  an  enviable  reputation  in  the  community.  In  politics  he  was 
a  whig  until  the  republican  party  succeeded  to  its  fame,  and  with  that 
party  he  continued  until  he  died. 

The  two  older  sons  of  Colonel  Levi  Coe,  Benjamin  W.  and  Alvin 
B.,  were  men  of  sound  judgment,  whose  word  had  all  the  binding 
force  of  a  written  obligation  upon  their  consciences.  They  both 
represented  their  town  in  the  Connecticut  legislature,  and  held  other 
important  offices.  The  sister,  Aurelia,  married  Ichabod  Miller,  of 
Middlefield. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Levi  E.,  having  in  his  boyhood  days 
formed  a  fancy  for  fine  stock,  continued  his  interest  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  connected  himself  with  the  Farmers'  Club,  the  Poultry 
Association,  and  was  secretary  of  the  Merideu  Agricultural  Society, 
and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  State  Agricultural  So- 
ciety. Like  most  New  England  farmers'  boys,  he  has  been  mainly 
dependent  upon  his  own  resources. 

When  Levi  E.  became  old  enough  to  work  on  the  farm,  his  sum- 
mers were  spent  in  farm  work,  and  in  the  winter  he  went  to  school. 
No  days  were  so  stormy  as  to  prevent  him  from  being  promptly  pres- 
ent at  school.  Indeed,  he  regarded  the  stormy  days  as  the  most  val- 
uable of  all  days  in  school  life,  for  then  only  a  few  would  be  in 
attendance,  and  the  teacher  would  devote  all  the  time  to  the  few.  In 
this  keen  appreciation  of  advantages  lay  some  of  the  secret  of  his 
success  in  study  and  in  life.  The  mathematical  turn  of  mind,  which 
was  a  gift  of  nature  to  him,  enabled  him  to  appreciate  and  estimate 
values,  and  was  developed  into  a  commercial  habit  for  the  sake  of 
gain.  In  boyhood  he  frequently  exchanged  a  boy's  pocket  possessions 
for  those  of  other  boys.  His  father  fostered  it  .still  more  in  the  gift 
of  sheep,  upon  the  profits  of  which  he  was  to  trade,  and  then  also  as  a 
producer  of  values  he  picked  up  walnuts  under  his  grandmother's 
trees,  placing  the  proceeds  in  the  savings  bank,  little  thinking  that  in 


f 


II 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  586 

after  years  he  would  fill  the  chief  offices  of  a  great  banking  institution 
for  the  savings  of  the  people. 

His  education  was  continued  in  academies  in  Middletown  and 
Durham  and  Meriden.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began  teaching 
school  in  Middlefield,  Conn.,  boarding  around,  building  his  own  fires 
and  sweeping  the  school  room,  at  a  stipend  of  twelve  dollars  a  month. 
But  he  soon  rose  to  a  wider  field  and  a  larger  income.  He  followed 
teaching  in  Middlefield  and  Meriden  for  seven  years,  till  1853. 

On  Thanksgiving  Day  of  1851  he  married  Sophia  Fidelia  Hall, 
daughter  of  Harley  and  Martha  Cone  Hall,  of  Middlefield.  Harley 
Hall  was  the  son  of  Comfort,  who  was  the  son  of  Ephraim,  who  was 
the  son  of  Joseph,  who  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  who  was  the  son  of 
John,  born  in  England  in  1605.  This  ancestor,  John  Hall,  came  to 
Boston  in  1633,  and  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Wallingford, 
Conn.,  in  1669. 

Mrs.  Sophia  Hall  Coe  was  born  April  6th,  1829.  Levi  E.  purchased 
the  Doctor  Woodruff  property  on  Broad  street,  Meriden,  in  1852,  and 
built  a  house  there,  and  in  the  fall  of  1853  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coe  moved 
into  their  new  home.  Two  sons  have  been  born  into  their  family, 
but  both  of  them  died  young. 

When  Mr.  Coe  was  yet  only  25  or  26  years  of  age,  he  \vas  entrusted 
with  the  settlement  of  estates.  So  wisely  were  they  managed  that 
thus  early  he  acquired  a  marked  reputation  for  handling  such  trusts. 
During  all  of  the  succeeding  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  ablest  and 
most  exact  appraisers  of  property  in  Meriden.  He  has  been  an  ex- 
tensive dealer  m  real  estate,  buying  and  selling  for  himself  and  not  on 
commissions  for  another.  He  has  owned  property  on  more  than  fifty 
of  the  streets  of  Meriden. 

In  July  of  1854  he  was  cho.sen  treasurer  of  the  Meriden  Savings 
Bank,  and  he  has  been  connected  with  the  bank  ever  since,  either  as 
treasurer,  director  or  president.  At  the  first  the  a.ssets  of  the  bank 
were  only  $25,000,  but  he  has  seen  them  increase  in  amount  until  now 
they  are  more  than  two  and  one  half  millions.  He  is  now  its 
president,  and  it  is  a  fact  worthy  of  mention  that  the  bank  has  never 
lost  so  much  as  a  dollar  by  loans  on  personal,  collateral  or  real  estate 
security  under  his  .supervision. 

His  political  affiliations  have  been  republican.  He  has  served  on 
the  state  central  committee,  and  has  been  constantly  sought  out  by 
his  political  confreres  for  counsel  and  leadership.  In  1867  he  was 
appointed  clerk  of  the  city  court  of  Meriden,  having  already  been 
trial  justice  for  a  number  of  years;  and  in  the  years  1871-2,  by  appoint- 
ment of  the  general  assembly,  he  was  judge  of  the  city  court.  In  1877 
he  was  again  elected  judge,  and  by  successive  reappointments  has 
held  the  office  until  the  present  time.  Of  other  positions  of  trust 
which  he  has  held  may  be  named,  town  clerk,  judge  of  probate, 
water  commissioner,  treasurer  of  Meriden   Park  Company,  director 


686  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN  COUNTY. 

of  Meriden  National  Bank,  member  of  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
and  trustee  'for  town  site  entries  in  Oklahoma  City.  He  is  one 
of  the  incorporators  of  the  Curtis  Home  and  of  the  Meriden  Hospital, 
and  is  identified  with  several  manufacturing  and  social  organizations 
of  the  city  of  Meriden.  He  is  also  a  past  master  of  Meridian  Lodge, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  eminent  commander  of  St.  Elmo  Commandery,  K.  T.,  and 
representative  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  vSouth  Dakota,  near  the 
Grand  Commandery  of  Connecticut. 

As  a  boy  he  was  very  fond  of  in-door  amusements  as  well  as  out 
door  recreations.     He  has  made  a  study  of  checkers,  chess  and  whist. 
In  the  first  and  last  of  these  he  is  an  expert.     He  has  the  opinion  that 
whist  is  the  "  king  of  all  games,"  when  played  by  four  persons  skilled 
in  the  science  of  the  game. 

By  precept  and  example,  Judge  Coe  has  been  a  steady  witness  in 
favor  of  the  sterling  virtues  or  graces  of  economy,  punctuality,  tem- 
perance, cheerfulness,  regularity  of  habits,  contentment  and  conscien- 
tious discharge  of  duty.  He  is  firm  in  his  convictions  upon  all  mat- 
ters, whether  religious,  moral,  social  or  political.  He  is  frank  and 
outspoken  in  his  opinions,  whether  or  not  they  accord  with  those  of 
his  associates,  and  yet  he  is  kindly  tolerant  of  the  views  of  others. 
He  is  conservative  and  independent  in  his  actions,  so  that  he  is  not 
always  a  follower  of  popular  fashions  and  reform  notions  which  mag- 
nify one  virtue  at  the  expense  of  others.  Of  the  many  cases  which 
have  come  before  his  court  during  the  seventeen  years  of  his  judge- 
ship, he  has  never  been  charged  with  giving  a  decision  to  favor  one 
or  punish  another  on  any  ground  of  favoritism  or  prejudice. 

Judge  Coe  was  brought  up  a  Congregationalist  and  Mrs.  Coe  a 
Methodist,  but  after  removing  to  Meriden  they  both  became  Episco- 
palians. He  has  been  a  liberal  contributor  to  St.  Andrew's  church,  of 
which  he  has  been  for  many  years  a  vestryman. 

Lemuel  Johnson  Curtis  was  born  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  January 
15th,  1814,  and  died  January  10th,  1888.  There  is  an  old  book  in  the 
Curtis  home,  on  Curtis  street,  Meriden — a  book  now  prized  above 
every  other  in  that  home,  not  only  for  its  heavenly  wisdom,  but  its 
tender  and  long-continued  associations.  It  was  a  present  to  Lemuel 
J.  Curtis  when  himself  and  wife  began  their  married  life  in  Walling- 
ford,  hardly  a  year  after  their  marriage.  The  tenderness  and  sacred- 
ness  of  the  memories  living  now  about  that  old  Bible  spring  chiefly 
out  of  two  facts  :  First,  it  was  the  gift  of  his  father  to  him  in  1836; 
and,  second,  out  of  that  old  Bible  Mr.  Curtis  read  for  family  worship 
morning  and  evening,  until  the  day  of  death  came,  when,  in  place  of 
the  u.sual  vScripture  lesson,  his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Robert  S.  Morris, 
of  Hamilton,  Ontario,  played  and  sang  a  sweet  Christian  hymn.  That 
old  book  says,  "  The  good-man  is  not  at  home,  he  is  gone  a  long  jour- 
ney." But  though  "gone  a  long  journey,"  and  never  to  return  again, 
Mr.  Curtis  lives  in  Meriden,  in  the  grateful  esteem  and  love  of  its 
people. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  58T 

Mr.  Curtis,  during  his  young  manhood,  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents,  the  old  residence  being  only  a  few  rods  from  the  new- 
house  where  his  last  days  were  spent.  Nothing  particularly  note- 
worthy happened  in  his  life  until  his  marriage  occurred,  with  Miss 
Bedotha  P.  Button.  Then  began  to  appear  the  systematic,  prudent 
and  thrifty  course  of  life  which  ended  only  in  a  rounded  fullness  and 
perfectness  represented  by  the  splendid  charity  known  as  "The  Curtis 
Home." 

Lemuel  J.  Curtis  was  a  gentle-natured.  conservative,  industrious, 
frugal,  honest,  religious  man.  All  these  qualities  were  blended  in 
quite  equal  but  large  proportions,  so  that  each  one  was  notably  con- 
spicuous. In  all  business  relations  and  obligations  he  was  exact  to  a 
cent,  and  prompt  as  the  ever  recurring  sun.  Although  in  the  later 
years  of  his  life  he  had  abundant  means  for  a  showy  stj'le,  he  yet 
maintained  much  of  his  early  simplicity  of  tastes,  and  moved  about  in 
business  and  social  circles  in  entirely  unostentatious  manner.  Noth- 
ing was  more  beautiful  in  him  than  his  sensitive  regard  to  other 
people's  feelings.  He  would  not  hurt  them,  and  the  greatest  hurt  ta 
his  own  feelings  would  be  the  hurt  of  another,  if  it  were  supposed 
he  had  been  the  author  of  it.  He  earnestly  strove  so  to  shape  his 
own  conduct  and  life  as  to  give  no  offense  whatever  to  any  one  in 
anything.  And  this  blameless  living  grew,  no  doubt,  in  part  from 
his  deep  love  for  the  welfare  of  other  people.  In  illustration  of  neigh- 
borly love,  it  is  noteworth}'  that  he  aided  in  founding  nearly  all  of 
the  principal  industries  of  Meriden.  His  chief  aim  in  all  these  busi- 
ness ventures  was  not  money-making,  though  the  accumulation  of 
wealth  for  an  object  which  lay  near  his  heart  may  have  held  the 
second  place.  His  chief  aim  was  to  help  other  people  to  help  them- 
selves, and  he  knew  of  no  way  of  doing  this  better  than  to  cooperate 
with  other  capitalists  in  the  founding  of  new  industries  or  in  the  en- 
largement of  those  already  established.  He  also  cherished  a  generous 
pride  in  the  growth  of  his  native  city. 

Mr.  Curtis  regarded  himself  noticeably  as  not  the  selfish  possessor 
of  his  wealth,  but  as  the  steward  holding  funds  in  trust,  and  he  was 
under  obligations  to  administer  those  funds  in  the  ablest,  wisest 
manner,  to  make  those  he  might  help  both  better  and  happier. 

Bedotha  Button  Curtis  was  well  chosen  to  be  his  companion.  There 
was  likeness  of  early  training,  likeness  of  tastes  and  harmony  of 
opinions.  For  many  years  she  kept  the  home  in  order  with  her  own 
hands,  and  in  times  of  gfreat  business  activitv  did  not  shrink  from 
giving  to  the  manufactured  goods  of  the  husband  those  finishing 
touches  which  make  them  attractive  to  the  purchaser.  She  was  born 
June  9th,  1810,  and  though  now  more  than  81  years  of  age  and  con- 
fined to  the  rolling  chair  in  which  she  moves  about  the  house,  she  yet 
delights  in  the  skilful  work  of  the  needle.  The  rooms  of  her  large 
residence  being  thrown  open,  she  can  go  from  part  to  part  of  the 


588  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

house;  and,  as  she  may  choose,  pop  corn  at  the  open  grate  of  the  fire, 
or  entertain  callers  to  the  number  of  thirty-two  per  day,  as  she  did  on 
a  late  birthday. 

Within  a  year  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  moved  to 
Wallingford,  Mr.  Curtis  engaging  in  busine.ss  with  Mr.  Elton,  under 
the  style  of  Curtis  &  Elton.  But  they  soon  returned  to  Meriden 
again,  and  Mr.  Curtis  entered  into  partnership  with  I.  C.  Lewis,  and 
began  the  manufacture  of  Britannia  ware.  This  partnership  con- 
tinued with  his  life-long  friend,  Mr.  Lewis,  only  a  few  years,  and  was 
dissolved  that  he  might  enter  upon  business  for  himself  alone,  or  in 
company  with  his  brother,  Edwin  Curtis.  He  built  a  new  shop  on 
the  street  bearing  his  family  name  and  opposite  his  boyhood  home. 
Again  this  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  on  May  10th,  1852,  he  en- 
tered into  company  with  W.  W.  Lyman  for  the  manufacture  of  hol- 
low ware.  Then,  in  December,  1852,  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company 
was  formed,  and  Mr.  Curtis  was  one  of  the  founders.  Here  the 
ground-work  of  his  large  fortune  was  laid,  and  he  became  able  to 
carry  out  the  secret  purpose  of  his  heart,  to  establish  a  great  charity 
for  "orphan  and  destitute  children  and  aged  women." 

Mr.  Curtis  sprang  from  a  religious  family.  His  father,  Elisha 
Curtis,  was  a  churchman  from  conviction,  and  held  the  office  of  senior 
warden  of  St.  Andrew's  parish  of  Meriden.  His  brother,  Edwin,  fol- 
lowed the  father  in  the  office,  and  gave  proof  of  his  attachment  to  the 
church  in  a  legacy  of  $30,000.  Lemuel  J.  succeeded  his  brother  Edwin 
as  senior  warden,  and  held  the  office  as  long  as  he  lived.  The  inter- 
ests of  the  church  lay  always  very  near  his  heart,  and  in  his  death  the 
parish  of  St.  Andrews  lost  a  great  and  beloved  friend,  whose  memory 
loses  none  of  its  preciousness  as  the  years  go  by,  and  those  who  knew 
him  personally  live. 

The  golden  wedding  of  Mr.  and  Airs.  L.  J.  Curtis  was  observed  on 
the  fiftieth  anniver.sary  of  their  marriage,  Christmas  eve,  1885.  No 
formal  invitations  had  been  issued,  but  instead  a  general  invitation, 
sent  out  through  the  daily  paper,  that  all  who  cared  to  come  would  be 
welcome.  And  the  house  was  filled  with  guests  who  came  in  esteem 
and  love  to  celebrate  the  event.  Some  friends  who  were  present  at 
their  marriage  fifty  years  before  were  present  that  evening,  as  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  I.  C.  Lewis  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  W.  Lyman. 

But  the  good  life  was  drawing  on  to  its  close,  and  sensing  the 
coming  of  the  end  years  before  it  came,  Mr.  Curtis  began  to  carry  out 
his  cherished  purpose  of  charity  to  the  orphan  and  the  aged  woman. 
He  first  whispered  his  purpose  to  his  pastor.  Reverend  Giles  Deshon, 
rector  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  sought  counsel  of  him.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  vestry  at  the  rectory,  and  before  the  project  of  "  The  Curtis 
Home"  had  been  made  public.  Doctor  Deshon  began  the  announce- 
ment in  these  words  :  "  I  shall  never  forget ;  God  has  put  it  into  the 
heart  of  a  dear  brother  to  do  something  for  the  unfortunate."     And 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  589 

then  the  rector  unfolded  the  proposition  of  providing  a  home  foraged 
women  and  orphan  children,  and  said:  "  The  would-be  benefactor" 
(without  mentioning  his  name)  "desired  the  vestry  to  take  charge  of 
the  matter." 

Mr.  Curtis  built  "  The  Curtis  Home,"  which  crowns  the  brow  of 
the  elevated  parcel  of  land  he  had  set  apart  for  the  purpose  in  the 
southern  edge  of  the  city  of  Meriden.  It  "commands  a  view  of  beau- 
tifully diversified  country  to  the  south  and  west.  The  building  is 
built  of  brick,  with  stone  and  terra-cotta  trimmings,  is  heated  with 
steam,  IS  furnished  with  all  the  modern  improvements  and  can  accom- 
modate about  sixty  inmates."  "  The  Curtis  Home  "  was  incorporated 
Marcji  19th,  1885,  and  put  in  charge  of  "a  body  politic,"  consisting  of 
the  "  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  St.  Andrew's  parish  of  Meri- 
den." Mr.  Curtis'  modesty  in  the  matter  was  so  pronounced  that 
when  the  time  came  for  securing  an  act  of  incorporation  from  the 
Connecticut  legislature,  it  was  only  after  urgent  solicitation  that  he 
consented  to  have  his  name  used  in  the  corporate  title  of  the  institu- 
tion. And  with  the  corporate  body  is  associated  a  board  of  managers, 
composed  of  representatives  from  the  different  Christian  churches  of 
the  city  of  Meriden.  His  daughter.  Miss  Celia  J.  Curtis,  was  very  fit- 
tingl}'  elected  president  of  the  board. 

This  wide  representation  is  evidence  of  the  tolerant  spirit  of  the 
generous  founder.  The  corporate  trust  was  put  into  the  hands  of 
churchmen  like  the  donor  himself,  for  who  could  know  better  his 
spirit  and  will,  and  who  could  carry  out  more  effectively  the  condi- 
tions of  the  trust  than  they  ?  At  the  same  time  all  the  Christian 
churches  were  called  in  to  manage  the  great  charity,  as  evincing  that 
the  heart  of  the  donor  embraced  all  the  needy  "orphan  and  destitute 
children  and  aged  women  "  in  its  benevolent  love. 

The  Curtis  Home  very  soon  filled  up  with  those  for  whom  it  was 
erected;  and  while  he  lived  Mr.  Curtis  gave  a  generous  daily  support 
to  it,  and  in  his  will,  made  in  1876,  he  provided  generously,  not  only 
for  its  maintenance  at  its  present  size,  but  for  enlargement  and 
growth. 

In  the  founding  of  this  splendid  charity,  Mr.  Curtis  had  the  hearty 
approval  of  his  wife.  In  his  will  he  made  a  variety  of  legacies  pro- 
viding abundantly  for  his  nearest  kin,  donating  various  sums  to  cer- 
tain good  objects,  and  then  bestowing  his  residuary  estate,  of  more 
than  $400,000,  upon  the  poor,  who,  the  old  Bible,  which  he  had  so 
long  cherished,  declared,  should  be  always  present  in  society.  And 
now  his  memory  is  reaping  the  blessing  which  that  old  book  pro- 
nounced: "  Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the  poor." 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  were  born  two  children:  Celia  J.  Curtis, 
the  loving  companion  of  her  mother,  and  Mrs.  Adelaid  A.  Parker,  who 
died  March  13th,  1869.  A  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Robert  S.  Morris, 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Parker,  lives  in  Hamilton,  Ontario. 


590  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  life  and  labors  and  charity  of  Mr.  Curtis  are  a  perpetual 
benediction  to  Meriden. 

Charles  Henry  Stanley  Davls,  M.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  was  born  in 
Goshen,  Conn.,  March  2d,  1840.  He  is  the  seventh  in  direct  descent 
from  Dolor  Davis,  who  came  from  Kent,  England,  in  1634,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Barnstable,  Mass.  Doctor  Davis'  father  was 
a  physician  who  practiced  his  profession  in  Litchfield  and  Plymouth, 
and  came  to  Meriden  in  1849.  Doctor  Davis  received  his  education  in 
the  public  school?,  and  was  prepared  for  college  under  private  tutors, 
but  owing  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  he  gave  up  the  idea  of 
entering  college  and  went  to  New  York,  and  with  Charles  H.  Thomas, 
a  well  known  Oriental  scholar,  opened  a  book  store,  dealing  principally 
in  philological  works.  In  a  back  room  of  this  book  store  the  Ameri- 
can Philological  vSociety  was  organized,  with  Reverend  Doctor  Nathan 
Brown,  who  translated  the  Bible  into  Assamese,  and  was  afterward 
engaged  in  translating  the  Bible  into  Japanese,  as  president,  and 
Doctor  Davis  as  corresponding  secretary.  Doctor  Davis  soon  sold  out 
his  interest  in  the  book  store  and  began  the  study  of  medicine,  under 
Doctor  William  T.  Baker,  and  entered  the  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical 
School.  After  a  course  at  Bellevue  he  entered  the  medical  department 
of  the  New  York  University,  and  when  he  graduated  received  not 
only  his  diploma,  but  a  certificate  of  honor  signed  by  Doctors  Valen- 
tine  Mott,  John  W.  Draper  and  the  rest  of  the  faculty,  in  testimony  of 
having  passed  one  of  the  best  examinations,  and  having  pursued  a 
fuller  course  of  study  than  is  usually  followed  by  medical  students. 

After  graduating,  Doctor  Davis  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
University  of  Maryland,  and  another  at  the  Harvard  Medical  School. 
In  1865  he  succeeded  his  father  in  business,  and  soon  built  up  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice.  In  1872  he  went  abroad  for  travel  and  study, 
remaining  some  eight  months,  visiting  nearly  all  the  countries  in 
Europe.  More  recently  he  crossed  this  continent  by  way  of  Arizona 
and  New  Mexico,  sailed  up  the  coast  a  thousand  miles,  and  returned 
by  way  of  Puget  Sound  and  the  northern  states.  In  1870,  Doctor  Davis 
published  a  history  of  Wallingford  and  Meriden,  a  work  of  a  thousand 
pages,  and  very  complete  in  the  genealogies  of  old  Wallingford  and 
Meriden  families.  He  has  also  written  "  The  Voice  as  a  Musical  In- 
strument," published  by  Oliver  Ditson  &  Co.,  and  which  has  had  a  very 
large  sale;  a  work  "On  the  Classification  and  Education  of  the  Feeble- 
Minded,  Imbecile  and  Idiotic,"  which  has  become  authority  on  the 
subject.  For  four  years  Doctor  Davis  edited  the  "  Index  to  Periodi- 
cal Literature,"  for  the  American  News  Company,  and  also  edited  the 
first  volume  of  the  "  Boston  Medical  Register."  He  has  contributed 
largely  to  the  medical  and  scientific  press;  many  of  his  articles  on  the 
education  of  feeble-minded  children  were  translated  in  the  Spanish 
language  and  published  in  £/  Repertorio  Medico.  For  over  thirty  years 
Doctor  Davis  has  been  a  diligent  student  of  Oriental  languages  and 


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HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  591 

literature.  He  has  acquired  considerable  knowledge  of  Hebrew,  Ar- 
abic, Assyrian  and  Egyptian,  besides  being  a  good  French  .scholar. 
For  four  years  he  has  edited  Biblia,  a  journal  devoted  to  Oriental 
Archaeology,  and  the  organ  in  this  country  of  the  Egypt  and  Palestine 
Exploration  Funds.  This  journal  is  the  organ  of  Egyptologists  in  this 
country,  and  has  quite  a  large  circulation  in  Europe.  Doctor  Davis  was 
■one  of  the  founders  of  the  Meriden  Scientific  Association,  has  always 
been  director  of  its  section  of  Archccology  and  Ethnology,  from  the 
first  its  recording  and  corresponding  secretary,  a  position  which  is  no 
sinecure,  as  the  association  exchanges  its  transactions  with  over  four 
hundred  American  and  foreign  .societies.  Doctor  Davis  has  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  some  twenty  years,  was  acting  school 
visitor  five  years  and  was  chairman  of  its  board  six  years,  and  has 
been  a  member  of  the  high  school  committee  nine  years,  and  was  for 
some  time  chairman  of  the  committee.  He  is  also  secretary  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  State  Reform  school.  While  never  greatly 
interested  in  politics,  he  has  filled  most  of  the  offices  in  the  gift  of  his 
townsmen.  He  was  sent  to  the  legislature  in  1873,  the  first  demo- 
•cratic  representative  that  Meriden  had  sent  in  twenty  years.  At  this 
session  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  education.  In 
1885  he  served  as  clerk  on  the  same  committee,  and  in  1886  he  served 
on  committees  on  insurance  and  constitutional  amendment.  In  1885  he 
v.'as  nominated  as  judge  of  probate  for  the  Meriden  district,  but  declined 
In  1886  he  received  the  nomination  for  state  senator  for  the 
Sixth  senatorial  district,  but  was  defeated  by  32  votes,  although  in 
Meriden  he  ran  200  ahead  of  the  opposing  candidate.  In  1886  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  the  city  by  a  large  majority,  was  reelected  in  1887, 
and  declined  the  nomination  in  1888.  Doctor  Davis  is  a  member  of 
St.  Elmo  Commandery  of  Knights  Templars,  is  a  32d  degree  Mason, 
and  a  Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine;  an  Odd  Fellow,  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Forest- 
ers, and  some  dozen  other  benevolent  and  protective  orders.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Socictc  d' Anthropologic  oi  Paris,  the  Society  of 
Biblical  Archaeology  of  London,  the  Royal  Archaeological  Institute  of 
Great  Britain,  the  International  Congress  of  Orientalists,  American 
Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  American  Ethnological 
Society,  honorary  member  of  the  Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,  Wiscon- 
sin, Buffalo,  Chicago  and  Minnesota  Historical  Societies,  one  of  the 
honorary  secretaries  for  the  United  States  of  the  Egypt  Exploration 
Fund,  and  is  a  member  of  a  number  of  other  medical,  literary  and 
scientific  societies.  Doctor  Davis  is  at  present  engaged  with  a  well 
known  Egyptologist  in  preparing  for  publication  a  work  entitled 
"  Egypt  and  its  Monuments,  Illustrative  and  Descriptive,"  to  contain 
over  one  thousand  photogravures.  Doctor  Davis"  professional  work 
occupies  his  time  from  twelve  to  fourteen  hours  a  day.  All  of  his 
other  work  is  simply  a  relaxation  from  the  laborious  duties  of  a  busy 
physician. 


592  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Seth  J.  Hall,  a  descendant  of  John  Hall,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  1605,  and  who  died  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  in  1676,  was  born 
in  Middletown,  Westfield  Society,  September  4th,  1829.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  public  and  private  schools.  At  an  early  age  he  began  teach- 
ing, and  for  nine  years  was  a  successful  teacher.  Until  he  was  twenty 
years  old  he  worked  on  a  farm  during  the  summer  vacations,  and  then 
he  came  to  Meriden  and  entered  the  hardware  and  crockery  store  of 
H.  W.  Curtis,  as  bookkeeper  and  salesman,  where  he  remained 
until  1861.  He  then  started  in  the  flour,  grain  and  feed  business,  and 
five  years  later  he  formed  a  partiiership  with  Isaac  C.  and  Jared 
Lewis,  under  the  firm  name  of  I.  C.  Lewis  &  Co.,  which  continued  for 
about  two  years  and  a  half,  when  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and 
since  then  Mr.  Hall  has  conducted  the  business  himself,  adding  coal 
a  few  years  since.  By  strict  attention  to  business  and  honest  dealing 
with  every  one,  Mr.  Hall  has  become  one  of  the  largest  and  most  suc- 
cessful dealers  in  Meriden,  and  his  reputation  in  business  circles  is  of 
the  highest. 

While  he  has  never  sought  office,  he  has  never  refused  when  re- 
quested by  his  fellow-townsmen  to  serve  them.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  selectman  four  years,  chairman  of  the  board  of 
relief  two  terms,  justice  of  the  peace  several  years,  treasurer  and  trus- 
tee of  Meriden  City  Hospital,  treasurer  and  trustee  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  also  serving  on  the  building  committee 
and  board  of  managers.  Mr.  Hall  served  as  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  Middlesex  County  Bank  several  years,  when  he  resigned. 
He  has  been  with  the  Meriden  City  vSavings  Bank  since  its  organiza- 
tion, serving  as  director  and  loaning  committee.  ]\Ir.  Hall  has  been 
identified  with  church  and  educational  matters,  serving  in  various 
capacities.  He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  vState  Reform  School.  In 
1890  he  was  elected  senator  for  the  Sixth  senatorial  district  by  a  large 
majority. 

Mr.  Hall  married  Lois,  daughter  of  Silas  and  Esther  (Buel)  Blakes- 
lee,  of  Wallingford,  and  has  four  children. 

George  E.  Howe  was  born  in  Livonia,  Livingston  county,  N.  Y., 
May  31st,  1825.  At  the  age  of  14  years  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio, 
where  he  received  an  academic  education  at  the  Western  Reserve 
Seminary.  He  commenced  teaching  in  the  common  schools  at  an 
early  age.  Soon  his  teaching  and  executive  ability  were  recognized, 
and  he  was  chosen  principal  of  the  Painesville  Academy,  and  still  later 
was  made  superintendent  of  the  public  or  LTnion  schools  of  Painesville. 
This  position  he  held  six  years. 

In  the  year  1859  a  superintendent  was  needed  for  the  Ohio  Reform 
School,  located  at  Lancaster,  and  Ohio's  honored  governor,  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  saw  in  Mr.  Howe  the  qualifications  for  the  responsible  po.sition^ 
appointed  him  to  it,  and  the  state  senate  confirmed  the  appointment. 
Mr.  Howe  has  always  cherished  reverence  and  fondness  for  the  mem- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  ^OS 

ory  of  his  great  friend  ;  first  of  all  because  of  the  great  virtues  and 
ability  of  Governor  Chase,  and  then  for  the  unfailing  and  hearty  co- 
operation the  governor  rendered  in  the  application  of  the  "  family 
system  "  to  reformatories. 

This  is  an  important  date,  for  in  this  appointment  a  new  era  in  the 
management  of  reformatory  institutions  in  all  the  land  was  ushered 
in.  The  change  is  indicated  by  the  difference  in  signification  of  the 
terms  "  prison  system  "  and  "  family  system."  Hitherto  the  reform 
schools  of  the  country  were  mere  prisons,  where  the  medieval  meth- 
ods of  discipline  were  in  vogue.  They  were  harsh  and  brute-like,  as 
though  animal  force  could  yield  a  harvest  of  virtue.  As  late  as  1872, 
when  Mr.  Howe  visited  the  prisons  of  London,  as  at  Cold  Bath  Fields, 
where  1,600  prisoners  were  confined,  he  found  the  tread-wheel  and 
the  whipping  block  to  be  the  sine  qua  iion  of  penal  and  reformatory  dis- 
cipline. Or,  if  not  these  relics  of  barbarism,  the  exhausting  labor  of 
the  "  Red  Hill "  Reformatory  was  resorted  to,  where  300  boys  were 
made  to  cultivate  30()  acres  of  land  with  the  spade  and  hoe,  no  plows 
being  used.  But  imder  Mr.  Howe's  administration  of  20  years  at 
Lancaster,  the  family  system  was  substituted  for  the  prison  system. 
The  discipline  of  the  institution  at  once  became  comparatively  easy, 
the  morale  was  elevated,  and  so  efficiently  did  the  new  system  work, 
that  the  institution  soon  became  the  pride  of  the  state  as  a  reform- 
atory for  boys  of  vicious  habits  or  stubborn,  incorrigible  natures.  So 
often  the  evil  bent  of  the  boy's  nature  is  due  to  the  imbruted  conditions 
in  which  he  has  been  brought  up,  that  these  cannot  be  changed,  nor 
can  he  be  reformed  in  them,  only  as  he  is  taken  out  of  them,  and  put 
under  a  grovernment  resembling  that  of  the  best  Christian  families. 
Then  will  the  better  side  of  the  boy's  nature  be  developed.  Mr. 
Howe  has  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  far-reaching  results  of  the 
family  system  in  reformatories.  If  the  first  ten  boys  received  into 
the  Lancaster  Reformatory  be  taken  as  illustrations  of  those  far- 
reaching  results,  it  may  be  observed  that  one  went  through  college 
with  honors,  two  became  prominent  lawyers,  and  the  others  made 
good  citizens. 

What,  then,  is  the  family  system  ?  Reference  is  given  to  a  paper 
prepared  by  Mr.  Howe  and  read  by  invitation  before  the  National 
Conference  of  Charities  and  Correction,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  June  30th, 
1880,  and  published  in  the  29th  annual  report  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  Connecticut  State  Reform  School  at  Meriden,  Conn.  In  brief, 
the  family  system  is  what  the  name  signifies.  It  is  the  creation  of  a 
pure,  fine,  well-ordered  Christian  family  life  for  boys  who  have  never 
been  under  such  family  government;  and  for  this  purpose  there  is 
the  external  form,  and  the  internal  spirit  and  management.  The  ex- 
ternal form  consists  in  the  classification  of  boys  according  to  age  and 
temperament,  and  the  placing  of  them  in  well  built  cottages,  which 
are  free  from  the  suggestions  of  a  prison.  These  cottages  are  fur- 
37 


59'4'  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

nished  like  a  well  ordered  home,  and  are  presided  over  by  a  Christian 
gentleman  and  lady,  who,  as  husband  and  wife,  hold  the  relation  of 
father  and  mother  toward  the  youth  of  the  household.  Each  family 
is  made  distinct  in  its  management,  but  is  united  with  every  other, 
under  one  central  head,  "  every  family  having  its  own  school  room, 
dining  room,  dormitory  and  play  ground,"  while  yet  there  is  one  con- 
gregate department  where  all  assemble,  presided  over  in  person  by 
the  superintendent  of  the  institution. 

The  government  of  the  institution,  and  of  each  family,  is  made 
parental,  administered  in  the  .spirit  of  love  and  confidence.  Kindness, 
honor  and  mutual  trust  are  made  the  underlying  forces  of  govern- 
ment. Physical  coercion  is  used  only  in  extreme  and  incorrigible 
cases,  and  this,  when  used,  is  tempered  by  the  humanizing  spirit  and 
genius  of  the  best  Christian  family  life. 

This  system  has  now  so  commended  itself  to  the  regard  of  the  civil 
authorities  in  many  states,  who  have  jurisdiction  over  criminal  and 
truant  youths,  that  it  has  spread  from  Lancaster  into  other  states. 
Indiana  was  one  of  the  first  to  follow  Ohio,  and  then  the  system  spread 
to  New  Jersey,  to  Connecticut,  to  the  District  of  Columbia,  to  Penn- 
sylvania, Michigan,  Iowa,  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Howe  had 
much  to  do  with  the  establishment  of  the  system  in  all  these  states, 
being  appealed  to  for  counsel  in  the  construction  of  buildings  and  in 
the  general  management.  He  has  furnished  plans  for  the  adoption 
of  the  system  in  many  .states,  and  has  been  sought  out  by  committees 
from  states  so  far  away  even  as  Oregon  and  California. 

While  holding  this  position  at  Lancaster,  Ohio,  Mr.  Howe  was  in- 
vited, in  1870,  to  describe  the  S3'.stem  before  the  National  Prison  Re- 
form Congress  in  Cincinnati,  and  received  the  hearty  approval  of  the 
congress,  since  the  system,  when  once  outlined,  commends  itself  to 
the  enlightened  judgment  of  thinking  men.  In  1872  he  attended  the 
International  Prison  Congress  in  London,  England,  and  was  granted 
by  common  consent  of  the  congress,  three  sessions  of  twenty  minutes 
each,  to  speak  of  the  family  system  applied  to  reformatories  for  youth, 
of  its  workings,  and  its  results.  Hearty  applause  was  given,  indicative 
of  the  strong  and  general  sympathy  awakened  for  the  system.  Mr. 
Howe  prolonged  his  journey  in  the  Old  World,  visiting  the  principal 
cities  and  noted  places  of  the  continent,  and  notably  the  celebrated 
reformatory  near  Hamburg,  the  Raultc  Haits,  at  Horn,  Germany, 
founded  by  Doctor  Wichern,  and  the  military  bchool  at  Mettray, 
France.  The  family  system  now  so  prevalent  in  this  country  is  essen- 
tially that  of  Doctor  Wichern  of  Germany.  Mr.  Howe  was  the  first  to 
give  it  naturalization  and  thrift  in  this  country.  While  in  Europe  he 
had  conferences  with  Doctor  Wicken,  also  with  Colonel  DeMetz, 
founders  of  the  colony  at  Mettray,  France. 

In  the  year  1878  Mr.  Howe  was  formally  invited  by  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Connecticut  State  Reform  School,  located  at  Meriden, 


k     H 
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HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY.  595 

Conn.,  to  take  charge  of  that  institution.  He  accepted  the  invitation, 
and  on  the  23d  day  of  April  assumed  the  responsibilities  of  superin- 
tendent, with  the  understanding-  that  the  family  system  should  take 
the  place  of  the  old  regime.  Improvement  first  appeared  in  the  better 
dining  room  and  the  better  food  provided  for  the  boys.  The  follow- 
ing winter  the  legislature  granted  an  appropriation  for  the  erection  of 
a  cottage  and  a  chapel,  seating  500  boys.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
a  new  era  for  the  school.  About  two  years  later  two  more  cottages 
were  built,  and  later  still  t-wo  more  were  added,  making  five  cottages 
in  all.  The  cottages  were  built  to  the  right  and  to  the  left  of  the 
congregate  department,  and  each  cottage  accommodates  about  fifty 
boys. 

So  popular  has  the  reform  school  of  Meriden  become  that  not  only 
are  appropriations  from  the  legislature  easily  obtained,  but  judges 
throughout  the  state,  when  having  criminal  or  truant  boys  to  sen- 
tence, do  not  hesitate  to  send  them  to  the  reform  school  of  Meriden, 
where  the  genial,  elevating  family  system  of  government  develops 
whatever  of  virtue  and  manliness  is  possible  in  a  wayward  boy. 

Since  the  14th  of  March,  1847,  Mr.  Howe  has  had  the  cooperation 
and  counsel  of  his  excellent  wife,  for  on  that  date  he  was  married  to 
Frances  Milliken,  who  has  been  the  equal  partner  of  his  plans  and  his 
successes.  To  them  have  been  born  three  sons  and  a  daughter  :  G. 
Worth,  bookkeeper  of  the  reform  school;  Frank  M.,  principal  of  Elm- 
wood  school  for  boys,  Milford,  Conn.;  Charles  C,  superintendent  of 
mica  mines,  at  Bristol,  N.  H.;  and  Mrs.  Clara  F.  Warner,  Coldwater, 
Mich. 

Mr.  Howe  is  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Meriden,  taking  con- 
siderable interest  in  the  general  growth  and  welfare  of  the  city;  and 
the  people  of  Meriden  appreciate  his  residence  among  them,  for  they 
consider  that  his  administration  of  the  reform  school  has  made  it  a 
great  honor  to  the  town  and  state. 

Emily  J.  Leonard.* — Of  the  women  of  Connecticut  none,  perhaps, 
deserve  wider  recognition  and  honor  for  their  intellectual  attainments 
and  their  moral  worth,  than  the  late  Miss  Emily  J.  Leonard,  who  died 
in  1884.  The  daughter  of  Jonathan  Leonard,  Jr.,  and  Eliza  E.  Hodges, 
she  was  born  in  the  family  homestead  in  the  town  of  Meriden,  August 
21st,  1837,  and  was  a  direct  descendant  of  James  Leonard,  of  Taun- 
ton, Mass.,  Avho  came  from  England  to  America  early  in  1600. 

At  ten  years  of  age  she  entered  the  Young  Ladies'  Collegiate  In- 
stitute, at  New  Haven,  and  at  twelve  had  won  prizes  for  excellence  in 
algebra,  trigonometry,  Latin,  Greek  and  English  composition.  Sub- 
sequently she  attended  a  boarding  school  at  Middletown,  and  spent 
some  time  at  the  Aloiint  Holyoke  Female  .Seminar}'.  Between  the 
years  1856  and  1861  she  taught  in  Boonesboro  and  Lyons,  Iowa,  and  at 
Greenville  and  Meriden,  Conn.;  becoming,  on  September  1st  of  the 

*  By  Miss  Georgia  Louise  Leonard. 


696  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

latter  year,  assistant  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Medford,  Mass. 
Professor  Cummings,  the  principal,  considered  her  the  most  finished 
lady  scholar  he  ever  had  teaching  under  him.  While  studying  French 
with  Professor  BochOr,  of  Harvard,  she  undertook  with  him  the  prep- 
aration of  the  American  edition  of  Otto's  French  Grammar,  of  which 
the  success  has  been  so  great,  and  herself  accomplished  the  larger 
share  of  the  labor  required.  The  period  spent  at  Medford  embraced 
the  eventful  years  of  the  civil  war,  when  Mi.ss  Leonard's  ardent  pat- 
riotism found  expression  in  the  offer  of  her  services  as  a  hospital 
nurse,  which,  however,  were  not  then  needed.  Finding  Medford  in- 
jurious to  her  health,  she  resigned  her  position  in  1866,  and  became 
preceptress  at  Oneida  Seminary,  Oneida,  N.  Y.,  remaining  there  until 
July,  1867,  when  she  accepted  a  better  opening  in  the  high  school  at 
Worcester,  Mass.,  where  her  proficiency  in  French  was  especially 
commended.  Desiring  a  school  of  her  own,  she  took  advantage  of  a 
favorable  opportunity  at  Winetka,  near  Chicago,  and  left  Worce.ster 
in  February,  1870.  Three  years  later  she  returned  east,  and  became 
teacher  of  French  and  German  at  Maplewood  Institute,  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1874  started  a  private  classical  school  in 
Meriden. 

Interested  in  the  Harvard  examinations  for  women,  she  passed  the 
"preliminary"  examination,  and  in  1877,  in  the  course  of  her  study, 
took  up  the  subject  of  political  economy,  and,  by  request,  prepared  a 
paper  thereon,  for  presentation  before  the  Woman's  Congress,  to  be 
held  in  Cleveland  in  the  fall.  This  paper,  "  What  is  Money?"  met 
with  such  wide  endorsement  that  it  became  the  turning  point  in  her 
life  and  work,  and  led  to  the  abandonment  of  teaching  and  the  devo- 
tion of  her  talents  to  the  broader  field  of  literary  effort.  While  pre- 
paring for  the  higher  of  the  Harvard  examinations — afterward  passed 
with  credit — she  was  fascinated  by  the  wealth  of  information  and 
charming  style  of  a  History  of  Political  Economy  in  Europe,  by  Jer- 
ome Adolphe  Blanqui,  a  professor  in  the  College  of  France,  and 
shortly  thereafter  began  its  translation  into  English.  This  work, 
completed  in  1880,  was  enriched  with  copious  notes  and  references  of 
her  own,  and  elicited  the  highest  encomiums  from  many  competent 
critics.  It  has  been  eagerly  sought  for  libraries,  and  is  now  used  as  a 
text  book  in  various  schools  and  colleges.  The  skill  and  fidelity  with 
which  this  difficult  task  had  been  performed  attracted  the  attention  of 
John  J.  Lalor,  of  Chicago,  who  was  preparing  a  Cyclopaedia  of  Political 
Economy,  and  in  1881  he  engaged  Miss  Leonard  to  translate  for  his 
volumes,  and  later  to  edit  them,  and  annotate  the  articles  by  English 
economists. 

Of  Miss  Leonard's  lectures  and  essays  there  were;  "  Political  Econ- 
omy," "  The  Function  of  Issuing  Notes:  Considered  with  Reference 
to  the  National  Banks,"  which  commanded  much  attention;  "  Blue 
Laws,"  "Church  and  State  in  Connecticut,"  "  Labor  Not  the  Cause  of 


r 


1  wiri 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  697 

Value,"  etc.,  etc.  Other  papers,  including  the  "  Definition  of  Botani- 
cal Terms,"  "  Pollen  and  the  Means  by  which  it  is  Distributed,"  "Cir- 
cumnutation,"  "Stomata  and  Their  Functions,"  "  Dimorphic  and  Tri- 
morphic  Heterostyled  Plants,"  "  Nutrition  of  Plants,"  and  "  Myths  and 
Myth-Makers,"  were  given  before  the  Meriden  Scientific  Association, 
of  which  she  was  one  of  the  chief  organizers  and  promoters.  While 
director  of  its  botanical  department,  she  prepared  a  "  Catalogue  of 
the  Phasnogamous  and  Vascular  Cryptogamous  Plants  Found  Grow- 
ing in  Meriden,"  and  at  the  time  of  her  death  had  collected,  analyzed, 
pressed  and  mounted  749  distinct  species. 

Aliss  Leonard's  active  mind  and  philanthropic  heart  were  keenly 
alive  to  the  leading  questions  of  the  day,  and  her  pen  touched  them 
nearly  all  in  a  variety  of  articles,  long  and  short.  In  no  cause  did  she 
feel  a  deeper  interest  than  in  that  of  woman's  advancement;  and,  as  a 
member  both  of  the  National  and  American  Woman  Suffrage  Asso- 
ciations, she  was  one  of  the  most  earnest  and  efficient  advocates  of  the 
political  enfranchisement  of  her  sex.  She  was  also  a  prominent 
worker  in  the  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Women. 

The  spring  of  1884  was  full  of  activity,  until  her  fatal  illness  began 
on  June  14th.  For  a  month  she  lingered,  full  of  longing  to  continue 
her  labors,  and  when,  on  July  16th,  she  died  of  enlargement  of  the 
heart,  there  was  left  but  the  memory  of  one  of  those  rare  natures 
which  make  the  world  wiser  and  better  for  their  having  lived  in  it. 
The  funeral  services,  which  were  very  simple,  were  conducted  at  her 
mother's  house,  by  the  Reverend  Doctor  Chapin,  pastor  of  the  Univer- 
salist  church,  and  president  of  the  Meriden  Scientific  Association, 
assisted  by  Mrs.  Isabella  Beecher  Hooker,  who  made  a  most  appropri- 
ate and  feeling  address.  Commendatory  resolutions  were  passed  by 
the  Scientific  Association,  which  held,  on  September  8th,  a  special 
memorial  meeting,  when  addresses,  recalling  the  thoroughness, 
amount  and  value  of  her  work,  together  with  her  womanly  qualities, 
were  presented  by  its  different  members. 

In  Miss  Leonard's  untimely  death  there  was  lost  to  the  world  a 
strong,  earnest,  active  and  useful  life.  Gifted  beyond  most  women, 
she  yet  sank  herself  in  the  one  desire  to  add  to  the  welfare  and  hap- 
piness of  others.  An  indefatigable  worker,  she  had  accomplished 
herself  in  many  directions,  and  was  not  only  a  thorough  classical 
scholar,  but  spoke  French  and  German  fluently,  read  Italian  and 
Spanish,  was  one  of  the  most  expert  botanists  in  the  country,  could 
perform  upon  several  musical  instruments,  and  sing,  draw  and  paint. 

Painstaking  and  careful  to  the  smallest  particular,  much  of  the 
great  value  of  her  labor  was  due  to  this  precision  of  method.  Con- 
scientiousness was  the  governing  principle  of  her  life,  and  a  love  of 
truth,  inherited  from  her  Quaker  ancestors,  forced  her  outside  the 
beaten  paths  into  those  broader  fields  of  investigation,  where  philos- 
ophy and  science  subordinated   the  ideal  to  the  practical,  the  abstract 


593  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

to  the  concrete  and  demonstrable.  She  could  not  accept  tradition  for 
reason ;  authority  for  fact.  The  works  of  Mill,  Darwin,  Huxley, 
Spencer  and  others,  gave  her  insight  into  material  causes,  and  so  pre- 
.sented  and  emphasized  the  theory  of  evolution  as  to  leave  it,  in  her 
opinion,  without  successful  refutation.  For  her  the  world  of  matter 
and  motion — the  concrete  universe — became  the  sensible  and  the 
real,  and  life  but  their  necessary  expression;  hence  she  grew  away 
from  churches  and  dogmas,  and  ceased  to  concern  herself  with  that 
which  could  not  be  proved  by  physical  methods  and  the  formulas  of 
science.  While  never  denying  a  future  existence,  she  thought  we  had 
no  data  upon  which  to  base  belief.  Right  life,  she  considered  the 
truest,  noblest  incentive  to  human  effort.  Happy  in  doing  good,  she 
toiled  for  principle,  as  few  labor  for  fame.  Braving  the  censure  of 
the  world  in  defense  of  what  she  thought  right,  she  courageously 
avowed  her  opinions,  no  matter  how  unpopular,  and  yielded  her  con- 
victions only  when  shown  their  falsity  or  error.  Her  mind,  singularly 
open  and  ingenuous,  had  no  bias  to  prevent  a  just  judgment  of  per- 
sons, of  theories,  or  of  arguments.  She  possessed  a  breadth  of  com- 
prehension, an  intellectual  vigor,  and  a  mental  grasp  rarely  equalled. 
Modest  and  unassuming,  with  wide  culture,  an  amiable  and  buoyant 
disposition,  refined  and  gentle  manners,  and  a  heart  stirred  to  deep 
and  generous  sympathies  and  lofty  aspirations,  she  united  all  the 
essentials  of  an  exalted  womanhood.  Looking  for  no  reward  save  the 
approval  of  her  own  conscience,  forgetful  of  self,  the  self  she  created 
has  outlived  her  personality  in  the  hearts  of  those  she  inspired  to 
greater  ends  and  aims.     Enshrined  in  their  memory  she  lingers 

"  Like  the  sweet  presence  of  a  good  diflEused." 

As  a  torch  in  the  night  her  noble  example  shines  yet  in  the  world 
of  ideas  and  of  deeds,  to  stimulate  other  minds  to  the  same  high  pur- 
pose, the  same  untiring  zeal,  the  same  mighty  effort  for  the  simple 
good  of  humankind. 

Saxton  Bailey  Little  is  a  descendant  of  the  seventh  generation 
from  Thomas  Little,  who  came  from  Devonshire,  England,  to  Ply- 
mouth, Mass.,  in  1630.  He  was  a  man  of  influence  and  a  lawyer.  A 
copy  of  the  family  coat  of  arms  is  still  preserved  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Marshfield,  Mass.  His  ancestral  mother  was  Ann  Warren, 
whose  father,  Richard  Warren,  came  in  the  "  Mayflower."  His  wife 
and  five  daughters  came  in  the  "  Fortune  "  in  1623.  They  were 
married  in  Plymouth  in  1633.  In  1650  Thomas  Little  removed  to 
Littletown,  now  called  Sea  View,  in  East  Marshfield,  Mass.  He 
"took  up"  several  hundred  acres  of  land,  bordering  on  the  ocean, 
and  his  descendants  still  occupy  the  old  homestead.  Their  children 
were:  Thomas,  Samuel,  Ephraim,  Isaac,  Hannah,  Mercy,  Ruth  and 
Patience.     He  died  March  12th,  1671. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    KAVEN   COUNTY.  599 

Of  the  second  generation,  Ephraim,  the  third  son  of  Thomas,  born 
in  1650,  married  Mary  Sturvetant.  He  died  in  1717,  aged  67.  Their 
children  were:  Ephraim,  Ruth,  David,  John,  Ann  and  Mary. 

John  Little,  Esq.,  of  the  third  generation,  was  a  magistrate,  a  large 
land-holder,  and  had  several  negro  slaves.  He  was  the  third  son  of 
Ephraim,  born  in  East  Marshfield  in  1681.  He  married  Constant 
Forbes,  of  Little  Compton,  R.  L  He  died  in  1767,  aged  86.  He  gave 
to  each  of  his  six  sons  a  farm,  as  follows:  To  Fobes  Little,  a  farm  in 
Little  Compton,  R.  L;  to  John  Little,  a  farm  in  Lebanon  Crank,  now 
Columbia,  Conn.;  to  "William  Little,  a  farm  in  the  south  part  of  Leba- 
non, Conn.;  Ephraim,  Thomas  and  Samuel  each  received  a  farm  in 
Marshfield,  Mass.  To  each  of  his  daughters,  Anna  (Little i  White  and 
Ruth  (Little)  Oakman,  he  gave,  with  other  personal  estate,  a  negro 
woman. 

John  Little,  third  son  of  the  above,  and  of  the  fourth  generation, 
came  to  Columbia,  then  called  Lebanon  Crank,  in  1741.  Born  in  1714, 
he  married  Mary  Simpson  about  1740.  He  died  December  17th,  1798, 
aged  84.  Mary,  his  wife,  died  February  22d,  1810,  aged  88.  They  are 
buried  in  the  old  cemetery  in  Columbia,  Conn.  Their  children  were 
Gamaliel,  baptized  1742;  Otis,  baptized  1744;  Consider,  baptized  1746 
Mary,  baptized  1748;  John,  baptized  1750;  Elizabeth,  baptized  1752 
Priscilla,  baptized  1754;  Faith,  baptized  1756;  Charles,  baptized  1761. 
Gamaliel,  Consider  and  John  settled  in  Columbia,  Conn.,  and  from 
them  are  de.scended  all  of  the  name  of  Little  in  that  vicinity. 

Consider  Little,  third  son  of  John  Little  and  the  fifth  generation 
from  Thomas,  was  born  in  1746,  and  married  Rebecca  Buckingham  in 
1773.  She  was  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Buckingham,  who  settled  in 
Milford,  Conn.,  in  1639.  He  died  August  3d,  1831,  aged  85.  His 
wife,  Rebecca,  born  May  13th,  1751,  died  October  25th,  1825,  aged  75. 
Their  children  were:  Samuel,  born  August  17th,  1774,  died  September 
22d,  1853;  Mary,  born  February  28th,  1776,  died  August  28th,  1853; 
Sarah,  born  December  29th,  1777.  died  July  25th,  1853;  Rebecca,  born 
June  17th,  1779  ;  Fanny,  born  March  3d,  1781,  died  September  13th, 
1794;  Levi,  born  December  1st,  1783,  died  1854;  George,  born  March 
25th,  1788,  died  April  5th,  1864;  Lydia,  born  March  20th,  1791,  died 
June  29th,  1807. 

Samuel  Little,  son  of  Consider,  and  one  of  the  sixth  generation 
from  Thomas,  was  born  in  Columbia,  Conn.,  August  18th,  1774,  and 
married,  first,  Lavinia  Richardson,  in  1801.  Their  children  were; 
Lavinia,  born  May  11th,  1802,  died  May  24th,  1807;  Samuel,  born  May 
6th,  1804,  died  February  9th,  1876;  Anson,  born  June20th,  1806.  Sam- 
uel Little  married,  second,  Jerusha  Bailey,  June  23d,  1808.  She  was 
born  April  9th,  1781,  and  died  November  3d,  1857.  Their  children 
were:  Emily,  born  April  27th,  1809,  died  June  14th,  1830;  Saxton 
Bailey,  born  April  19th,  1813;  William  Buckingham,  born  June  6th, 
1815;  Charles,  born  September  26th,  1818. 


600  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  seventh  generation,  Samuel  Little.  Jr.,  married,  first,  Amy 
Pineo,  December  29th,  1829,  and,  second,  Clarissa  Pineo,  May,  1840. 
Their  children  are:  James  Pineo,  born  March  2d,  1831,  died  October 
12th,  1833;  Emily  Jerusha.  born  August  28th,  1832;  James  Pineo,  born 
December  loth,  1841. 

Anson  Little  married  Eliza  Ann  Wells,  September  17th,  1833.  She 
died  January  oth,  1882.  Their  children  are:  John  Wells,  born  May 
12th,  1839;  and  George  Anson,  born  April  2d,  1845,  died  February  7th, 
1862. 

Saxton  Bailey  Little,  third  son  of  Samuel  Little,  married  vSarah 
Maria  Tracy,  August  19th,  1836.  She  was  born  October  13th,  1813, 
and  died  December  31st,  1844,  aged  31,  leaving  two  sons:  Charles  L. 
and  Frank  Eugene.  The  former  is  a  well  known  builder  and  con- 
tractor in  Meriden,  Conn.  The  latter  is  post  office  inspector.  Both 
were  in  the  Union  army.  Frank  served  four  years:  first  in  the  15th 
Connecticut  and  then  in  the  107th  colored  regiment,  and  was  breveted 
major. 

William  B.  Little,  fourth  son  of  Samuel  Little,  married  Harriet 
Palmer,  of  Vernon,  Conn.,  May  19th,  1841.  Their  children  are : 
Myron  Winslow,  born  October  11th,  1842,  married  Emily  Wright; 
Elliott  Palmer,  born  July  3d,  1844,  died  June  31st,  1855;  Anna  Maria, 
born  June  23d,  1846,  died  October  25th,  1855;  Hubert,  born  November 
14th.  1848;  Alonzo,  born  April  17th,  1851;  Elbert  Cornelius,  born  Octo- 
ber 24th,  1853;  Prescott  Palmer,  born  September  16th.  1856;  and  Pay- 
son  Elliott,  born  Augu.st  31st,  1859. 

Reverend  Charles  Little,  fifth  son  of  Samuel,  born  September  26th, 
1818,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1844,  and  went  as  a  missionary  to 
Madura,  India,  in  1847.  He  married,  first,  Amelia  Newton,  Septem- 
ber, 1847.  She  died  in  Madura,  July  18th,  1848.  aged  25.  He  mar- 
ried, second,  Susan  Robbins,  September,  1853.  She  died  in  Lincoln, 
Neb.,  September,  1873.  Their  children  are:  Samuel  Robbins,  born  in 
Madura,  India,  September  21.st,  1855,  died  in  California  in  1889;  Charles 
Newton,  born  in  Madura,  India,  May  19th,  1858;  and  Elizabeth,  born 
in  Cheshire,  Conn.,  January  12th,  1862. 

Charles  L.  Little,  son  of  Saxton  B.  Little  and  of  the  eighth  genera- 
tion from  Thomas  Little,  born  in  Columbia,  Conn,  July  16th,  1839, 
married  Genevieve  M.  Stiles,  of  Suffield,  Conn.,  April  23d,  1862.  Their 
children  are:  Sallie  Maria,  born  March  3d,  1863;  Frank  Allen,  born 
April  30th,  1864;  Arthur  Edgerton,  born  March  19th,  1866;  Edward 
Baxter,  born  October  26th,  1867;  Isabella  Annette,  born  March  19th, 
1869;  and  Clara  Elvira,  born  March  19th,  1878. 

Frank  Eugene  Little,  son  of  Saxton  B.  Little,  born  in  Columbia, 
Conn.,  April  28th,  1844,  married  Jennie  Coan,  January  28th,  1868. 
Their  children  are:  Mabel  Jennie,  born  October  2d,  1870;  Lena  Coan, 
born  October  9th,  1876;  Charles  Eugene,  born  July  31st,  1878;  Ernest 
Butler,  born  January  30th,  1880. 


^*4 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVKN   COUNTY.  601 

vSaxton  B.  Little  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
supplemented  by  some  instruction  in  Tolland,  East  Hartford  and 
Bacon  academies.  Beginning  to  teach  .school  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  he 
taught  fifteen  winters,  "  boarding  round,"  as  was  the  custom  .sixty 
years  ago.  He  taught  one  year  in  Bacon  Academy,  Colchester,  Conn., 
two  and  a  half  years  in  Willimantic  and  three  years  in  Greenville, 
Conn.  In  1850  he  removed  to  Rockville  and  remained  there  nearly 
four  years,  which  completed  his  service  in  the  public  schools.  In 
April,  1854,  he  was  appointed  assistant  superintendent  and  teacher  in 
the  Connecticut  Reform  School  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  and  upon  the  death 
of  the  lamented  Doctor  E.  W.  Hatch,  February  7th,  1874,  was  ap- 
pointed acting  superintendent.  He  closed  his  connection  with  the 
institution  July  31st,  1875,  after  a  continuous  service  of  twenty-one 
years  and  four  months.  The  trustees  of  the  school,  in  their  report  to 
the  general  assembly  in  1874,  speaking  of  Mr.  Little,  said:  "We should 
fail  in  our  duty  if  we  did  not  signify  to  you  our  high  appreciation  of 
the  well  applied  and  faithful  services  of  this  officer  these  many  years, 
and  to  testify  that  his  labors  in  the  position  of  assistant  superintend- 
ent and  teacher  have  contributed  largely  to  the  marked  success  of  the 
school."  Since  he  left  this  school  he  has  made  the  tour  of  Europe, 
going  as  far  as  Naples  and  Pompeii.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in 
the  United  States  and  Canada,  visiting  all  the  large  cities  in  37  states, 
including  Florida,  Southern  and  Central  California,  Yosemite  Valley, 
New  Orleans  Exposition,  Yellowstone  Park,  Luray  and  Mammoth 
Caves,  etc. 

Mr.  Little  has  filled  many  public  offices  in  Meriden.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  common  council,  of  the  high  school  committee,  a  trus- 
tee of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  has  been  for  many 
years  school  district  committee.  He  is  a  republican,  and  a  member  of 
the  First  Congregational  church  in  Meriden.  He  is  a  great  lover  of 
laooks,  and  has  been  an  efficient  helper  in  establishing  a  free  public 
library  in  Columbia,  Conn.,  his  old  home.  He  gave  to  it  $1,50U  as  a 
permanent  fund,  the  interest  only  to  be  used,  for  the  purchase  of 
books  and  to  keep  the  building  in  repair.  He  has  also  given  to  the 
library  a  thousand  volumes  of  books.  He  is  one  who  believes  that  it 
is  wise  to  give  to  public  objects  of  charity  while  living,  leaving  no 
chance  for  one's  heirs  to  question  his  sanity  or  thwart  his  wishes.  He 
is  regular  in  his  habits,  never  using  alcoholic  drinks  nor  tobacco. 

William  Worcester  Lyman,  son  of  Andrew  and  Anna  (Hall) 
Lyman,  was  born  in  Woodford,  Vt.,  March  29th,  1821.  In  1828  his 
parents  removed  to  Middlefield,  Conn.,  where  his  father  died  in  the 
following  spring,  and  William  was  sent  to  Northford,  Conn.,  where  he 
was  employed  for  five  years  on  a  farm.  After  residing  in  Wallingford 
about  one  year,  he  removed  to  Meriden  in  1836,  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Griswold  &  Couch,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  extensive  man- 
ufacturers of  Britannia  goods  at  that  time  in  this  country,  employing 


602  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

some  fifteen  hands.  Here  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  five  years 
and  the  trade  being  very  dull,  he  remained  idle  for  about  eighteen' 
months.  In  1844  he  began  business  on  his  own  account,  in  the  old 
shop  where  he  learned  his  trade,  the  motive  power  being  an  old  blind 
horse.  The  shop  stood  a  few  rods  north  of  his  present  residence. 
After  about  a  year  he  formed  a  partnership  with  William  H.  Bull^ 
under  the  firm  name  of  Bull  &  Lyman.  He  soon  bought  out  Mr.  Bull's 
interest,  and  not  long  after,  in  May,  1852,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  the  late  Lemuel  J.  Curtis,  under  the  name  of  Curtis  &  Lyman. 
The  works  were  removed  to  the  Twiss  factory  in  Prattsville,  where 
they  remained  until  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company  was  organized, 
when  they  both  became  members  of  that  company.  In  December, 
1858,  Mr.  Lyman  patented  a  jar,  which  is  known  throughout  the  coun- 
try as  "the  Lyman  Fruit  Jar."  He  spent  several  thousand  dollars  in 
perfecting  this  jar,  and  was  the  first  one  to  publish  directions  for  pre- 
serving fruit  by  this  method.  From  this  small  beginning  the  busi- 
ness of  manufacturing  fruit  jars  has  grown  to  amount  to  millions  of 
dollars.     He  also  patented  an  ice  pitcher  and  numerous  other  articles. 

Mr.  Lyman  has  held  many  positions  of  trust,  having  represented 
Meriden  in  the  legislature  in  1859,  1880  and  1881,  and  has  also 
served  as  alderman  and  councilman.  He  has  been  a  member  and  di- 
rector of  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company  since  its  organization,  some 
35  years.  He  has  held  the  office  of  president  of  the  Meriden  Cutlery 
Company,  and  is  now  one  of  the  directors.  He  is  now  and  has  been 
for  a  number  of  years  a  director  of  the  Rogers  &  Brothers  Company, 
of  Waterbury;  has  been  president  of  the  Meriden  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion, is  a  director  of  the  Wilcox  &  White  Organ  Company,  Chapman 
Manufacturing  Company,  Meriden  Saddlery  and  Leather  Company,, 
Meriden  National  Bank,  director  and  secretary  of  the  Butler  &  Lyman 
Land  Company,  and  now  vice-president  of  the  City  Savings  Bank.  In 
September,  1844,  Mr.  Lyman  married  Roxanna  Frary,  the  adopted 
daughter  of  her  uncle,  Ashbel  Griswold,  and  has  one  daughter,  who- 
married  Henry  Warren,  of  Watertown,  Conn.  Mr.  Lyman  built  a 
fine  residence  near  the  scene  of  his  early  labors,  and  through  his  en- 
terprise a  number  of  fine  residences  have  been- erected  in  the  vicinity,, 
and  it  has  become  one  of  the  finest  parts  of  the  city. 

Edward  Baldwin  Manning,  son  of  Thaddeus  and  Esther  (Rich- 
ards) Manning,  was  born  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  January  21st,  1834. 
He  is  a  descendant  of  William  Manning,  who  was  in  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  in  1634.  A  son  of  William  was  selectman  for  several  years, 
and  was  sent  to  England  on  business  for  the  Plymouth  colon3\  Ed- 
ward Manning  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
town,  and  at  an  early  age  his  father  took  him  into  his  factory  to  learn 
the  Britannia  trade.  After  serving  his  time  and  becoming  thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  business,  he  formed  a  corporation  under  the  name 
of  Manning,  Bowman  &  Co.,  and  was  appointed  trea.surer  of  the  com- 


)' 


s 


jjr^'i'f  !«'*!■ 


>^«^ 


-^■^-h/:F.  eMe^-nan^i'  i 


/^.A^ 


HigrrciRV  of  new  i 


G'l 


pany,  he  bein'g  then  In  his  26th  - 

nia  \v  '     ' 

indut 

in   1872,  occupying  the  vacant  r  Co.,  oi. 

Pratt  street.     Mr.  Manning  ^' 

pany,  which  oflBce  he  has  sine,  .._.  ...  ... 

much  increased,  until  now  the  whole  b  tt,  Catiit. 

and  Miller  streets  is  occupied  by  the 

firm  now  manufacture  graqite  iron  ...  .  ......  . 

ver,  Britannia, copper  and  planished  good.s.     Th. 

only  in  the  United  States,  but  a  large  trade  is  done 

and  Au.stralia.     The  factories  of  the  company  are  as  «vv  ^  ..i   .^.-, 

any  in  Meriden,  and  the  plant  is  a  credit  to  the  city. 

The  interests  of  the  Manning  &  Bowman  Company  have    i 
absorbed  so  much  of  Mr.  Manning's  time  that  V     '  -    '       ■ 
holding  public  office.     While  in  Middletown  he 
city  council  for  two  years.     In  1886  and  1887  he  served  as 
the  last  year  being  chairm.in  of  the  wat(  i 
declined  a  reelection  the  third  term.     Ms 

the  nomination  for  mayor,  and  also  declined  the  nomination  foi 
tor  of  the  Sixth  district,  although  in  each  instance  he  could  1 
elected  by  a  large  majority.     In  1888  he  was  one  of  the  pr^ 
electors.     Although  declining  public  office,  Mr.  Manning  has  a 
been  willing  to  give  his  time  and  marked  business  abilities  to  th 
fare  and  growth  of  his  adopted  city.     He  was  chairman  of  the  ; 
ing  committee  of  the  town  hall,  the  high- school,  and  until  his  bu- 
engagements  obliged  him  to  resign,  .of  the  Universalist  church, 
increasing  growth  of  the  Manning  &  Bowman  Company  has  &; 
him  to  give  his  whole  time  to  its  interests,  much  to  the  regret  ■ 
many  friends,  who  recognize  his  business  abilities  and  social  ■ 

ties.     Mr.  Manning  married,  in  1862.  Marth»  J.,  d.n ''   -   of  J^^i- 

Robinson,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven,  and  has  one  daughti^  /. 

Edward  Miller  was  born  in  Wallingford,  New  Haven  c<> 
Conn.,  August  10th,  1827.     Once  imported  g-    '      ^  '   ' 

appeared  to  advantage  when  placed  beside  ; 

is  not  so  now.     The  great  factory  of  Edward  Miller  &  Co.  places  c. 
finely  finished  and  as  '  '  '  '  '  \- 

artisans  anywhere.  ,  .,  -  -•:  d 

Boston,  and  selling  agencies  in  many. of  the-  principal  cities  of  the 
land.  It  has  also  agencies  in  other  countries,  as  in  Canad.i.  Europe, 
Mexico,  South  America  and  Australia.  Edward  Miller  Ov:  Co..  ap- 
pearing in  the  Meriden  factory  and  in  its  selling  houses  and  agencies. 
is  the  achievement  chiefly  of  the  gentleman  whose  name  form.=  the 
principal  part  of  the  corporation  title,  Edward  Miller  &  Co.  It  is  ir 
teresting  to  trace  the  development  of  both  the  man  and  the  great  i: 
dustry. 


604  HISTORV   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Edward  Miller  was  a  farmer's  boy,  son  of  Joel  Miller,  and  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father  and  grandfather.  Reverend  Samuel 
Miller,  of  Wallingford.  His  education,  other  than  in  the  great  school 
of  life,  was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of  the  districts  where  he 
lived,  and  during  two  or  three  terms  in  Post's  Academ3%  in  Meriden — 
a  school  whose  touch  is  observable  on  several  Meriden  men  of  Mr. 
Miller's  generation.  But  after  his  tenth  year  young  Miller's  time  was 
spent  in  work  and  practical  affairs  more  than  in  the  school  room.  He 
was  evidently  born  for  inanufacturing  rather  than  for  farming. 

His  father  moved  to  Meriden  when  young  Miller  was  about  ten 
years  of  age,  and  the  farm  included  the  eligible  spot  where  now  Mr. 
Miller's  fine  residence  is  located,  on  Broad  street.  A  short  distance 
away  from  his  father's  home,  and  on  High  street,  Horatio  N.  Howard 
had  begun  the  manufacture  of  lamp  screws,  oil  screws  and  hoops, 
and  candlestick  springs;  and  when  young  ^liller  was  about  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  was  employed  by  Mr.  Howard  to  make  these  goods. 
Later,  Messrs.  vStedman  &  Clark,  whose  shop  was  erected  on  land 
where  now  the  City  Mission  Block  and  the  Meriden  Savings  and 
National  Banks  stand,  on  East  Main  street,  desired  his  services,  and 
at  increased  wages  Mr.  Miller  entered  their  employ.  They  manu- 
factured tinware,  including  tin  candlesticks  and  tin  lamps,  in  which 
springs  and  screws  were  used.  Mr.  Miller  continued  in  their  employ 
about  two  years.  The  ambition  had  now  fully  grown  in  him  to  manufac- 
ture and  sell  these  goods  in  his  own  name.  He  proposed  to  his  father, 
Joel  Miller,  that  he  buy  a  set  of  tools  and  manufacture  these  goods, 
and  put  them  on  the  market  in  the  Miller  name,  Mr.  E.  Miller 
working  for  his  father  until  nearly  of  age.  Afterward  a  partner- 
ship was  formed,  under  the  style  of  Joel  Miller  &  Son.  The  ma- 
chinery was  set  up  in  the  old  wood-shed  just  south  of  the  old  family 
home  on  Broad  street.  Foot-power  lathes  and  foot-power  presses  were 
arranged  in  position  along  the  sides  of  the  old  shed  and  the  manufac- 
ture undertaken.  The  partnership  continued  for  a  year,  and  now  the 
young  man,  only  twenty  years  of  age,  bought  out  his  father's  interest, 
and  what  remained  of  his  own  legal  "  time  "  up  to  his  majority  of 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  for  $800,  giving  his  notes.  Prosperity  at- 
tended the  young  man's  efl:orts,  for  inside  the  next  year  he  paid  the 
note  out  of  his  profits.  But  the  crude  shop  became  too  strait,  and  a 
new  one  was  built  a  little  north  of  the  old  home.  Horse  power  was 
substituted  for  foot  power.  A  little  later  a  portable  steam  engine  was 
purchased  to  do  the  work  for  which  power  was  needed.  All  of  these 
advances  represent  stages  of  progress. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Miller  had  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the 
lady  who  became  his  wife,  Miss  Caroline  M.  Xeal,  of  Southington. 
She  was  born  April  14th,  1830,  and  was  married  August  30th,  1848. 
In  Mrs.  Miller  her  husband  had  won  a  diligent  helper  and  a  wise 
■counsellor.     She  did  not  hesitate  to  aid  him  in  light  supplementary 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  605 

attentions  in  the  shop  when  orders  were  pressing,  and  they  two  found 
that  by  close  economy  and  thrifty  business  management  their  capital 
was  increasing. 

But  Mr.  Miller's  ideas  had  grown  greatly  by  this  time.  The  op- 
portunity for  manufacturing  in  the  old  quarters  became  too  con- 
tracted. He  must  now  secure  greater  freedom  for  business — more 
room  and  better  appliances.  And  so,  though  against  the  entreaties  of 
his  wife,  who  feared  their  slender  fortune  might  slip  entirely  from 
them,  Mr.  Miller  purchased  the  large  property  of  Samuel  Yale,  on 
Center  street,  where  now  the  great  factory  stands.  At  the  northwest 
corner  a  wooden  factory  was  built,  and  a  small  stationary  engine  was 
put  in. 

Even  before  this  date  the  market  demanded  new  inventions,  for 
the  use  of  camphene  and  burning  fluid  was  becoming  common.  The 
fluid  gave  a  superior  light  without  smoke  or  odor,  and  was  much 
cleaner  and  neater  than  the  tallow  dip  or  the  oil  of  the  whale.  But 
just  as  rapidly  did  Mr.  Miller  change  the  products  of  his  factory  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  market  as  the  market  itself  called  for  new 
designs.  He  increased  his  production  of  fluid  burners,  making  im- 
provements as  fast  as  needed.  Invention  went  along  hand  in  hand 
with  manufacture. 

It  was  now  1856,  and  a  disastrous  fire  swept  through  the  factory, 
levelling  it  completely,  and  destroying  dies  and  patterns,  lathes  and 
presses — the  collection  of  thirteen  years.  The  engine  and  boiler  only 
were  saved  fnom  the  general  wreck.  But  the  factory  was  rebuilt  in  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1856,  and  machinery  put  in  running  order.  Just 
then  the  panic  of  1857  came  on,  and  business  was  entirely  prostrated. 
All  the  neighboring  shops  were  closed.  In  this  depression,  the  force  of 
the  cyclone  waning  a  little,  the  first  week  of  January,  1858,  Mr.  Miller 
went  to  New  York,  determined  to  find  something  to  do;  and  there  he 
met  Mr.  Cozzens,  who  had  brought  from  Vienna,  Austria,  a  kerosene 
burner.  He  returned  home  on  Saturday  evening,  determined  to  make 
this  burner  and  improve  it.  The  kerosene  oil  of  that  date  was  dis- 
tilled from  bituminous  coal.  The  oil  fields  of  the  country  had  not 
then  been  operated,  and  the  cost  of  the  oil  was  high.  The  fluid 
burners  were  in  much  greater  demand  than  the  kerosene,  owing  to 
the  cost  of  the  distilled  oil,  but  Mr.  Miller  made  the  new  burner  and 
put  it  on  the  market.  It  is  worthy  of  record  that  he  was  absolutely 
the  first  manufacturer  of  the  kerosene  burner  in  this  country.  Others 
soon  followed,  but  he  deserves  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
to  offer  the  burner  in  the  markets  as  the  product  of  American  manu- 
facture. 

A  new  era  for  illuminating  was  now  dawning.  The  oil  fields  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  were  soon  to  be  opened,  and  as  soon  as  experi- 
mentation had  succeeded  in  cheapening  the  oil,  and  oil  wells  were 
found   to  be  profitable,  the  demand  for  the  burner  grew  immensely. 


606  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY. 

But  Mr.  Miller's  manufacture  was  not  confined  to  illuminating  burn- 
ers. A  variety  of  brass  goods,  useful  and  ornamental,  were  made,  and 
the  factory  became  again  taxed  beyond  its  capacity,  necessitating  en- 
largement year  by  year. 

At  this  time,  1866,  it  seemed  best  to  Mr.  Miller  to  associate  with  him- 
self other  capitalists  in  the  business.  A  joint  stock  company  was  formed 
July  1st,  1866,  under  the  corporate  name  of  Edward  Miller  &  Co.,  with 
a  capital  of  $200,000.  Under  the  new  style,  the  already  large  plant  on 
Center  street  continued  to  grow,  until  now  the  factory  covers  several 
acres  of  ground,  and  gives  employment  to  about  750  hands.  A  large 
brass  rolling  mill  forms  a  part  of  the  plant;  and  beginning  with  the 
compounding  of  brass  in  different  qualities  as  needed,  Mr.  Miller  puts 
upon  the  markets  of  the  world  a  large  variety  of  the  finest  brass 
goods,  including  lamps  in  every  pattern  and  finish  that  the  trade  de- 
mands, lamp  trimmings,  burners  of  several  styles,  spun  brass  kettles 
in  great  quantities,  and  bronze  ornaments  in  many  shapes  and  varie- 
ties. Mr.  Miller  is  the  sole  manufacturer  of  the  famous  Rochester 
lamp.  The  utility,  the  finish  and  taste  displayed  in  these  goods  make 
them  popular  on  the  market  and  leading  in  the  trade.  Competition 
only  ends  in  yielding  the  prizes  of  manufacture  to  this  company.  In- 
vention leads  in  every  part  of  the  great  industry,  and  the  same  pains- 
taking care  and  attention  to  details  which  characterized  Mr.  Miller's 
earliest  manufacture  prevails  throughout  the  great  plant,  and  makes 
it  one  of  the  most  prosperous  business  concerns  in  the  country. 

Mr.  Miller  built  his  present  residence  on  Broad  street  in  the  year 
1867-8.  The  house  and  the  grounds,  as  well  as  the  location,  are  among 
the  finest  in  Meriden.  The  spot  is  associated  with  his  childhood  days 
and  with  his  earliest  industry.  The  grounds  are  tastefully  laid  out, 
shrubbery  and  trees  are  set  here  and  there  in  abundance,  while  yet 
the  lawn  is  not  overcrowded,  and  the  gardener  keeps  them  in  tidy  ap- 
pearance. The  house  within  is  richly  furnished;  art  and  music  are 
given  the  chief  place  as  surroundings  and  atmosphere  for  the  family 
life.  Mr.  Miller  has  a  sportsman's  love  for  the  domestic  animals,  and 
is  a  connoisseur  of  the  horse,  his  own  horses  being  among  the  finest 
seen  on  the  road;  and  when  he  is  in  his  own  carriage  no  one  but  him- 
self handles  the  reins. 

In  politics  Mr.  Miller  is  a  republican,  and  an  ardent  supporter  of 
the  principles  of  his  party.  In  religion  he  is  a  Baptist,  and  is  warmly 
attached  to  the  church  on  Broad  street,  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He 
has  been  one  of  the  principal  donors  to  the  yearly  support  of  the 
church,  and  in  1869  presented  to  that  body  a  fine  church  organ,  which 
has  since  been  used  in  the  worship  on  Sunday.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  leader 
in  his  denomination,  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Connecticut  Baptist  Edu- 
cation Society.  He  contributes  generously  to  the  various  objects  of 
benevolence,  both  within  and  without  the  Baptist  fraternity.  The 
German  Baptist  church  of   Meriden  was  built  largely  by  his  dona- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  607 

tion,  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  of  the  city  reaped  not  a  little  from  his  gift 
to  it. 

Five  children  have  been  born  to  him,  three  of  whom  are  living. 
His  son,  Edward  Miller,  Jr.,  is  the  treasurer  and  secretary  of  the  com- 
pany. He  is  a  graduate  of  Brown  University;  and  upon  him  has  de- 
volved, during  the  last  ten  years,  a  principal  part  of  the  management 
of  the  company.  His  ability  and  experience  enable  him  to  transact 
business  quickly.  He  is  ever  ready  in  conclusions,  and  can  direct 
rapidly  where  another  would  consume  much  time.  His  whole  atten- 
tion is  given  either  to  the  office  or  to  the  field  work  of  the  factory. 
He  is  also  an  accomplished  organist,  leading  in  church  music  when 
occasion  calls  for  expert  leadership.  Another  son,  Arthur  E.  Miller, 
is  assistant  superintendent  of  the  factory.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
superior  ability.  It  has  been  supplemented  by  the  example  and  lead- 
ership of  the  present  able  superintendent ;  and  both  by  natural  fit- 
ness for  management  and  by  training,  he  is  fast  coming  to  be  the 
peer  of  his  brother  as  a  very  important  factor  in  the  Edward  Miller  & 
Co.  Mr.  Miller  also  has  a  daughter,  IMrs.  Layette  A.  Kendrick,  wife 
of  Charles  G.  Kendrick.  She  fills  a  large*  place  not  only  in  the  home 
circle,  but  in  her  church  and  in  society. 

S.VMUEL  Cl.\rk  Paddock  was  born  August  31st,  1816,  in  Meriden, 
Conn.  The  family  traditions  in  Mr.  Paddock's  line  of  descent  trace 
back  his  lineage  to  Zachariah  Paddock,  who  came  from  Wales,  Great 
Britain,  and  landed  in  Rhode  Island — he  afterward  settled  in  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  and  died  May  13th,  1800,  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age— and 
also  to  Hannah,  his  wife,  who  died  March  3d,  1819,  in  the  81st  year  of 
her  age.  Their  family  included  several  sons,  one  of  whom  was  Samuel 
Paddock,  who  was  born  June  18th,  1758,  lived  in  Middletown— and 
married  Mehetable  Loveland,  May  13th,  1782.  She  was  born  January 
■29th,  1759.  Their  son,  Samuel,  commonly  spoken  of  as  "junior  "  for 
the  sake  of  identification,  was  born  in  Middletown,  February  22d, 
1784,  and  married  Polly  Sears,  August  30th,  1803.  She  was  born  De- 
cember 2d,  1782,  and  died  October  2r)th,  1822.  Samuel,  Jr.,  died 
August  7th,  1869.  He  moved  to  Meriden  in  1806,  and  was  recog- 
nized by  his  townsmen  as  worthy  of  the  civic  trusts  bestowed  upon 
him. 

Samuel  C.  Paddock,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  their  second 
son.  His  mother,  who  was  spoken  of  as  an  excellent  and  faithful 
Christian  woman,  died  when  he  was  only  six  years  old.  But  his  father 
married  Charlotte  Yale,  January  22d,  1823,  and  .Samuel  C.  was  not  left 
without  the  watch-care  of  a  very  worthy  and  beloved  step-mother.  He 
lived  on  the  homestead  farm  in  East  Meriden  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age.  The  practical  business  turn  of  his  mind  may  be  in- 
ferred from  the  fact  that  earlier  than  this  his  father  intrusted  him 
with  full  power  to  trade  some  of  the  neat  foot  stock  and  the  horses 
with  any  of  the  local  traders;  and  his  father  was  not   only  pleased 


608  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

with  the  excellence  of  the  exchanges  made,  but  sometimes  surprised 
at  it. 

When  seventeen  years  of  age  Samuel  C.  proposed  to  his  father  to 
be  allowed  to  pursue  business  on  his  own  account.  Consent  having- 
been  given  he  engaged  to  sell  tinware  from  a  peddler's  wagon.  It 
was  the  beginning  of  his  independent  business  career.  At  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  gained  full  possession  of  his  legal  "  time,"  and  began 
the  manufacture  of  brick.  He  now  needed  capital,  and  was  able  to 
borrow  $2,000  solely  upon  his  personal  integrity  and  giving  his  indi- 
vidual note.  He  soon  after  purchased  a  small  lot  of  land  and  a  house 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Meriden.  and  assumed  an  additional  obligation 
by  giving  his  note  for  $550  more.  It  was  in  the  nature  of  preparation 
for  marriage,  for  within  a  few  months,  March  19th,  1837,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Jannette  Hall,  daughter  of  Casper  Hall,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Brenton  Hail,  the  first  representative  of  Meriden  in  the 
general  assembly  of  Connecticut,  in  the  year  1806,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Reverend  Samuel  Hall,  who  was  the  first  preacher  of  the 
gospel  in  the  town  of  Cheshire,  Conn. 

But  those  were  the  memorable  panic  da5-s  in  the  business  world  of 
1837,  and  the  many  bricks  in  'Mr.  Paddock's  kiln  remained  unsold.  He 
left  home  in  September  of  that  year  to  sell  goods  in  Alabama.  He 
drove  his  team  of  horses  all  the  way  to  Montgomery,  and  so  success- 
ful were  his  sales  that  he  not  only  brought  satisfactory  returns  to  the 
company  sending  him  out,  but  in  the  spring  could  count  up  his  earn- 
ings to  several  hundreds  of  dollars.  These  mercantile  trips  to  the 
far  South  he  continued  for  several  alternate  years,  having  been  offered 
from  year  to  year  a  considerably  higher  monthly  stipend,  until  he 
had  gathered  funds  sufficient  to  pay  oflf  all  the  note  indebtedness,  in- 
cluding interest  standing  against  him  in  Meriden. 

He  now  purchased  on  credit  in  the  New  York  market  goods  to  the 
value  of  several  thousand  dollars,  and  shipped  them  to  Alabama,  buy- 
ing and  selling  on  his  own  account.  In  1854  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  R.  D.  Twombly,  of  Bragg's  Store,  Ala. — a  man  of  the  highest  vir- 
tue and  honor.  He  there  purchased  a  plantation  and  hou.se,  and  built 
a  store,  and  filled  it  with  whatever  goods  were  in  demand  in  the  coun- 
try. The  partnership  was  a  prosperous  one,  and  was-  interfered  witb 
only  by  the  political  exigencies  of  the  time. 

The  cruelties  of  slavery  lay  ever  before  Mr.  Paddock's  eyes.  He 
had  been  trained  from  boyhood  to  believe  that  slavery  was  innocent, 
and  that  abolitionists  were  chargeable  with  maligning  an  innocent 
order  in  societ}-.  But  the  sight  of  his  eyes  in  Alabama  changed  all  this 
opinion  born  of  early  training.  There  lay  open  before  him  "the  sum 
of  all  villainies  "  which  could  whip  to  death  the  innocent  bondwoman 
who  could  not  pick  the  "  task  "  of  cotton  before  the  darkness  of  night 
came  on,  or  which  could  amputate  the  sound  leg  of  the  poor  colored 
cobbler  to  make  it  of  even  length  with  the  one  already  lost — two  events. 


■f 


\ 


■If- 


HISTORY    OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  C09 

Mr.  Paddock  himself  was  personally  cognizant  of.  These  things  and 
others  not  so  horribly  cruel  rankled  in  his  mind,  and  though  he  kept 
discreetly  silent,  he  became  ready  for  action  bj'  the  time  the  next 
presidential  campaign  came  on.  And  when  the  opportunity  was 
offered  in  the  North,  in  1855,  he  took  sides  promptly  with  the  free- 
soil  party,  and  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont  for  president  of  the  United 
States. 

But  upon  returning  South  to  his  store  at  Bragg's,  it  was  hardly 
possible  to  allay  all  inquiries  as  to  what  part  he  bore  in  the  campaign. 
It  was  known  that  he  had  sold  hundreds  of  spelling  books  to  the 
blacks,  in  violation  of  the  statutes  of  the  state.  Was  this  law  break- 
ing carried  on  in  favor  to  the  blacks,  or  was  it  due  to  an  inordinate 
passion  for  money-making  ?  And  it  was  also  true  that  he  prepared 
the  old  colored  preacher  at  about  midnight  of  .Saturday  for  preaching 
to  his  colored  congregation  the  next  day,  reading  him  a  Bible  story, 
and  instructing  him  in  the  Scriptures  for  an  hour,  after  all  the  white 
customers  had  gone  from  the  store.  And  now  did  he  vote  for  John 
C.  Fremont  for  president  ? 

It  was  1857,  and  a  rival  tradesman  in  the  South,  a  friend  of  Mr. 
Paddock's,  and  from  the  same  Connecticut  town,  proclaimed  on  the 
streets  of  Bragg's,  that  his  competitor  did  vote  for  Fremont.  Cor- 
respondence was  entered  into  with  the  postmaster  of  Meriden  to  secure 
from  him  a  confirmation  or  denial  of  the  report,  in  respect  cf  his 
neighbor,  and  he  affirmed  its  truth  to  his  Southern  inquirers.  Then 
the  warning  letters  were  despatched  to  Mr.  Paddock,  who  was  in  the 
North,  not  to  appear  again  among  his  Alabama  acquaintances.  But 
on  Christmas  day  of  1858  he  arrived  at  Bragg's,  where  his  store  was 
situated. 

The  Vigilance  Committee  at  once  met  and  decided  to  remove  him 
the  next  day  at  one  o'clock.  At  that  hour  he  was  conveniently  absent 
and  returned  in  secret  only  long  enough  to  make  out  deeds  and  bills 
of  .sale  of  all  his  property  in  Alabama  to  his  partner,  who  should 
henceforth  appear  to  be  the  sole  owner.  This  transaction  was  wise 
from  more  than  one  point  of  view,  and  not  the  least  was  the  collection 
of  the  larsre  floating  indebtedness  due  the  .store  from  the  slave-hold- 
ing  planters  of  the  vicinity,  for  they  had  determined  not  to  pay  bills 
due  an  anti-slavery  creditor.  Mr.  Paddock  at  once  returned  to  the 
hospitable  North.  But  though,  as  is  evident,  his  business  prospects 
in  Alabama  were  ruined  by  his  political  action  in  voting  for  Fremont, 
he  has  always  looked  back  upon  it  as  one  of  the  proudest  and  most 
honorable  acts  of  his  life.  With  those  prospects  vanished,  also  many 
thousands  of  dollars  in  Southern  securities,  still  he  could  do  no  other 
than  vote  his  convictions,  and  there  he  stood.  As  between  his  free- 
dom as  an  American  citizen  before  the  ballot  box  and  the  .subservient 
clutching"  to  his  property  and  business  prospects  before  a  Southern 
slave-holding  aristocracy,  there  was  only  one  thing  for  him  to  choose, 
38 


610  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

and  he  chose  it.  From  thi.s  distance  he  now  sees  that  his  action  then 
was  not  only  politically  and  morally  right,  but  financially  shrewd,  for 
his  pro-slavery  acquaintances  in  the  South  lost  all  their  wealth  in  the 
gfreat  national  strug-o-le  which  hastened  on. 

His  business  life  since  has  embraced  principally  marketing  and 
real  estate.  For  several  years  he  kept  the  largest  and  most  numerously 
patronized  market  in  Meriden.  His  real  estate  transactions  have 
been  extensive,  and  there  are  but  few  appraisers  of  real  estate  values 
excelling  him  in  all  the  town  of  Meriden.  He  has  always  been  greatly 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  town,  and  the  promotion  of  public 
works.  His  fellow  townsmen  have  done  him  the  honor  to  elect  him 
to  the  highest  town  offices. 

Mr.  Paddock  is  by  religious  profession  a  Baptist,  and  a  worthy  and 
beloved  member  of  the  church,  at  whose  communion  table  he  sits, 
but  no  man  except  himself  has  formulated  his  religious  creed.  He 
has  been  a  close  student  of  the  Christian  Scriptures,  and  bases  his 
beliefs  upon  the  direct  study  of  them.  While  so  charitable  in  spirit, 
and  so  tolerant  of  other's  views,  he  is  not  the  less  firm  and  positive 
of  his  own.  When  a  young  man  he  could  not  read  "  fire  and  brim- 
stone "  either  out  of  or  into  the  gospels  of  Christ,  nor  could  the 
church  committee  convince  him  that  the  parable  of  the  Rich  Man 
and  Lazarus  is  a  picture  of  the  realities  in  the  next  world,  but  rather 
in  this. 

In  his  view  God  is  emphatically  one,  and  the  terms  of  the  old 
theology  describing  him  as  three  persons,  are  to  be  interpreted,  to 
make  them  correct,  as  manifestations  of  him.  wSo,  too,  Christ  was  the 
human  personality  in  the  long  series  of  the  human  race  in  whom  God 
chose  to  manifest  himself  wondrously,  the  manifestation,  however, 
being  not  different  in  kind  from  that  in  other  persons,  but  only  in 
degree ;  and  the  work  of  Christ  operated  for  man  not  as  vicarious  suf- 
fering for  his  sin,  but  as  a  powerful  exemplary  exhibition  of  divine 
love  for  him,  teaching  him  how  to  live.  He  regards  the  judgment 
day  as  running  parallel  with  human  earthly  life,  and  as  being  coter- 
minous with  it,  both  at  the  beginning  and  the  end,  and  not  a  stupend- 
ous assize  at  the  end  of  all  things  temporal. 

To  him  also  the  second  coming  of  Christ  is  a  repeated  event  of 
divine  mercy  or  wrath  appearing  in  the  striking  providences  which 
happen  to  persons  or  nations,  such  as  the  fall  of  Jerusalem  or  the  san- 
guinary war  which  ended  American  slavery:  and  death  is  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  unjust  into  non-existence;  but  for  believers  in  Christ,  by 
virtue  of  their  life  in  him,  it  is  their  transference  to  the  eternal  world, 
where  all  that  is  temporal  and  material  has  dropped  away  from  them 
forever  in  the  event  of  dying.  Mr.  Paddock  deems  these  reforms  of 
doctrine  suggested  in  his  creed  essential  to  the  full  power  of  the  gos- 
pel in  the  world,  and  attributes  the  greater  part  of  the  current  scepti- 


» 


r 


a> 


o      :^/  r>yfyf  uyt/' 


i/L 


of  the  . 
•reat  biblical  truuis. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  l^addock  uv   n^ 
nd  are  held  in  respect  of  all  \vl: 
njoyment  of  their  ample  fortune. 
A-eddingf  "  passed  gently  by.  an' 
•  ving  friends,  these  exccll":!': 
;fe.     Five  children  havL 


Ul'.i    .\i:ii:<i 


I 


17th,  1876.     The  living  children  are:  George  Byron  Had 

•  >n,  Minn.;  Mrs.  Mary  Ann   Hall,  of  New   Haven,  Conn. 

■.  Paddock,  of  Elgin.  N^r.. 
Charles  Parkek  Stephen  and  Rebecca  Parker,  wash 

Conn..  '9.     Wh 

^...- —  ..  .th  a  far..  ...  „ ..eof  Poi:^.  _.   -.      -    - 

until  he  was  fourteen.     He  continued  on  a  farm  until  he  was  efig 
when  he  went  to  work  ir  igton  casting  buttons  fc 

thews.     He  remained  thciv     ....  year  and  then  removed  tt .^ ':, 

then  a  part  of  Waterbury,  where  he  worked  for  Horace  and  Harry 
Smith  about  six  m'onths.     In  August,  1828 
iden  and  hired  out  to  Patrick  Lewis,  making  ^,.  ..^^  ..i,    ... 
ber,  1829.  he  went  into  business  for  himself  with  a  capital  c 
g  a  contract  from  Lewis  &  Holt  for  thirteen  mouths  to  ma 
coffee  mills.'    During  the  thirteen  months  Mr.  Parker  c^-- 
He  then  took  in  a  partner,  Mr.  Jared  Lew>,  and  took  an. 
from  Lewis  &  HoPt,  to  manufacture  t 
In  January,  1831.  he      '  ' 
of  ground  between  li 
brown  house,  and  Mr.  1 
On  the  back  of  this  lot  he  uuUl  a 
.«^pring  of  1832,  in  which  he  manufacti.. . 

le  then  went  to  market  with  his  own 
Lewis  &  Holt  failed.  "^  the  v 

liands.     In  1833  he  a ...Lh  his  ; 

'hite,  under  the  firm  name  of  Parker  <S 
ness  until  1835,  when  Edmund  ! 
with  clocks  and  dry  r'  '  •'      t,,  ■ 
to  Montgomery  witl 

-^37,  he  made   ?  >  to  Ala 

'•<5;   but  the  1, 
:g  the  firm 
their  embarrassment 
their  friends  to  fail,  but  • 

est.     During  this  tim^  1  . 

White,  and  in  1843  the  partnership  was  dis.solved,  Mr 


-s  and  skimmers. 


he  house  and  ground; 


In 

November, 

and 

ca: 

nl 

to  V 

ily. 

In  October. 

k  of  drv 

612  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

south,  where  he  soon  failed.  Mr.  Parker's  busines.s  steadily  increa.sed, 
and  in  1844  he  added  largely  to  his  buildings,  putting  in  steam  power, 
having  previously  u.sed  horse  power.  He  was  the  first  to  manufacture 
plated  spoons  and  forks,  and  the  first  to  plate  hollow  ware  in  Meriden. 
In  1876  Mr.  Parker  partially  retired  from  business,  and*  his  extensive 
works  have  been  in  charge  of  his  sons,  Dexter  W.  and  Charles  E.,  and  his 
son-in-law,  William  H.Lyon, under  the  corporate  name  of  the  Charles 
Parker  Company.  The  company  now  own  the  Union  Works  on  High 
and  Elm  streets,  the  Parker  gun  factory  on  Cherry  street,  the  iron 
spoon  shop  in  East  Meriden,  the  box  shop  in  Yalesville,  and  the  clock 
shop  in  the  western  part  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Parker  is  a  director  in  the  following  companies:  Meriden  Fire 
Insurance,  Wilcox   Silver   Plate  Company,    Safe    Deposit   Company, 
Meriden  Republican  Company,  and   Meriden  National  Bank.     He  is 
also  president  of  the  Charles   Parker  Company,  and  the  Meriden  Cur- 
tain  Fixture  Company.     Mr.   Parker's  great   business  interests  have 
always   prevented  him  from  entering  public  life,  but  when  Meriden 
was  organized  as  a  city  he  was  elected  mayor  and  reelected  the  follow- 
ing year.     In  1874,  after  residing  for  thirty  years  at  the  corner  of  East 
Main  and   High  streets,  Mr.  Parker  purchased  the  elegant  residence 
on  North  Broad  street,  which  was  built  by  Mr.  Jedediah  Wilcox,  at  a 
cost  of  $162,000.     Mr.  Parker  early  became  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist church,  and  has  always  largely  aided  in  its  support.     When  the 
new  church,  on  Main    and    Pleasant  streets,  was   built,   he    donated 
$50,000  to  the  building  fund.     Mr.  Parker  married,  October  6th,  1831, 
Miss  Abi  Lewis  Eddy,  of  Berlin,  who  died  March  7th,  1880.     Of  their 
ten  children  there  are  now  living:   Charles  Eddy,  Dexter  Wright  and 
Annie  Dryden,  who  married  William  H.  Lyon.     Mr.  Parker  has  al- 
ways taken  an  interest  in  the  growth  and  welfare  of  Meriden.     Emi- 
nently a  domestic  man,  when  not  in  business  his  home  was  in  the 
bosom  of  his  family,  and  now,  while  having  reached  a  great  age,  his 
intellect  is  undimmed  and  his  faculties  are  still  acute,  and  surrounded 
by  his  family,  he  is  enjoying  that  repose  which  he  has  rightly  earned. 
Cephas  B.  Rogers  was  born  in  Saybrook,  Conn.,  December  30th, 
1836.     His  parents,  Hervey  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Tryon)  Rogers,  moved 
to  Meriden   to  manage  the  Rogers  Hotel,  when  their  son  Cephas  B. 
was  only  thirteen  years  of  age.     His  education  was  pursued  in  the 
schools  of  Meriden,  but  not  steadily,  for  a  part  of  his  youth  was  spent 
in  a  neighboring  factory  manufacturing  tinware  and  japanned  goods. 
It  was  in  that  factory  that  young  Rogers'  energy  and  ability  for  busi- 
ness showed   themselves,  though  so  early  in  his  life.     Ten  hours  of 
toil  did  not  satisfy  him.     He  was  up  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
did  the  chores  about  the  factory  and  opened  the  japanning  kiln,  be- 
fore the  work  hours  came  on.     The  earnings  of  his  overtime  work 
netted  him  a  considerable  sum,  in  addition   to  his  daily  wages.     His 
employers  were  pleased  with  the  despatch  he  gave  to  the  product  of 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   KAVEN   COUNTY.  613 

the  factory  every  day,  and  his  earnings  he  carefully  saved  for  future 
use. 

The  way  of  promotion  was  now  opened  to  him,  though  it  was  not 
yet  known  just  what  lines  of  industry  he  might  follow  for  the  future. 
The  Meriden  Lumber  &  Coal  Company  needed  office  help,  and  he 
became  clerk  for  a  while.  He  afterward  completed  his  school  studies 
in  the  academy  up-town.  But  his  experience  in  hotel  life,  gained  from 
his  father's  management,  sugorested  a  career  for  him;  and  he  now  had 
the  education  as  well  as  the  practical  knowledge  fitting  a  young  man 
for  the  position  of  clerk.  He  was  invited  to  the  clerkship  of  the  New 
Haven  House,  in  the  city  of  New  Haven.  He  held  that  position  for 
six  years,  and  was  there  at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  and  during 
the  greater  portion  of  the  war.  The  position  aflforded  him  opportu- 
nity for  making  a  wide  acquaintance  with  men,  and  with  political  and 
state  affairs.  The  New  Haven  House  was  the  principal  rendezvous  of 
the  Connecticut  political  and  military  leaders,  and  Mr.  Rogers'  ac- 
quaintance with  them  became  fellowship.  His  wide  knowledge  of 
affairs  and  of  men  made  him  a  valued  partner.  He  accompanied  Mr. 
Lincoln  when  that  distinguished  visitor  made  addresses  in  the  state, 
and  introduced  men  to  him.  It  is  remembered  now  that  the  non- 
chalance and  good  nature  of  Mr.  Lincoln  were  manifest  everywhere 
he  went.  He  was  sitting  in  fatigue  attitude  at  the  car  stove,  when  a 
farmer  who  had  boarded  the  train  on  the  way  to  Meriden  desired  to 
meet  Mr.  Lincoln.  Mr.  Rogers  inquired  of  him  whether  he  would  not 
like  to  meet  "  a  genuine  son  of  the  soil  "  of  the  nutmeg  .state,  and  at 
the  same  time  presented  the  North  Haven  farmer.  Mr.  Lincoln  re- 
plied: "  Well,  Mr. ,  you  look  old  enough  to  be  one  of  the  fathers 

of  the  soil  rather  than  a  .son."  Mr.  Rogers'  enthusiasm  for  the  new 
party  carried  him  upon  the  rostrum  for  the  public  discussion  of  the 
great  questions  of  the  day.  His  ready  speech  and  quick  apprehension 
and  wide  knowledge  of  the  political  situation  made  him  an  agreeable 
and  effective  public  speaker.  And  when  Mr.  Lincoln  was  inaugurated 
president,  Mr.  Rogers  visited  Washington  to  share  in  the  eclat  of  the 
great  occasion. 

In  1863  Mr.  Rogers  left  the  New  Haven  House  and  took  charge  of 
the  Wadawanock  House  of  Stonington,  and  later  of  the  St.  Denis 
Hotel  of  New  York  city.  Both  of  those  managements  were  highly 
prosperous  from  a  financial  point  of  view,  but  the  constant  confine- 
ment and  pressure  of  responsibility  broke  down  his  health,  and  he 
returned  to  Meriden  for  recuperation. 

It  was  during  this  restful  period  that  the  partnership  of  C.  Rogers 
&  Brothers  was  planned  and  entered  into  in  February,  1866.  His  two 
brothers,  Gilbert  and  Wilbur  F.,  were  skilled  manufacturers  of  silver 
plated  ware,  and  there  appeared  to  be  room  in  the  business  world  for 
a  new  company  and  a  new  factory.  Beginning  small  in  1866,  the 
silver  plating  industry  of  C.  Rogers  &  Brothers  has  now  become  one 


614  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

of  the  principal  manufacturing  centers  of  the  city  of  Aleriden,  and 
challenges  the  admiration  of  all  familiar  with  its  inception  and 
growth.  About  three  hundred  hands  are  steadily  employed.  So 
successfully  is  the  industry  managed  that  the  doors  are  never  closed 
on  week  days,  except  for  holidays  and  for  inventory.  The  products 
of  the  factory  are  ranged  in  three  departments:  silver  plated  spoons, 
forks,  knives  and  table  ware — the  manufacture  beginning  with  the 
metal  from  which  the  articles  are  finally  made;  casket  trimmings  and 
undertakers'  supplies;  furniture  hardware.  In  one  or  more  of  these 
departments  business  is  always  brisk. 

The  manufactured  products  of  C.  Rogers  &  Brothers  have  a  world- 
wide reputation.  The  foreign  shipments  are  large,  going  to  Europe, 
Australia  and  South  America.  So  fully  does  the  company  have  the 
confidence  of  its  numerous  and  widely  diffu.sed  patrons,  and  so  ex- 
actly do  all  goods  correspond  to  the  representations  made  of  them, 
that  the  entire  business  is  conducted  from  the  office  of  the  company 
in  Merijlen.  The  Rogers  brothers  give  their  personal  supervision  to 
the  working  and  product  of  all  their  great  factory.  By  strict  integrity, 
by  honorable  and  prompt  methods  of  business,  and  by  close  attention 
to  every  department,  the  C.  Rogers  &  Brothers  company  commends 
itself  in  all  the  markets  of  the  world,  and  has  won  a  reputation  meas- 
ured by  the  constant  growth  of  business  from  year  to  year. 

The  aim  of  these  three  brothers  in  their  manufacturing  enterprise 
is  not  money-making  for  the  money's  sake,  but  chiefly  for  the  good 
which  may  be  done  through  it;  so  that  the  marked  prosperity  they 
have  attained  to  is  made  to  have  a  high  moral  end.  They  are  not 
only  prominent  business  men  in  Meriden,  but  are  prominent  in  social 
and  religious  circles.  They  are  Methodists,  and  have  been  greatly 
interested  in  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  they  are 
members.  Cephas  B.  Rogers  has  been  a  member  of  the  official  board 
since  1866,  and  is  the  president  of  the  board  of  trustees.  He  is  promi- 
nent in  his  denomination  at  large,  and  his  abilities  give  him  standing 
in  the  deliberations  of  the  governing  bodies  of  the  church.  He  is 
president  of  the  Lay  Conference  and  trustee  of  Wesleyan  University 
in  Middletown. 

In  his  own  city  of  Meriden  he  has  taken  much  interest  in  public 
matters.  Public  improvements  and  the  schools  of  the  city  have  en- 
gaged his  thought  and  time,  and  for  six  years  he  was  a  valued  member 
of  the  common  council. 

He  has  also  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  of  foreign  travel, 
visiting,  in  1880,  England  and  France. 

In  1870  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of  Doctor 
Peter  F.  and  Anna  M.  Clark,  of  New  York  city.  Mrs.  Rogers  is  a 
Christian  lady,  beloved  in  her  church  and  esteemed  highly  in  Meriden 
society.     Their  home  is  the  Rogers  homestead  in  Meriden,  beautifully 


^'^"'^f'f-C^   -^.■/>g>x 


► 


HISTORY  OF 


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located  on  North  Coif 
of  taste  and  expem 

John  Sutliff  \\ 
the  son  of  JoTin  an 
tages  environinsj  li 
successful  busi: 
but  of  such  quj 
economical  ha' 
ture  which 
attaching  t. 
Meriden  w. 
teen  years  for 
during  t'  ' 
his  larj^ 

IT- 
ture  o! 
was  tl?'. 
were  sa; 
on  s^.' 
me:. 

loss.     It    V 
friends  who  Irad  oi' 
part  compo-"'  'i^- 
chase  an  in. 
partment,  him-' 
steadily  to  ''^  ^ 

ThclUi,. 
taken  in  IHaf),  : 
state.  Mr  ' 
facture  co. 
and  variou 
The  office' 
president,  1 
riam. 

At  the  I 
uct  of  the  ' 
growth  sin 
and   never 
years.     In  ' 
plant  covei 
of  Men 
can  bo,; 

Mr. 
trol  hi.-- 
be  f.  ■•■ 


616  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY. 

Mr.  Satliff's  principal  business  relations  in  the  city  of  Meriden 
have  been  those  of  a  capitalist.  He  was  for  many  years  a  director  of 
the  First  National  Bank,  and  is  still  a  trustee  of  the  City  Savings 
Bank.  He  has  made  large  investment.'?  in  the  West  as  well  as  at 
home,  and  is  never  lacking  in  funds  with  which  to  aid  persons  who 
desire  to  secure  loans  of  a  few  hundreds  or  thousands  of  dollars.  The 
fortune  so  meagre  at  the  beginning  of  his  residence  in  Meriden  has 
become  a  great  estate  in  these  late  years. 

Mr.  Sutliff  has  been  twice  married;  first  to  Mi.ss  Mary  Ann  Dayton, 
of  North  Haven,  Conn.,  November  23d,  1828.  Their  children  are: 
Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Higby,  who  died  December  22d,  18o9;  John  A.  Sutliff 
and  James  R.  Sutliff,  vice-president  of  Foster,  Merriam  &  Co.  Mr. 
James  R.  Sutliff  married  Miss  Sarah  Easton,  and  to  them  was  born 
one  daughter.  Miss  Hattie  E.  Sutliff.  Mr.  John  Sutliff  was  married  the 
second  time  to  Miss  Rebecca  Miles,  of  Cheshire,  Conn.,  November 
9th,  1842.  Two  children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union:  Edgar  E.,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  Abby,  who  died  at  about  four  years  of  age. 

John  Tait,  M.  D.,  was  born  February  16th,  1828,  in  the  town  of 
Trumbull,  Fairfield  county.  Conn.  Doctor  Tait's  ancestry  was  vScotch, 
though  there  is  nothing  in  his  personal  appearance  or  speech  to 
direct  an  observer  to  his  parentage.  His  good  citizenship,  his  ster- 
ling integrity,  and  his  religion,  however,  very  naturally  link  on  to 
that  race  descent.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Meriden,  Conn.,  since 
18^)4,  and  a  leading  physician  during  all  those  years.  He  has  seen 
the  growth  of  the  greater  part  of  Meriden,  and  shared  in  it  as  an  in- 
terested, public-spirited  citizen.  His  professional  services  have  been 
sought  for  in  nearly  all  of  the  older  families  of  the  town,  with  whom  he 
has  not  merely  acquaintance,  but  often  intimacy  and  endeared  friend- 
ship. Besides,  his  practice  has  embraced  many  of  the  families  more 
recently  settled  in  the  city.  So  that  going  to  and  fro,  from  side  to 
side,  of  Meriden,  he  is  better  known  in  general  than  most  persons, 
and  none  are  more  generally  beloved  than  he. 

His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
section  where  his  boyhood  was  spent.  His  father  was  a  manufacturer 
of  fancy  marble  paper,  and  Doctor  Tait  aided  him  as  a  filial  son  in  the 
manufacture  until  he  was  18  years  of  age.  At  that  time  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  an  older  brother  to  carry  on  the  same  business.  The 
partnership  continued  about  two  years.  In  those  days  the  United 
States  government  exercised  no  sufficient  protecting  care  over  incip- 
ient and  struggling  industries,  and  manufacturers  in  foreign  lands 
were  allowed  to  flood  American  markets  with  their  products.  The 
wages  of  laborers  in  Germany  were  much  lower  than  in  this  country, 
and  the  German  manufacturers  of  fancy  marble  paper  could  undersell 
the  producers  of  the  same  goods  in  our  home  markets,  where  a  much 
higher  daily  wage  was  demanded  by  the  workmen.  And  hence  the 
young  Tait  brothers  could   not  compete  successfully  with  the  import- 


HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  617 

•ers  of  foreign  goods.  Accordingly  the  partnership  was  terminated, 
and  Doctor  Tait  at  once  resolved  to  gratify  his  thirst  for  an  education. 
He  took  his  share  of  the  earnings  of  manufacture  and  repaired  to 
Thompson's  Academy,  in  Woodbury,  Litchfield  county,  to  fit  himself 
for  entrance  to  Yale  University.  He  succeeded  so  well  in  his  prepar- 
atory studies  that  in  two  years  he  was  matriculated,  and  entered  the 
arts  course  of  the  university  in  the  class  of  1854.  But  steady  in-door 
life  and  hard  study  wore  upon  his  physical  strength,  and  he  was 
obliged,  after  two  years'  residence  at  the  university,  to  give  over  his 
purpose  of  graduating  with  his  class.  He  must  hasten  to  his  special 
professional  studies,  or  be  unable  to  finish  them.  He  went,  in  the 
fall  of  1852,  to  the  Eclectic  Medical  School  of  New  York,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1854. 

He  was  now  ready  to  enter  upon  his  professional  life,  and  watched 
for  the  opportunity  under  such  conditions  as  would  keep  him  out  of 
doors  much  of  the  time.  At  that  date  Doctor  Henry  A.  Archer  was  a 
practicing  physician  in  Meriden,  and  needed  an  associate  to  attend  to 
the  out-door  part  of  the  business.  It  was  just  the  opening  Doctor  Tait 
had  been  looking  for.  The  office  was  situated  a  little  west  of  Broad 
street,  on  what  is  now  called  East  Main  street.  The  center  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Meriden  then  lay  a  short  distance  to  the  eastward  of  the 
office,  but  now  the  center  of  the  city  has  passed  to  the  westward  along 
Main  street,  so  that  the  location  of  Doctor  Tait's  office  for  a  physi- 
cian's practice  in  Meriden,  during  this  long  series  of  years,  could 
hardly  be  improved  upon. 

This  associate  business  arrangement  continued  for  nearly  four 
years,  or  tmtil  the  spring  of  18.59.  Doctor  Tait  then  purchased  the 
entire  medical  interest  and  real  estate.  244  East  Mam  street,  and  suc- 
ceeded to  the  business  which  both  had  together  prosecuted.  It  was  a 
fortunate  venture  for  him,  especially  the  buying  of  the  real  estate, 
for  it  has  increased  in  value  several  fold  in  the  passing  by  of  the  years 
since  the  purchase  was  made.  Indeed,  this  increase  was  noticed  at 
once,  and  the  value  has  steadily  advanced,  until  now  his  estate,  as  a 
residence,  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  and  valuable  in  the  city  of 
Meriden. 

Doctor  Tait  has  remained  in  this  one  location  ever  since  the  orig- 
inal purchase,  having  his  office  in  one  division  of  his  house,  and 
specially  fitted  up  for  the  practitioner's  use.  He  has  remodelled  the 
dwelling  part  .somewhat,  has  raised  the  entire  walls,  constructed  a 
new  roof  and  decorated  the  house  throughout.  Other  new  and  fine 
residences  have  been  built  near  b3\  on  what  was  vacant  land  in  1854, 
and  he  finds  himself  now  in  the  very  heart  of  the  desirable  resident 
portion  of  the  city  of  Meriden. 

Doctor  Tait  married  Mrs.  Tibballs,  w^r' Catherine  E.  Chapman,  No- 
vember 24th,  1859,  daughter  of  Julius  Chapman,  of  East  Haddam. 
Conn.     One  daughter,  Miss  Flora  Chapman  Tait.  was  born  to  them, 


618  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

April  14th,  1863,  and  never  was  there  a  happier  family.  But  the  fam- 
ily joy  was  so  soon  and  so  sadly  broken  intol  On  May  25th,  1872,  Mrs. 
Tait  died,  and  the  light  of  wife  and  mother  went  out  from  the  home. 
Mrs.  Tait  was  a  pleasing  lady,  much  esteemed  for  her  virtues  and 
amiable  qualities,  quiet,  unassuming,  but  still  energetic  and  of  high 
character,  and  much  beloved.  Her  illness  was  brief,  and  many, 
besides  her  heart-stricken  family,  mourned  for  her  as  for  a  precious 
friend. 

In  the  year  1874,  December  25th,  Doctor  Tait  married  Miss  Laura 
A.  Chapman,  of  East  Haddam,  who  now  lives  and  shares  with  him 
the  high  regard  and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held.  She  was  a  sister  of 
the  first  wife,  and  is  much  like  her  in  those  qualities  which  won  for 
her  so  much  love  and  esteem.  And  it  is  as  true  as  rare  to  say  that 
the  little  daughter  soon  discovered  no  difference  of  motherhood. 
Two  other  daughters  have  been  born  into  the  family:  Nellie  Chapman 
Tait,  born  June  26th,  1876,  and  Fanny  Robbins  Tait,  born  October  6th, 
1878,  who  died  in  infancy,  December  17th,  1878. 

Doctor  Tait's  library  fills  a  considerable  part  of  his  roomy  office. 
while  books,  magazines  and  papers  lie  about  in  abundance.  One  side 
of  his  office  is  devoted  to  drugs  and  medicines,  for  he  prefers  to  fill 
his  own  prescriptions.  Herein  may  lie  one  of  the  secrets  of  his  popu- 
larity among  his  patients.  It  has  always  been  his  aim  to  make  his 
services  as  inexpensive  as  he  could  to  his  patrons,  while  yet  giving 
them  the  highest  skill  and  best  results  of  medical  knowledge.  The 
response  of  the  people  to  him  for  this  has  been  a  large  and  re- 
munerative practice,  and  a  confiding  intimacy  as  their  "beloved  phy- 
sician." 

In  politics  he  has  been  a  republican,  from  the  days  of  Fremont, 
for  whom  he  voted:  and  though  often  urged  to  allow  himself  to  be 
brought  out  prominently  by  his  party  for  distinguished  party  honors 
and  service,  he  has  steadily  refused,  preferring  the  quiet  life  of  his 
profession  to  the  noisy  strife  of  politics. 

In  business  he  has  quietly  pas.sed  into  positions  of  trust,  being  a 
director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Meriden  for  many  years,  also 
of  the  Meriden  Fire  Insurance  Company,  and  of  the  City  Savings 
Bank.  He  is  also  a  Free  and  Accepted  Mason,  Meridian  Chapter,  No. 
77,  a  member  of  the  Center  Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  al.so  of  the  local  flourishing  order  of  Royal  Arcanum,  and 
of  the  Connecticut  Eclectic  Medical  Society. 

In  religion  himself  and  family  are  Congregationalists,  members  of 
the  Center  church,  on  Broad  street.  They  are  highly  esteemed  and 
prominent  members,  and  their  kindness  and  even  generosity  are 
known  to  many  both  within  and  without  the  church  circle. 

Henry  K.White,  manufacturer,  Meriden,  Conn.,  was  born  in  Bol- 
ton, Conn.,  February  7th,  1822.  Mr.  White  is  an  excellent  illustration 
of  a  natural  aptitude  finding  its  calling  in  life.     Genius  not  only  car- 


;ar- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  619 

ries  out  its  own  fortune,  but  first  discovers  the  lines  of  life  along  which 
the  fortune  lies.  Mr.  White's  boyhood  suggested  the  farmer's  life, 
but  his  musical  tastes  determined  the  nature  of  his  calling.  He  was 
first  attracted  by  the  singing  schools  of  that  date.  Both  voice  and  ear 
made  him  a  proficient  pupil  in  the  science  of  music,  and  what  he 
learned  so  quickly  and  gained  the  mastery  of  he  was  skilful  in  im- 
parting. Hence  we  find  him  at  only  18  years  of  age  teaching  singing 
school  and  holding  musical  conventions. 

His  musical  talent  was  not  content  with  the  exercise  of  the  voice, 
but  peered  into  the  mysteries  of  instruments  of  music.  He  must 
familiarize  himself  with  the  mechanism  of  the  piano  and  of  the  organ, 
and  especiall}'  with  those  manipulations  of  the  tense  string  and  of 
the  reed,  which  give  musical  chords.  He  could  now  tune  either  of 
those  instruments  by  fifths,  but  found  that  the  chords  were  not  perfect 
when  the  whole  key  board  had  been  adjusted. 

In  1841  an  opportunity  of  musical  culture,  both  practical  and  the- 
oretical, was  seized  upon,  and  he  put  himself  for  a  year  under  the 
tuition  of  one  of  the  most  accomplished  tenor  singers  of  that  date  in 
the  state.  In  the  same  year,  also,  he  bargained  with  a  professional 
tuner  of  pianos  and  organs  to  be  taught  the  principles  and  methods 
of  tuning  those  instruments.  The  conditions  were  hard  enough,  for, 
in  addition  to  the  price  of  fifty  dollars  for  the  in.struction,  he  was  en- 
joined from  doing  any  tuning  of  either  pianos  or  organs  in  Connecti- 
cut during  the  life  of  his  instructor. 

But  the  world  was  wide,  and  Mr.  White,  in  1842,  started  out  on  a 
tour  of  other  states,  going  westward  through  the  Northern  states  as 
far  as  Chicago,  and  then  turning  southward  as  far  as  St.  Louis,  and 
then  homeward,  through  Kentucky  and  the  Central  states.  Upon  his 
return  home  in  1846  he  entered  the  employ  of  Dennison  Smith,  of 
Colchester,  Conn.  Mr.  Smith  had  secured  a  seraphine,  made  in 
France,  and  undertook  to  manufacture  instruments  for  the  market  in 
this  country.  Mr.  White  was  the  sort  of  aid  needed  in  his  factory, 
but  he  had  not  yet  attained  to  the  manufacturer's  independence,  and 
as  all  restrictions  had  been  removed  from  his  action  in  his  native 
state,  he  began  the  manufacture  of  organs  for  himself  in  New  London 
in  1847,  when  he  was  only  25  years  of  age. 

He  was  now  familiar  with  the  construction  of  quite  all  the  pianos 
and  reed  instruments  in  this  countr}',  and  was  skilled  in  the  voicing 
of  the  latter  and  the  tuning  of  both.  He  was  then  well  equipped  to 
undertake  the  manufacture  of  either,  especially  of  reed  instruments. 
The  building  of  the  cases  in  New  London  was  done  by  cabinet- 
makers, under  his  supervision,  while  he  put  in  the  action  and  com- 
pleted the  musical  adjustment  as  to  voice  and  tune.  Just  then  the 
Carhart  principle  for  reed  instruments  of  exhaust  bellow^s  and  sailable 
reed  board  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  organ  makers,  and  patent 
rights  were  offered  for  sale. 


620  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Mr.  White  has  the  credit  of  suggesting  to  the  discoverer  that  he 
himself  make  the  reeds  and  reed  boards  and  sell  them  to  organ  builders, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  use  the  new  discovery  in  the  construc- 
tion of  organs;  but  in  1853  he  accepted  the  urgent  invitation  of  parties 
in  Washington,  N.  J.,  to  manufacture  organs  there.  He  did  so  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war  disturbed  business  and  made  it  impossible 
to  collect  a  large  trust  account  due  in  the  Southern  states. 

He  now  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  until  1865  followed  his  early 
aptitude  for  tuning  pianos  and  organs.  At  that  time  the  great  organ 
works  of  Jacob  Estey,  in  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  were  developing  to  consider- 
able proportions,  and  Mr.  White  was  called  and  put  in  charge  of  the 
tuning  and  action  department.  He  was  soon  found  to  be  so  well 
versed  in  organ  building  that  he  was  consulted  respecting  designs  for 
cases,  as  well  as  the  internal  construction  and  the  musical  quality. 
He  continued  in  the  employ  of  the  Estey  Company  at  a  high  salary 
for  more  than  twelve  years.  His  sons  were  evidentl}'  following  their 
father's  industrial  bent,  the  eldest,  J.  H.  White,  having  already  at- 
tained to  a  prominent  and  high  priced  position  in  the  factory.  The 
time  had  come  for  an  independent  business  organization,  in  which  Mr. 
White  and  his  sons  should  figure  inore  prominently  than  ever.  The 
opportunity  opened  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  where  capital  waited  to  be 
controlled  by  Mr.  White. 

The  Wilcox  &  White  Organ  Company  was  organized  in  1876,  and 
business  begun  as  soon  as  the  large  factory  could  be  built.  So  pros- 
perous has  the  company  been  that  though  the  original  factory  was 
large,  and  thought  by  its  projectors  to  be  all  that  would  ever  be 
needed,  21,000  feet  of  flooring  space  have  since  been  added.  About 
150  hands  are  employed.  Organs  are  sent  to  all  the  principal  coun- 
tries of  the  world  ;  at  the  same  time  the  home  market  is  large.  No 
pains  is  spared  to  give  the  highest  qualit\'of  workmanship  to  all  parts 
of  the  Wilcox  &  White  organ,  and  it  challenges  competition.  It  is 
made  in  two  general  kinds,  each  kind  embracing  many  styles:  First, 
the  manual  organ  ;  second,  the  pneumatic  symphony,  a  self-playing 
instrument  of  wonderful  compass,  perfect  in  execution  as  that  of  the 
most  skilled  musicians.  To  Mr.  White  himself  is  chiefly  due  the  de- 
velopment of  the  Wilcox  &  White  organ,  though  he  himself  disclaims 
so  much  credit  and  leaves  the  chief  honor  to  his  sons. 

As  a  citizen,  Mr.  White  is  much  esteemed  among  all  acquaintances, 
not  only  for  his  business  thrift,  but  for  his  integrity  and  character 
and  public  spirit.  His  own  residence,  surrounded  by  his  neighbors, 
among  whom  are  his  own  sons,  is  an  exhibit  of  the  public  spirit  which 
animates  both  himself  and  them,  for  the  street  on  which  he  lives  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  city  of  Meriden. 

He  is  a  republican  in  politics  and  a  Baptist  in  religious  faith.  He 
has  been  chosen  to  the  city  council,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  mayor 
is  made  president /ro  tempore. 


(»1 


I 

I 


connected 
Edward  H.,  sir 
superintenf'-  • 
men  is  to 
prosperity 
Winfic]''- 
live  in 
group. 

HOKA. 

Wilcox,  w; 
24th,  1824 

old,  at; 
he  con. 
two  years 
ware  for  M: . 
and  took  all  o.   . 
business   for  sevei 
Messrs.  William  Lym.' 
T  ewis  &  Co. 

Mr.  Wilcox  took  in 
under  the  firm  n. 
ber,  18fi2,  when   tl- 
company  comprist 
for  whom  he  had 
dent,  P-  ■■  ^'-  "'•■ 
then  t' 
and  fii 

until  Ibu.',  wi! 
the  majority  m: 
well  as  its  enterprises;  Mi 
alv 

mci.  .  .  :. 

spent  the  greater  ; 
an 

\V..,. 
River 
of  the 
sivelv 
a  dec;.'  ■■ 
he  was  ideini 
Plate  Corapan 
Company,  Mf 
Music  Company,  Men 


■vOjjiria  cV  t 


Uoih- 


622  HISTORY  OF  new  haven  county. 

ers,  Waterbury;  R.  Wallace  &  Sons,  Wallingford;  William  Rogers  & 
Son,  Hartford;  the  Meriden  Fire  Insurance  Company,  Home  National 
Bank,  the  Republican  Publishing;  Company,  and  he  had  been  a  trus- 
tee of  the  City  Savings  Bank  since  its  organization.  He  was  also  a 
director  in  the  Walnut  Grove  Cemetery  As.sociation. 

While  j\Ir.  Wilcox  was  a  hard  working  business  man,  he  never 
shirked  public  duties,  and  made  his  influence  felt  in  the  various  offices 
he  held.  He  was  an  alderman  when  the  city  government  was  first 
organized,  and  the  fifth  mayor  of  the  city,  holding  that  office  in  1875 
and  1876.  In  1877  he  was  elected  state  senator.  He  had  no  liking 
for  political  honors,  and  increasing  business  cares  and  failing  health 
prevented  him  from  accepting  other  offices  in  the  gift  of  his  towns- 
men. The  principal  trait  in  Mr.  Wilcox's  character  was  an  indomit- 
able energy  and  perseverance.  From  a  borrowed  capital  of  three 
dollars  with  which  he  commenced  business,  he  accumulated  a  very 
large  property.  He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Congregational  church, 
and  was  always  one  of  its  heaviest  contributors;  he  was  on  the  build- 
ing committee  which  had  in  charge  the  building  of  the  present  beau- 
tiful edifice.  He  was  a  member  of  the  society  committee  up  to 
1884,  and  was  on  other  important  committees  connected  with  that  or- 
ganization. 

Mr.  Wilcox  was  married  August  9th,  1848,  to  Charlotte,  daughter 
of  Jabez  Smith,  of  Westfield.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  five  children. 
The  oldest  daughter  is  the  wife  of  W.  P.  Morgan,  who  has  charge  of 
the  Meriden  Britannia  Company's  business  at  San  Francisco.  George 
H.  Wilcox,  the  oldest  son,  succeeded  his  father  as  manager  of  the 
Britannia  Company.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Wilcox 
married  Ellen,  daughter  of  Edmund  Parker.  By  her  he  had  three 
children  :  Dwight  P.,  Florence  and  Horace  C,  the  latter  having 
died.  Mr.  Wilcox  had  a  stroke  of  paralysis  in  1887,  and  was  in  poor 
health  until  a  second  stroke,  which  caused  his  death,  August  27th, 
1890. 

Grove  Herrick  Wilson,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  physi- 
cians of  Meriden,  was  born  in  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  in  1824.  His  par- 
ents were  Joseph  H.  and  Sally  (Herrick)  Wilson,  descendants  of  two 
of  the  oldest  and  most  honorable  families  in  England  and  America. 
On  his  paternal  side  he  comes  through  a  long  line  of  descent  from  the 
family  of  Reverend  John  Wilson,  the  first  minister  of  Boston,  whose 
posterity  became  illustrious  in  many  states.  The  maternal  ancestry 
of  Doctor  Wilson  is  traced  to  'Eric  the  Forester,  of  the  royal  house  of 
Denmark,  whose  long  war  with  the  Angles  resulted  in  the  cession  to  him 
of  the  counties  of  Leicester  and  Warwick,  in  England,  where  the  'Eric 
(or  Herrick)  family  have,  to  this  day,  a  manor  at  Great  Stretton,  and  a 
perpetual  pew  in  the  cathedral  at  Leicester.  Reverend  William  Her- 
rick, chaplain  to  Edward  VI.  and  minister  to  the  Sublime  Porte  under 
Elizabeth,  was   grandfather    to    Robert,  the   poet,  and   Sir   William 


'A 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  623 

Herrick,  whose  son,  Henry,  was  the  first  member  of  that  family  to 
emigrate  to  America.  He  settled  in  Salem,  Mass.,  in  1629,  and  his 
grandson,  Doctor  Danie4  Herrick,  born  in  Preston,  Conn.,  was  the 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  To  the  family  of  the  above 
'Eric  also  belonged  the  discoverer  of  Greenland  and  founder  of  Erics- 
fiord  (now  Julianshaab,  Greenland),  and  whose  son,  Leif  'Eric,  founded 
the  settlements  at  2\Iartha's  Vineyard  and  in  Rhode  Island,  about  the 
year  lOOO,  this  event  being  commemorated  by  a  statue  erected  in  Bos- 
ton. Later  members  of  the  Herrick  family  also  attained  eminent 
positions  in  public  and  private  life. 

Doctor  Grove  H.  Wilson  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Tyringham.and  at  Lee  Academy,  in  Massachusetts,  with  a  view  to  fit 
him  for  the  teacher's  profession.  He  subsequently  successfully  taught 
school  in  his  native  state  and  in  Delaware,  until  his  failing  health 
warned  him  to  seek  other  occupation.  He  now  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  graduating  from  the  Berkshire  Medical  Institution  in  1849. 
After  two  years  he  adopted  homoeopathy,  and  practiced  his  profes.sion 
in  North  Adams  and  Conway,  Mass.,  locating  in  Meriden  during  the 
hard  times  of  1857,  when  the  future  of  that  place  was  very  un- 
promising. His  professional  career  has  here  been  very  successful  and 
uninterruptedly  continued.  He  established  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice,  his  patronage  at  one  time  embracing  more  than  two-thirds  of 
the  grand  list  of  the  town.  For  several  years  past  he  has  been 
a.ssisted  in  his  professional  duties  by  his  only  son,  Edgar  A.  Wilson, 
j\L  D.,  who  graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  ISSl, 
and  who  was  a  practitioner  at  Rockville,  Conn.,  several  years  before 
he  came  to  ^Meriden,  where  his  services  have  lightened  his  father's 
cares.  Doctor  G.  H.  WiLson  was  married  to  Margaret  A.  Adams,  of 
Pencader  Hundred,  Del.,  and  this  .son  is  the  issue  of  that  union. 

In  addition  to  his  activity  as  a  practitioner.  Doctor  Wilson  has 
contributed  to  the  medical  knowledge  of  the  country  by  writing  sev- 
eral original  papers,  and  in  1882  published  a  monograph,  in  which  he 
established  the  theory  of  the  epidemic  nature  of  intermittent  fevers 
in  New  England.  During  the  past  ten  years  he  has  also  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Connecticut  Board  of  Health,  his  long  experience  and 
keen  observation  being  of  great  use  to  that  body.  All  the  doctor's 
tastes  are  in  the  direction  of  liberal  and  scientific  culture,  and  he  is 
well  informed  in  modern  mechanical  progress  and  invention.  He 
has  frequently  given  talks  to  his  townsmen  on  subjects  of  natural 
science,  among  them  being  the  telephone  and  a  phonograph  invented 
by  himself  two  years  before  Edison  invented  an  instrument  of  that 
nature.  The  doctor  has  always  maintained  an  unabated  interest  in 
public  .schools,  and  in  1868  successfully  ad%'ocated  the  abolition  of  the 
"  rate  bill,"  and  making  the  schools  of  the  town  absolutely  free  to 
every  child  in  Jvleriden.  The  wisdom  of  this  action  on  the  part  of  the 
town  was  confirmed  by  the  state,  which  within  two  years  thereafter 


624  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

passed  a  state  law  extending  the  same  privilege  to  all  the  children  of 
this  commonwealth.  Many  other  public  interests  have  received  his 
sanction  or  warm  support,  and  he  has  not  shunned  the  duties  and 
cares  of  public  office.  He  served  the  town  as  a  member  of  the  gen- 
eral assembly  in  1880,  and  agam  in  1882,  his  career  in  both  sessions 
being  beneficial  to  his  constituents  and  creditable  to  himself.  Living 
in  a  manufacturing  communit}',  the  doctor  has  kept  himself  in  touch 
with  the  life  of  the  place,  and  is  interested  in  several  industries,  serv- 
ing as  the  president  and  treasurer  of  a  company  organized  for  the 
manufacture  of  buckles  and  trimmings  for  arctic  overshoes,  etc. — a, 
young  but  growing  corporation. 

In  the  early  years  of  his  life  Doctor  Wilson  united  with  the  Masonic- 
order.  He  was  the  first  commander  of  St.  Elmo  Commandery,  No.  9,. 
and  passing  through  the  chairs  in  order  has  attained  to  that  of  grand 
captain  general  of  the  Grand  Commandery.  He  has  taken  the  32A 
degree  in  Lafayette  Consistory,  and  is  a  member  of  Pyramid  Temple. 
He  is  also  an  active  member  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Society  of  the  First 
Congregational  church  of  Meriden,  where  he  has  been  given  oppor- 
tunity to  show  his  appreciation  of  religious  truth.  Although  some- 
what independent  in  regard  to  theological  systems,  he  has,  without 
being  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  never  failed  of  supporting 
the  measures  of  the  Gospel,  and  holds  to  a  rigid  morality  in  all  the 
ways  of  life.  His  religious  sentiments  are  exalted,  and  his  thoughts 
upon  such  subjects,  profound  and  liberal,  are  often  evinced  in  his 
actions  in  his  social  and  professional  life.  He  served  on  the  building 
committee  of  the  present  First  Congregational  church  edifice — one  of 
the  finest  in  the  state — which  was  greath^  embellished  by  his  artistic 
taste  and  effort  to  elevate  the  style  of  architecture.  The  finely  orna- 
mented capitals,  designed  by  him,  are  examples  of  his  love  for  this 
work,  and  show  his  knowledge  of  sacred  symbolism,  expressing  in 
carved  and  enduring  stone  the  course  of  natural  and  revealed  religion, 
in  the  human  heart. 

Doctor  Wilson  has  a  genial  and  benevolent  nature,  is  a  ready  con- 
versationalist, loving  controversial  discussions,  but  is,  withal,  conser- 
vative in  his  speech  and  actions,  and  is  justly  considered  an  influential, 
and  popular  citizen. 

Bertrand  L.  Yale  is  the  son  of  Levi  and  Anna  (Guy)  Yale,  and 
was  born  in  Meriden,  November  17th,  1820.  Levi  Yale  was  the  son 
of  Nathaniel,  grandson  of  Thomas,  and  great-grandson  of  David  Yale, 
of  Wrexham,  Denbigh  county,  Wales,  who  married  Ann  Morton, 
daughter  of  Bishop  Morton,  of  England,  whose  mother  was  daughter 
of  Bishop  Bonner.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Yale  .she  married  The- 
ophilus  Eaton,  an  opulent  merchant  of  London,  afterward  governor 
of  Connecticut.  They,  with  David,  Ann  and  Thomas,  landed  in  Bos- 
ton in  1618,  and  in  1687  removed  to  New  Haven,  Conn.  Thomas  re- 
moved   to    '■  Wallmgford    plantation,"   and   there   resided    until   his 


tBf. 


^  ' 


y 


^ 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  625 

death,  honored  with  many  public  trusts.  Captain  Thomas  Yale  was 
a  revolutionary  soldier,  having  volunteered  at  the  first  call  of  the 
"  Lexington  alarm,"  and  with  him  his  sons  old  enough  to  go. 
Nathaniel  went  into  the  service  later,  being  too  young  at  the  time  of 
the  call.  Levi  Yale  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  ensign  of  his  company 
and  commissary  of  the  troops  stationed  along  the  coast  from  New 
Haven  to  Branford.  He  was  twelve  years  in  the  vSouthern  states 
merchandizing,  and  afterward  was  twelve  years  postmaster  in  Meri- 
den,  under  Presidents  Andrew  Jackson  and  Martin  Van  Buren.  He 
was  representative  to  the  general  assembly,  and  held  many  honorary 
offices  and  trusts  in  j\Ieriden. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  son  of  Levi  Yale,  lived  at  home  on 
the  farm  until  twenty  years  old,  when  he  commenced  the  manufac- 
ture of  cigars  in  a  small  way,  and  afterward  began  business  as  a  mer- 
chant tailor  and  dealer  in  furnishing  goods.  During  this  time  he 
was  appointed  postmaster,  which  ofiBce  he  held  eight  years.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  other  work,  fire  and  life  insurance  were  added,  and  this 
occupying  so  much  of  his  time  he  dispo.sed  of  his  store  and  carried 
on  the  business  of  insurance  for  some  25  years.  Mr.  Yale  then  re- 
turned to  his  farm,  which  he  has  conducted  since. 

Early  in  life  he  took  an  active  part  in  politics;  in  those  days  to  be 
a  politician  did  not  compromise  a  man's  honesty;  "  boodle  "  was  not 
in  vogue,  and  "  bar'lls  "  and  "  soap  "  had  not  been  introduced.  For 
many  years  his  business  duties  prevented  Mr.  Yale  from  active  politi- 
cal work,  until  in  1888  he  was  induced  to  accept  the  nomination  of 
alderman.  He  served  on  the  finance  and  water  committees,  and  in 
1889,  in  addition  to  these,  on  the  committee  on  by-laws.  His  finan- 
cial ability  and  sound  comm.on  sense  made  him  an  invaluable  mem- 
ber in  the  council.  During  his  last  year  he  acted  as  mayor  pro  tern. 
He  was  for  many  years  a  director  in  the  Meriden  Bank,  until  he  de- 
clined a  reelection. 

Mr.  Yale  married,  February  4th,  1861,  Chloe  Elizabeth  Holcombe, 
daughter  of  Honorable  Raynor  Holcombe,  of  East  Granby.  Conn., 
and  has  one  daughter,  Jennie  Holcombe  Yale. 

PERSONAL    PARAGRAPHS. 

Warren  C.  Atkins,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Emily  (Clark)  Atkins,  was 
born  in  Meriden  in  1812.  He  worked  in  the  shop  of  Ashbel  Griswold 
at  what  was  then  called  Clarksville,  for  seven  j'ears,  then  in  the  tin 
shop  of  Stedman  &  Clark  for  many  years.  On  account  of  poor  health 
he  gave  up  the  business,  and  has  since  confined  himself  to  farming. 
He  married  Lavina  E.,  daughter  of  Anson  Bradley,  of  Branford,  Conn. 
His  father  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Francis  Atwater  was  born  in  1857  in  Plymouth,  Litchfield  county, 
Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  For  a  long  time  he 
worked  for  Luther  G.  Riggs,  who  printed  the  Mcridcii  Recorder.  Later, 
39 


626  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

in  1877,  he  started  the  Walliiigford  Foriiiii,  which  he  conducted  for 
over  one  year.  After  leaving  Wallingford,  he  went  to  Phenix,  R.  I., 
and  to  Red  Bank,  N.  J.,  working  in  both  places  on  weekly  papers.  In 
1883  he  went  to  Red  Bluff,  Cal.,  where  he  did  local  work  on  the  Daily 
Sentinel,  until  its  editor,  Abraham  Townsend,  was  shot  by  a  political 
enemy.  He  then  took  charge  of  the  editorial  department,  and  ran  the 
paper  until  1884,  when  he  came  East  and  went  into  the  job  printing 
business,  and  in  August  of  the  same  year  started  the  Meridcn  Eveni)ig 
Star,  a  two  cent  paper,  but  on  account  of  health  had  to  give  it  up. 
The  same  year  he  published  for  other  parties  The  Sunday  Whisper,  a 
Cheshire  weekly,  and  also  a  Hartford  Sunday  morning  paper.  In  1886 
he  transferred  his  entire  plant  to  the  Journal  Publishing  Company, 
since  which  time  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time  to  its  management 
and  development.  The  growth  of  the  company  has  been  phenom- 
enal, and  to-day  it  has  the  most  complete  establishment  of  its  kind  in 
the  state,  including  the  publication  of  the  Meriden  Daily  Journal,  a 
large  job  printing  business,  book  binder\%  stereotyping  and  electro- 
typing  plants. 

A.  E.  Austin  was  born  in  1839,  in  North  Haven,  Conn.,  and  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Celia  (Foote)  Austin.  His  father  died  when  he  was 
14  years  of  age.  He  came  to  Meriden  in  1868  and  established  himself 
in  the  butchering  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Coe  &  Austin, 
which  continued  about  five  years.  The  business  was  then  sold  to 
Charles  Gretha,  Mr.  Coe  going  into  the  packing  business  and  Mr. 
Austin  into  the  livery  and  sale  .stable  business,  which  he  has  since 
carried  on.  He  married  Ruth  B.,  daughter  of  Eben  J.  Coe,  of  Middle- 
field,  Conn. 

Ransom  Baldwin,  son  of  Ransom  and  Sarah  (Twiss)  Baldwin,  was 
born  in  Meriden  in  1836.  He  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  has  followed  the  wholesale  and  retail  flour  business  for  the  past 
20  years,  with  farming.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Orrin  Hall,  of 
Wallingford,  Conn.  His  grandfathers,  James  Baldwin  and  Joseph 
Twiss,  both  served  in  the  revolutionary  vrar. 

James  M.  Bartlett,  son  of  Ashley  and  Mary  (Fay)  Bartlett,  was  born 
in  1828,  in  Vernon,  Vt.  His  father  moved  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  when 
he  was  five  years  old,  and  a  few  years  after  moved  to  Northborough, 
Mass.,  where  James  was  brought  up  on  a  farm.  He  afterward  went 
to  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  learned  the  telegraph  business,  and  in 
1849  came  to  Meriden.  He  sent  the  first  telegraphic  dispatch  that  was 
sent  out  of  Meriden.  In  1857-8  he  conducted  the  only  livery  business 
in  Meriden.  For  eight  years  he  was  agent  for  Adams'  Express  Com- 
pany, also  started  the  city  baggage  express,  and  for  a  long  time  car- 
ried on  a  teaming  business,  having  at  one  time  23  horses.  He  has 
lately  moved  on  his  farm  place,  "  The  Merry  Den,"  and  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  has  made  many  alterations  and  im- 
provements on    his  place,  which    is  a   delightful  resort  for  summer 


HISTORY   OF   .NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  627 

boarders.  He  married  Sina  A.,  daughter  of  Lyman  Hall,  of  Walling- 
ford,  Conn. 

Le  Grand  Bevins,  son  of  Alvin  E.  and  Lua  (Booth)  Bevins,  was 
born  in  1839,  in  Meriden,  Conn.  He  was  educated  at  the  Meriden 
Academj',  and  afterward  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  studied  for  a  year 
preparing  for  college.  At  the  beginning  of  the  war  in  1861  he  en- 
listed in  the  29th  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  served  there  three  years.  The 
last  year  of  service  he  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 
stationed  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  married  Jennie  L.,  oldest  daughter  of 
Captain  Henry  H.  Stiles,  of  North  Haven,  Conn.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  engaged  in  the  soda  business  at  New  Haven  for  one  year,  and 
afterward  at  Meriden  for  six  years.  After  that,  having  taken  stock 
in  the  Meriden  Silver  Plate  Company,  he  entered  their  employ,  hav- 
ing charge  of  the  finishing  department  for  eighteen  years.  He  was 
elected  to  the  common  council  in  1875,  served  one  year  as  councilman 
and  one  as  alderman,  was  again  elected  alderman  in  1882,  and  re- 
elected in  1884  and  1886.  He  has  been  chairman  of  the  committee  of 
the  Corner  school  district  since  1883.  In  1887  he  was  elected  town 
agent  and  first  selectman,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

Eli  C.  Birdsey,  son  of  Eli  C.  and  Rebecca  C.  (Wilcox)  Birdsey,  was 
born  in  1843,  in  Meriden.  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Meriden  and  the  high  school  of  Middleborough,  Mass.  He  was  first 
employed  in  the  dry  goods  business,  and  in  1865  established  a  hard- 
ware and  crockery  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Birdsey  &  Miles, 
buying  out  Harrison  W.  Curtis.  They  were  also  manufacturers  of 
stationers'  hardware.  In  1876  they  dissolved  partnership,  Mr.  Miles 
taking  the  manufacturing  business  and  Mr.  Birdsey  the  store  bu.si- 
ness,  which  has  since  been  running  under  the  firm  name  of  Birdsey 
&  Foster.  He  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Lyman  Butler,  of 
Meriden. 

William  H.  Booth,  son  of  Henry  D.  and  Eliza  A.  (Curtis)  Booth, 
was  born  in  1834,  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  was  educated  in  the  Meri- 
den schools.  His  father  located  in  Meriden  when  William  H.  was  a 
child.  The  latter  has  served  on  the  committee  of  East  school  district. 
He  has  always  followed  farming  and  butchering,  on  the  farm  where 
his  father  settled.  He  married  Isabel  A.,  daughter  of  Linus  Wilcox, 
of  Middletown,  Conn.  His  father  followed  the  sea  for  22  years,  as 
captain  18  years. 

George  H.  Bowker  was  born  in  1855,  in  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  and  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  place.  For  the  past  twelve  years 
he  has  been  identified  with  the  hotel  business,  first  as  the  proprietor 
of  the  old  Windsor,  at  Holyoke,  Mass.,  which  he  ran  from  1878  to  1888. 
In  1884  he  opened  the  W^inthrop  Hotel,  Meriden,  afterward  started 
the  Mellin  House,  Fall  River,  Ma.ss.,  and  later  the  Hotel  Hamilton,  at 
Holyoke,  Mass.,  all  of  which,  in  company  with  his  brother,  he  .still 
carries  on. 


628  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Leonard  H.  Bradley,  son  of  Major  and  Rosella  (Baker)  Bradley, 
was  born  in  Branford,  Conn.,  in  1840.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  he 
went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  remaining  seven  years.  He  then  engageld 
as  apprentice  with  J.  W.  Russell,  carriage  manufacturer,  Meriden,  and 
served  four  yeai-s,  after  which  he  went  to  Plainville  for  a  year  and 
from  there  enlisted  in  Company  G,  6th  Connecticut  Volunteers,  serv- 
ing four  years.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Meriden.  con- 
tinuing to  follow  the  carriage  making  business,  and  March  4th,  1889, 
established  business  for  himself  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Stickney 
&  Bradley.  He  married  Martha  M.,  daughter  of  William  Talmage, 
of  Cheshire,  Conn.     He  was  elected  alderman  in  1886  and  in  1888. 

J.  H.  Breckenridge,  son  of  Reuben  and  Sylvia  (Cutter)  Brecken- 
ridge,  was  born  in  Ware,  Mass.,  in  1826,  and  came  to  Meriden  in  1849. 
He  was  foreman  of  what  was  the  Curtis,  Morgan  &  Co.  Lock  Com- 
pany, then  engaged  in  the  machinery  and  tool  manufacturing  busi- 
ness which  was  later  merged  into  the  Meriden  Machine  Company.  He 
afterward  engaged  in  manufacturing  powder  flasks,  etc.,  under  firm 
name  of  Frary,  Benham  &  Co.,  and  then  was  for  six  years  salesman 
for  Edward  Miller  &  Co.  In  1865  he  erected  the  building  where  the 
Meriden  Silver  Plate  Company  are,  and  sold  it  to  J.  H.  Canfield  &  Co., 
hardware  manufacturers,  of  which  firm  he  was  a  member.  In  1868 
he  built  his  present  factory  and  manufactured  special  hardware  and 
sheet  metal  goods,  under  the  firm  name  of  Breckenridge  &  Co.,  until 
1886.  In  1872  he  sold  out  his  manufacturing  business  and  built  a 
foundry  which  he  ran  for  ten  years,  then  began  manufacturing  again, 
akso  carrying  on  the  foundry  business.  Since  January,  1887,  they 
have  been  manufacturers  of  gas  fixtures  and  art  metal  goods.  Mr. 
Breckenridge  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  Drake  Brockett,  of  Green, 
N.  Y.,  formerly  of  Meriden.  He  has  served  as  alderman  two  terms, 
and  was  first  president  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  connected  with  it  for 
15  years. 

J.  R.  Briggs,  son  of  Delavan  and  Almira  (Dockstader)  Briggs,  was 
born  in  New  York  city  in  1859,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  He  came  to  Meriden  in  1885  and  established  the  drug  busi- 
ness which  he  has  since  carried  on.  He  is  also  secretary  of  Sands 
Ventilating  Fan  Company. 

F.  S.  Brooks,  son  of  Thomas  and  Louisa  (Smith)  Brooks,  was  born 
in  1857  in  Meriden,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at 
Yale  Business  College,  New  Haven.  He  has  been  employed  for  the 
past  14  years  by  the  Bradley  &  Hubbard  Manufacturing  Company 
and  for  the  past  eight  years  has  had  charge  of  the  salesroom. 

William  O.  Butler,  son  of  Eli  and  Juliette  (Ives)  Butler,  was  born 
in  1851  in  Meriden,  educated  in  the  ]\leriden  schools,  at  the  "  Gun- 
nery," Washington,  Conn.,  and  at  Williston  Academy,  Easthampton, 
Mass.  He  was  first  employed  by  the  Wilcox  Silver  Plate  Company, 
then  engaged  in  the  shoe  business  a  number  of  years,  and   afterward 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  629 

had  charge  of  the  Gas  Company  until  the  fall  of  1887.  He  served  as 
alderman  one  term.  He  married  Nellie  A.,  daughter  of  A.  J.  Fo.ster, 
of  Westerly,  R.  I. 

Bela  Carter,  son  of  Silas  J.  and  Ruth  ( Vining)  Carter,  was  born 
February  6th,  1828,  at  Hardwick,  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  place.  He  learned  his 
trade  in  Palmer.  Mass.,  in  1846,  then  spent  two  years  in  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  came  to  Meriden  in  1850.  In  18o2  he  established  business 
for  himself,  and  was  the  first  in  the  state  that  put  in  paper  hangings 
in  connection  with  the  painting  business.  He  held  the  office  of 
first  selectman  during  the  war,  was  councilman  1  year,  chairman  of 
school  committee  6  years,  treasurer  of  military  fund  4  years,  alderman 
for  4  successive  years,  assessor  6  years,  and  notary  public  for  the  past  30 
years.  When  16  years  of  age  he  began  teaching  penmanship.  He 
married  December  Sth,  1850,  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  Captain  Butler 
Barrett  of  Belchertown,  Mass. 

J.  H.  Chase  was  born  in  1847  in  Minot,  Maine.  He  came  to  Meri- 
den in  1886,  and  has  since  been  superintendent  and  later  also  secre- 
tary of  the  .i-Eolian  Organ  &  Music  Company.  He  was  for  seven 
years  with  the  Mason  &  Hamlin  Organ  Company,  and  has  been  in 
the  Automatic  Organ  business  since  it  started.  He  is  married  to 
Emma  R.,  daughter  of  A.  M.  Hitchcock,  of  Boston,  ilass. 

Henry  J.  Church,  son  of  James  and  Hulda  (Barnes)  Church,  was 
born  in  East  Haven,  Conn.,  August  1st,  1831.  At  the  age  of  17  he 
came  to  Meriden  as  apprentice  for  George  R.  Willmot,  in  the  furni- 
ture and  undertaking  business,  served  his  time  and  worked  in  Mr. 
Willmot's  employ  a  few  years.  Afterward  he  worked  for  the  Charles 
Parker  Company  a  year  or  two,  and  about  two  3'ears  for  Snow,  Brooks 
&  Co.,  manufacturers.  He  was  next  employed  again  in  the  furniture 
business  up  to  the  time  the  war  broke  out.  He  served  three  years  in 
the  15th  Connecticut  Infantrj',  and  after  being  mustered  out,  came 
home,  and  in  the  fall  of  1865  bought  out  William  M.  Smith,  then  in 
the  undertaking  business,  which  he  has  since  carried  on,  and  which 
is  the  oldest  undertaking  establishment  in  Meriden.  He  married 
Elizabeth  A.,  daughter  of  Luke  T.  and  Elizabeth  Draper,  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Since  he  has  been  in  the  business  he  has  buried  more 
people  than  the  population  of  Meriden  was  at  the  time  he  started. 

E.  B.  Clark,  .son  of  Lewis  E.  and  Eliza  (Benjamin)  Clark,  was  born 
in  1841,  in  Milford,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  the  Milford  schools 
and  at  boarding  school  at  Dudley,  Conn.  He  was  for  a  time  emplo\'ed 
in  New  Haven  as  clerk  in  the  grocery  and  meat  business.  He  en- 
listed in  the  27th  Connecticut  Volunteers,  served  his  time,  and  in  1863 
started  a  store  in  Birmingham,  Conn.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  came 
to  South  Meriden,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  for  the  past  15  years  has  been  postmaster.  He  married 
Sarah   L.,  daughter  of  Evans  Williams,  of  Birmingham,  Conn.     His 


630  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

father  was  a  carriage  painter  by  trade,  but  his  health  failing,  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  died  when  E.  B.  was  five  years  old.  His  grand- 
father was  Thomas  Clark.  His  great-grandfather,  Elisha  Clark,  did 
service  as  coast  guard  during  the  revolutionary  war.  His  great-grand- 
mother was  a  Beach,  and  lived  to  be  93  years  of  age. 

George  L.  Clark,  son  of  Lyman  and  Mary  S.  (Highby)  Clark,  was 
born  in  184],  in  Westfield,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  common 
schools  and  academy.  He  came  with  his  father  to  Meriden  when  he 
was  seven  years  old.  He  carried  on  the  machine  business  four  j'ears, 
under  the  firm  name  of  N.  C.  vStiles  &  Co.,  making  power  presses,  dies 
and  general  machinery,  afterward  carried  on  the  coal  business  for  a 
few  years,  and  for  the  past  15  years  has  dealt  largely  in  horses  from 
the  West  and  North.  He  carries  on  the  Silver  City  Stock  Farm. 
When  his  father  came  to  Meriden  he  took  up  his  residence  where 
George  L.  now  resides.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  but 
followed  the  lumber  and  coal  business,  and  at  one  time  ran  a  planing 
mill.  He  was  born  in  Westfield,  August  16th,  1810,  and  died  in  Meri- 
den, February  lOth,  1884.  George  L.  first  married  Fannie,  daughter 
of  Cyrus  Burroughs,  of  Meriden.  His  present  wife  is  Junietta  M., 
daughter  of  David  L.  Sawyer,  of  Deep  River,  Conn. 

William  S.  Clark,  .son  of  William  L.  and  Elizabeth  N.  (Dunham) 
Clark,  was  born  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1857,  and  was  educated  at 
the  Middletown  High  School.  He  apprenticed  himself  to  the  city  en- 
gineer of  Middletown,  remaining  with  him  for  four  years,  and  has 
since  followed  civil  engineering.  His  first  railroad  work  was  with 
the  Air  Line  road,  on  bridge  work,  afterward  on  the  Hartford  &  Con- 
necticut River  extension,  and  later  on  the  Meriden  &  Cromwell  and 
Meriden  &  Waterbury  roads.  He  was  then  elected  street  commis- 
sioner of  the  city  of  Middletown,  and  after  serving  in  that  capacity  for 
15  months,  resigned  to  engage  on  work  for  the  Meriden  &  Waterbury 
railroad,  having  charge  of  the  first  division  of  construction.  He  came 
to  Meriden  in  1887,  was  appointed  city  engineer  in  January,  1888,  and 
reappointed  in  1889,  1890  and  1891. 

John  W.Coe,  son  of  Ebenezer  J.  and  Phebe  (Birdsey)  Coe,  was  born 
in  Middlefield,  Conn.,  in  1841.  He  was  first  employed  with  Parker 
Brothers  in  the  butcher  business,  and  afterward  with  Deacon  John 
Yale.  In  1861  he  established  business  for  himself  under  the  firm 
name  of  Coe  &  Hall,  which  continued  about  three  years.  Afterward 
he  started  the  city  market  firm  of  Coe  &  Cahill.  Since  1875  he  has 
carried  on  a  wholesale  butcher  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Bar- 
tholomew &  Coe.  He  married  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Elisha  Williams, 
of  Wallingford,  Conn.  He  has  for  many  years  been  a  director  in  the 
First  National  Bank. 

W.  R.  Coe,  son  of  Calvin  and  Harriet  (Rice)  Coe,  was  born  in  1839, 
in  Meriden,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Suffield 
Literary  Institution,  graduating  in  1860.     He  then  began  business  on 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  631 

the  farm  where  he  was  born,  and  remained  there  until  1870,  when  he 
located  on  the  Bradley  place,  and  in  1888  moved  to  his  present  place. 
He  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Amon  Andrews,  of  Meriden.  Anion 
Andrews  ran  the  old  grist  mill  known  as  Andrews'  mill,  which  was 
also  carried  on  by  his  father  before  him. 

C.  H.  Collins,  son  of  Lyman  and  Elizabeth  (Carter)  Collins,  was 
born  in  Meriden  in  1823,  was  educated  at  John  D.  Post's  Meriden 
Academy,  and  taught  school  one  winter.  He  was  employed  in  the 
office  of  Isbell,  Curtis  &  Co..  manufacturers  of  door  handles  and  locks, 
afterward  changed  to  Curtis,  Morgan  &  Co.,  and  later  removed  to 
Norwalk,  Conn.,  and  known  as  the  Norwalk  Lock  Company.  He 
continued  with  them  about  two  years,  then  went  to  Hartford  for 
about  two  years  in  the  Yankee  notion  business,  afterward  engaged 
with  Butler  &  Collins  in  the  grocery  business,  then  established  for 
himself  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  L.  &  C.  H.  Collins,  afterward 
Collins  &  Co.,  then  Collins  &  Brooks,  then  C.  H.  Collins.  He  after- 
ward was  connected  with  J.  Wilcox  &  Co.,  woolen  manufacturers,  for 
ten  years,  and  in  1875  again  started  in  the  grocery  business,  which 
has  since  been  carried  on  iinder  the  firm  name  of  Collins  &  Miller. 
He  was  at  one  time  a  director  in  the  Home  National  Bank,  also  in 
the  T-  Wilcox  &  Co.  woolen  manufacturing  company.  He  married 
Sarah  C,  daughter  of  James  S.  Brooks,  of  Meriden. 

Reuben  T.  Cook,  son  of  Ossian  and  Lucy  (Pardee)  Cook,  was  born 
in  1840  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Xorthford,  and  at  Durham  high  school.  He  was  brought 
up  on  his  father's  farm  until  18  years  old,  then  learned  the  carpenter 
trade,  and  at  the  age  of  21  carried  on  business  in  Wallingford  for  one 
year.  In  1862  he  came  to  Meriden,  working  in  a  meat  market,  then 
ran  the  up  town  branch  of  S.  J.  Hall's  feed  business,  and  later  estab- 
lished a  grocery  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Ives  &  Cook,  which 
continued  for  five  years.  Mr.  Ives  then  sold  his  interest,  and  Mr. 
Cook  continued  the  business  alone  for  11  years.  February  11th, 
1884,  he  established  a  wholesale  fruit  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Curtis  &  Cook,  which  is  still  carried  on.  Mr.  Cook  represented  the 
town  in  the  legislature  in  1883,  and  the  same  year  went  to  California 
with  the  St.  Elmo  Knights  Templars.  He  has  been  selectman,  and 
has  since  been  elected  to  various  offices,  all  of  which  he  has  declined. 
He  married  Elnora  M.,  daughter  of  Richard  Miller,  of  Meriden,  and 
their  children  are:  Althea  M..  Lulu  (died  in  infancy),  Florence  and 
Vergil  M. 

Robert  H.  Curtis  was  born  in  184.5  in  Meriden,  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Meriden,  and  at  Cheshire  Academy,  and  graduated 
from  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  in  the  class  of  '68.  He  was  principal 
of  Plattsville  graded  school  until  1873,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Meriden  Silver  Plate  Company.  He 
served  two  years  as  alderman,  being  chairman  of  finance  committei., 


632  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

afterward  auditor,  and  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  board  of 
school  visitors. 

Samuel  Dodd,  son  of  Samuel  and  Frances  (Bull)  Dodd,  was  born 
in  1834,  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  and 
high  schools  of  Hartford.  He  was  for  five  years  employed  in  the  drug 
business  of  Lee  &  Butler,  Hartford,  was  afterward  in  the  City  Bank, 
Hartford,  as  teller  and  discount  clerk,  and  in  1857  came  to  Meriden  as 
cashier  in  the  Home  National  Bank.  He  is  at  present  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Wilcox  Silver  Plate  Companj'.  He  is  a  director  in 
the  Home  Bank  and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Meriden  Gas  Com- 
pany since  its  organization.  He  married  Catherine,  daughter  of 
James  S.  Brooks,  of  Meriden.  Mr.  Dodd  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  state  legislature. 

E.  J.  Doolittle,  son  of  Reverend  E.  J.  and  Jane  E.  (vSage)  Doolittle, 
was  born  in  Hebron,  Conn.,  in  1845,  and  was  educated  at  the  Guilford 
Institute.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  boxes 
in  Meriden  .since  1862.  He  served  as  alderman  two  terms,  as  mayor 
for  five  consecutive  terms,  as  state  senator  in  1887  and  1888.  He  is  a 
director  in  the  Home  National  Bank  and  the  Meriden  Fire  Insurance 
Company.  He  married  Martha  W.,  daughter  of  George  Couch,  of 
Meriden. 

John  E.  Durand,  son  of  George  A.  and  Eunice  (Clark)  Durand,was 
born  in  1833,  in  Cheshire,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  His  father  died  when  he  was  eight  years  old  and  he  went  to 
live  with  a  farmer  in  Cheshire.  When  15  years  of  age  he  came  to 
Meriden  to  work  for  a  Mr.  Griswold,  bone  button  maker,  and  lived 
with  him  and  attended  school  in  Hanover.  He  learned  the  joiner's 
trade,  working  for  his  brother,  then  went  to  Waterbury,  finishing  his 
trade  there  and  working  for  the  Waterbury  Lumber  &  Coal  Com- 
pany for  17  years.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  14th  Connecticut 
Volunteers,  serving  a  little  over  one  year;  was  injured  at  Bell  Plain 
Landing,  Va.,  and  discharged  from  the  service  with  a  pension  from 
that  day,  April,  1863.  Returning  to  Waterbury  he  remained  there 
until  1869,  when  he  came  to  Meriden  and  engaged  with  the  Meriden 
Steam  Mill  &  Lumber  Company,  of  which  he  was  secretary  and  treas- 
urer one  year.  He  afterward  traveled  for  one  year  for  C.  P.  Colt,  in 
the  patent  medicine  business,  was  then  elected  constable  of  the  town 
of  Meriden,  holding  that  office  one  year,  and  at  the  same  time  was 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  which  he  has  carried  on  ever 
since.  He  has  been  a  Mason  for  20  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the  G. 
A.  R.  He  married  Roxanna  S.,  daughter  of  Doctor  M.  D.  Root,  of 
Waterbury,  and  granddaughter  of  Elder  Samuel  Potter,  who  was  the 
old  pioneef  Baptist  preacher  of  Woodbridge  and  Salem. 

J.  D.  Eggleston,  M.  D.,  son  of  Jere  and  Louisa  TCarew)  Eggleston, 
was  born  in  1853  at  Longmeadow,  Mass.  He  was  educated  at  Williston 
Seminary,  Easthampton,  at  Williams  College,  Williamstown,  Mass., 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  633 

and  at  the  Colleg-e  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  New  York  city,  grad- 
uating from  the  latter  in  1879.  He  began  practice  at  Windsor  Locks, 
Conn.,  -with  Doctor  S.  R.  Burnap,  his  preceptor.  In  1880  he  began 
practice  in  Meriden.  He  is  a  member  of  the  state  and  county  medical 
societies.  He  was  elected  to  the  board  of  aldermen  in  1888,  and  is 
chairman  of  the  health  committee.  He  married  Elizabeth  C,  daughter 
of  Honorable  Thomas  Duncan,  of  Windsor,  Conn. 

Frank  P.  Evarts,  son  of  Philo  G.  and  Jane  P.  (Seward)  Evarts,  was 
born  in  Hud.son,  N.  Y.,  in  1846,  and  was  educated  at  Oberlin,  Ohio. 
In  his  early  days  he  went  West,  and  when  the  war  broke  out,  came  to 
Meriden  and  enlisted  m  the  12th  Connecticut  Volunteers,  serving  two 
years  and  two  months.  He  was  elected  alderman  in  1889.  He  has 
been  foreman  for  the  Bradley  &  Hubbard  Manufacturing  Company 
since  1871.  He  married  Mary  H.,  daughter  of  Doctor  Woodbridge 
Bodwell,  of  Farmington,  Conn. 

Charles  L.  Floto  was  born  in  Germany  in  1838,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  his  mother  in  1848,  locating  at  Warehouse  Point,  Conn.  From 
there  he  went  to  Broad  Brook,  where  he  lived  two  and  a  half  years, 
and  then  to  Rockville.  While  in  Broad  Brook  and  Rockville  he  worked 
in  the  woolen  mills.  He  then  removed  to  Hotchkissville,  remaining 
there  four  years;  then  to  South  Britain,  then  to  Waterbury,  and  in 
1857  came  to  Meriden  to  work  for  the  Bradley  &  Hubbard  Manufac- 
turing Company,  in  charge  of  the  shade  and  lamp  department,  remain- 
ing in  their  employ  for  17  years.  He  then  worked  as  a  clerk  in  a 
shoe  store  one  year,  then  one  year  with  Edward  Miller  &  Co.  He 
afterward  bought  out  John  A.  Parker  in  the  shoe  business,  which  he 
ran  for  12  years.  On  account  of  his  health  he  sold  out  and  took  a  trip 
to  Europe,  traveling  most  of  the  time  until  1884,  when  he  came  home. 
In  the  winter  of  188.5  he  went  south,  and  returning  to  Meriden  began 
improving  his  property  and  following  the  real  estate  business.  In 
1888  he  again  went  to  Europe.  In  1889  he  took  a  trip  through  the 
South  and  West.  Since  that  time  his  attention  has  been  given  to 
building  and  attending  to  the  improvement  of  his  real  estate.  He 
built  his  present  residence  in  1864.  His  mother  died  in  Meriden,  aged 
85.     He  married  Mary  U.  Uschnig,  of  Austria. 

Roger  M.  Ford,  son  of  Roger  Whiting  and  Emily  (Moulthrop) 
Ford,  was  born  in  1834,  in  New  Marlborough,  Mass.,  was  brought  up 
on  a  farm,  and  was  educated  at  North  Haven,  where  he  spent  the  most 
of  his  time  after  he  was  nine  years  of  age.  He  came  to  Meriden  in  the 
winter  of  1859.  For  two  years  before  the  war  he  ran  an  engine  for  the 
Meriden  Britannia  Company.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  the 
family  moved  to  Newark,  N.  J.  He  was  for  a  time  in  the  internal 
revenue  department.  In  1868  he  returned  to  Meriden  and  was  em- 
ployed with  the  Wilcox  Silver  Plate  Company,  and  afterward  with  the 
Meriden  Britannia  Company;  was  two  years  on  the  police  force  and 
one  of  the  original  members.     He  then  went  to  Massachusetts  for  four 


634  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTV. 

years,  and  returning  to  Meriden  was  employed  by  the  Meriden  Silver 
Plate  Company.  In  1878  he  was  again  on  the  police  force  as  patrol- 
man, and  was  appointed  chief  in  February,  188H.  He  married  Phebe 
A.,  daughter  of  Andrew  N.  Mason,  of  Colchester,  Conn.,  a  descendant 
of  Captain  John  Mason.  He  enlisted  4pril  17th,  1861,  for  three 
months,  as  private  in  Company  F,  1st  Connecticut  Volunteers;  was 
mustered  April  23d,  1861;  promoted  to  corporal  July  6th,  1861,  at  Falls 
Church,  Va.;  was  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  was  di.scharged  July 
31st,  1861.  He  enlisted  September  21st,  1861,  for  three  years,  in 
Company  K,  8th  Connecticut  Volunteers;  was  mustered  in  as  second 
lieutenant  vSeptember  22d.  1861;  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  March 
18th,  at  Newbern,  and  to  captain  of  Company  G,  March  7th,  1863,  at 
Newport  News,  Va.;  and  was  discharged  September  2d,  186-1,  at  Annap- 
olis, Md.,  on  account  of  wounds  received  at  Petersburgh,  Va.,  June 
2.')th,  1864.  He  enlisted  at  New  Haven  January  3d,  I860,  as  private 
in  the  8th  Connecticut  Volunteers;  was  promoted  to  first  sergeant. 
Company  E,  February  6th,  1865,  at  Chapins  Farm,  Va.;  promoted  to 
captain  Company  G,  March  1st,  186."),  and  was  mustered  out  December 
12th,  1865.  He  was  in  the  following  battles:  Roanoke  Island,  New- 
bern, Fort  jNIacon,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburgh, Wall- 
thai  Jimction,  Swift  Creek,  Drury's  Bluff,  and  at  the  taking  of  Rich- 
mond, April  3d,  1865. 

F.  E.  Fowler,  son  of  Dennis  and  ^laria  (Coe)  Fowler,  was  born  in 
Guilford,  Conn.,  in  1845,  and  was  educated  at  a  private  school  in  ^lid- 
dlefield,  Conn.,  and  at  Aleriden  Academy.  He  moved  to  Aliddlefield 
when  12  years  of  age,  and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm.  He  started  in 
the  butcher  business  in  Middletown  when  22  years  of  age  in  the  firm 
of  Coe,  Newell  &  Fowler,  later  Newell  &  Fowler.  In  1883  he  estab- 
lished business  in  Meriden  under  the  firm  name  of  Horton,  Eaton  & 
Fowler.  Mr.  Eaton  sold  his  interest,  and  the  firm  has  since  been 
Horton  &  Fowler.  Mr.  Fowler  married  Sabina  A.,  daughter  of 
Harry  Nettleton,  of  Durham,  Conn.  He  was  elected  councilman  in 
1889. 

George  B.  Francis,  youngest  and  only  surviving  child  of  Lyman 
and  Mars^  1  Blaksley)  Francis,  grandson  of  Jacob,  whose  father,  Jacob, 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  Francis,  was  born  in  1841.  He  is  a  farmer  on  the 
homestead  of  his  father.  He  is  a  member  of  ^leriden  Grange,  No.  29, 
P.  of  H.  He  married  Emily  J.,  daughter  of  Horace  and  Esther  R. 
(Johnson)  Andrews.  Their  children  are:  Howard  A.,  Willie  L.,  born 
]\Iarch  15th,  1890,  died  May  20th,  1890;  and  Clayton  H.,  born  July  23d, 
1891. 

William  Garlick,  son  of  William  and  Harriet  (Darien)  Garlick,  was 
born  in  1847  in  England,  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  in 
1849,  locating  in  Meriden.  He  learned  his  trade  of  table  knife  finisher 
with  his  father,  and  first  went  to  work  in  New  Britain,  as  inspector  at 
the  Etna  Works.     Since  1871  he  has  worked  at  etching  for  the  Meri- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  035 

den  Cutlery  Company.  He  has  been  in  the  ice  business  since  1877. 
A  Mr.  Belden  was  the  first  one  in  the  ice  business,  then  came  Carpen- 
ter &  Goodwell,  then  William  Garlick  and  Mr.  Williams.  William, 
Jr.,  bought  his  father  out  in  1877,  and  Mr.  Williams  in  1879.  It 
is  now  a  joint  stock  company.  His  father,  after  leaving  the  fac- 
tory, followed  the  nursery  business,  and  died  in  1880.  His  mother 
died  in  1882.  Mr.  Garlick  married  Nellie  M.  Stevens,  of  South  Mer- 
iden. 

L.  F.  Geisler  was  born  in  ISIO  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  New  York,  Brooklyn  and  Sandwich,  Mass.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  glass  cutting  in  Sandwich,  .serving  seven  years, 
going  from  there  to  Boston,  where  he  followed  his  trade.  In  1861  he 
enlisted  in  the  First  Massachusetts  Regiment,  and  served  three  years. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  he  went  to  New  York  and  worked  at  his  trade, 
and  in  1867  came  to  Meriden,  where  he  worked  for  Parker  &  Caspar, 
at  glass  cutting.  In  1871  he  established  business  for  himself  on  Pratt 
street,  and  in  1876  built,  his  present  place  on  North  Colony  and  Gris- 
wold  streets,  where  he  established  the  grocery  business.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen.  He  married  Marcella  Kenelty,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1870. 
Their  children  are:  Mary  E.,  Kattie  E.,  Francis  P.,  Frederick  L.,  Wil- 
liam H.,  Maud  (died  in  infancy),  Josephine  R.,  Ambrose  and  Charles. 

R.  S.  Gladwin,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Doane)  Gladwin,  was  born 
at  Saybrook.  Conn.,  in  1823.  He  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  at  Deep 
River,  Conn.,  bought  out  his  employer  and  carried  on  the  business 
himself,  for  three  years.  Afterward  he  built  a  shop  at  Westbrook, 
remained  there  two  years,  and  in  1844  came  to  JNIeriden,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  two  or  three  3'ears.  He  was  afterward  with  Snow 
&  Parker  until  1849,  and  went  to  California  in  March  of  that  year, 
remaining  there  three  years  and  a  half.  Returning  to  ^Sleriden  he 
built  a  blacksmith  shop,  which  he  ran  for  a  few  years,  then  having 
taken  stock  in  the  company  of  Snow  &  Parker,  and  being  a  director 
in  the  company,  he  became  foreman  of  their  blacksmith  shop.  In 
1861  he  went  to  Europe  to  bring  his  wife  home,  who  had  gone  there 
for  her  health.  On  his  return  he  continued  in  charge  of  the  forging 
department  of  the  Parker  shop  until  1864,  when  he  went  to  New 
Britain  and  started  a  shop  for  Landers,  Frary  &  Clark.  He  remained 
there  for  18  months,  and  returning  to  Meriden  started  a  forging  shojj 
for  himself  in  a  part  of  the  building  now  occupied  by  the  Meriden 
Joitrnal.  He  afterward  bought  the  property  where  he  built  his  present 
shop,  and  carried  on  the  forging  business  under  the  name  of  Smith  & 
Gladwin.  Mr.  Smith  sold  his  interest,  and  the  firm  was  Wetmore  & 
Gladwin  until  1872,  when  the  United  States  Steel  Shear  Company  was 
organized  by  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  Lemuel  J.  Curtis,  John  Sutliff,  S.  H. 
Wood,  A.  C.  Wetmore,  R.  S.  Gladwin  and  others.  At  the  end  of  six 
years  the  company  was  con.solidated  with  the  Miller  Brothers  Cutlery 


636  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Company.  Mr.  Gladwin  has  since  been  manufacturing  metal  shears. 
He  was  mayor  of  Meriden  in  1869,  also  served  as  councilman.  He 
married  Eunice  A.,  daughter  of  David  Averill,  of  Branford,  Conn. 

F.  P.  Griswold,  M.  D.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Susan  (Pratt)-Griswold,  was 
born  in  Essex,  Conn.,  in  1850.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and  at  the  Sufifield  Institution.  He  graduated  from  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New  York  city  in  1876,  and  afterward 
spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Bellevue  Hospital.  He  first  practiced 
medicine  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  from  1877  to  1883,  afterward  spent  .six 
months  in  Florida  for  his  health,  then  spent  six  months  at  the  Poly- 
clinic in  New  York,  coming  to  Meriden  in  the  fall  of  1884,  where  he 
has  since  practiced.  He  is  a  member  of  county  and  city  medical 
societies.  He  married  Caroline  P.,  daughter  of  William  Seward  and 
Caroline  Hull,  of  Madison,  Conn. 

N.  F.  Griswold,  son  of  Martin  and  Sarah  (Fowler)  Griswold,  was 
born  in  1824,  in  Lockport,  N.  Y.  At  the  age  of  11  years  he  was 
employed  in  a  store  in  East  Haddam,  Conn.  He  came  from  Middle- 
town  to  Meriden  when  16  years  of  age,  where  he  learned  his  trade  with 
Pomeroy  &  Ives,  after  which  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  for  two 
years,  then  returned  to  Meriden.  In  1849,  during  the  gold  excitement, 
he  went  to  California  for  two  or  three  years,  returned  to  Meriden  again 
and  soon  after  went  to  Holyoke,  Mass.,  engaging  in  the  tin  ware  and 
stove  business  for  a  few  years,  then  returned  to  Meriden,  engaging 
with  Pomeroy,  Leonard  &  Co.,  tin  ware  manufacturers,  in  East  Meri- 
■den,  for  a  few  years.  About  1857  he  bought  them  out  and  carried  on 
the  business  himself  until  about  1863,  when  he  e.stablished  the  retail 
business  in  Meriden,  running-  the  manufacturing  business  in  connec- 
tion,  which  he  afterward  sold  out,  carrying  on  the  retail  business  only, 
since  that  time.  After  five  or  six  years  he  took  in  a  partner,  and  for 
a  time  the  firm  was  Griswold  &  Searles.  They  dissolved,  and  Mr. 
Griswold  carried  on  the  business  alone  for  a  few  years.  Then  Mr. 
Lewis,  son  of  Isaac  C.  Lewis,  became  a  partner,  and  the  firm  was 
Griswold  &  Lewis,  later  Griswold,  Lewis  &  Glock,  and  still  later 
Griswold,  Richmond  &  Glock,  until  July  1st,  1889,  when  they  organ- 
ized a  stock  company  known  as  the  Griswold,  Richmond  &  Glock 
Cooperative  Company;  N.  F.  Griswold,  president;  John  L.  Richmond, 
treasurer;  Charles  C.  Glock,  superintendent.  Mr.  Griswold's  first  wife 
was  Eliza,  daughter  of  Ambrose  Williams,  of  Meriden.  His  present 
wife  is  Myra,  daughter  of  Samuel  Rockwell,  of  Hartford,  Conn. 

George  J.  Grossman,  son  of  Rudolph  and  Frances  (Yost)  Grossman, 
was  born  in  1847  in  Hoechst,  on  the  Maine,  and  came  to  America  in 
1867,  working  in  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Boston  and  other  places,  until 
1876,  when  he  came  to  Meriden  and  bought  out  F.  W.  Shelley,  who 
established  the  monument  business  in  1869,  and  which  Mr.  Grossman 
has  since  carried  on.  He  married  Madeline,  daughter  of  Jacob  Kuster, 
of  Hartford,  Conn. 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  637 

George  H.  Haas  was  born  in  Germany  in  1829,  came  to  America  in 
1854,  and  located  in  the  town  of  Meriden  near  the  Wallingford  line. 
He  worked  in  what  was  then  Sanford's  auger  shop  in  Wallingford, 
where  he  remained  12  years.  He  moved  to  Yalesville  in  1857,  and  in 
1864  located  on  hi-:  present  farm  in  Meriden,  continuing  to  work  in 
the  auger  shop  until  about  1868.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  in  the 
farming  and  milk  business.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  John 
Bader,  of  Germany,  in  1854.  She  was  a  passenger  on  the  .same  ship 
with  him  to  this  country.  Their  children  are:  H^enry  W.,  born  1855, 
in  Meriden,  married  Mary  C,  daughter  of  Herman  Duis,  a  native  of 
New  Orleans,  but  for  the  past  20  years  a  resident  of  Meriden:  Albert 
F.,  died  1879;  and  Katie  B. 

A.  F.  Hall,  son  of  L.  L.  and  Lucy  A.  (Bush)  Hall,  was  born  in  1841. 
at  East  Hampton,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  and  private 
schools  of  his  native  place,  finishing  his  studies  at  Fall  River,  Mass. 
He  was  interested  in  the  manufacture  of  horseshoe  nails  in  New 
London  for  about  two  years,  and  was  engaged  a  short  time  in  manu- 
facturing in  New  Haven.  In  1869  he  went  to  Canton,  Ohio,  and 
organized  a  stock  company  for  the  manufacture  of  steam  engines  and 
machinery,  and  was  office  manager  and  a  director  in  the  company. 
Afterward  he  was  called  to  Montreal,  Canada,  in  charge  of  the  agency 
for  the  Union  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  which  he  conducted 
for  six  or  seven  years.  Since  October,  1880,  he  has  been  with  Man- 
ning, Bowman  &  Co.,  Meriden.  He  enlisted  August  23d,  1862,  in  the 
14th  Connecticut  Volunteers,  served  with  that  regiment  through  the 
battle  of  Antietam.  was  afterward  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps  at  New  Haven,  served  three  years  and  was  discharged  there,  in 
1865.  He  was  elected  councilman  of  the  city  of  Meriden  in  1888.  He 
married  Martha  H.,  daughter  of  Byron  W.  Nichols,  of  New  Haven. 

Reverend  A.  H.  Hall,  son  of  Samuel  W.  and  Margaret  B.  (Knowl- 
ton)  Hall,  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  March  7th,  1845,  and  graduated 
from  Harvard  University  in  1867.  ■  He  then  spent  three  years  in  Eu- 
rope and  the  Orient,  studying  and  traveling,  a  part  of  the  time  study- 
ing at  the  University  of  Berlin.  He  afterward  spent  three  years  at 
the  Theological  Seminary,  Andover,  Mass.  He  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  church  of  Meriden  in  March, 
1875,  continuing  there  four  years.  After  an  interval  of  one  year  in 
Boston,  he  was  called  to  the  Center  church,  Meriden,  in  March.  1880, 
and  has  been  pastor  there  since.  Since  1880  he  has  spent  six  sum- 
mers in  Europe;  in  1891  was  a  delegate  to  the  International  Council  of 
Congregationalists  in  London.  His  published  pamphlets  have  been  : 
"A  Study  of  Mr.  Fronde's  Historical  Methods,"  1887:  "The  ^Mission  of 
the  Church  to  Intelligence  and  Wealth,"  1888; '"Studies  in  the  Sermon 
on  the  Mount,"  1891.  He  married  Mary  D.,  daughter  of  Deacon  Ed- 
ward Twichell,  of  Plantsville,  Conn.  Mrs.  Hall  was  educated  at  Abbott 
Female  Seminarv,  Andover,  Mass. 


638  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Erwin  D.  Hall,  born  in  J8:36  in  New  Marlborough,  Mass.,  is  a  son 
of  Edward  and  Clarissa  (Burnhain)  Hall.  He  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools  and  at  Williams  Academy,  Stockbridge,  Mass.  He 
came  to  Meriden  about  1851,  and  was  employed  as  foreman  of  the 
sewing  machine  department  of  the  Charles  Parker  Company,  and 
afterward  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  a  short  time.  He  enlisted 
in  the  8th  Connecticut  Regiment,  and  was  appointed  second  lieuten- 
ant. On  account  of  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff 
he  was  discharged,  October  6th,  1804,  and  then  appointed  in  charge  of 
the  government  bakery  at  Point  Lookout,  Md.,  where  the  troops  were 
fed;  also  about  25,000  rebel  prisoners.  On  his  return  to  Meriden  at 
the  close  of  the  war  he  married  Lucy  A.,  daughter  of  Captain  Ben- 
jamin Latham,  of  Mystic  Bridge,  town  of  Stouington,  Conn.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  He  was  town  and  city  collector 
for  four  years.  In  April,  1877,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Meri- 
den, and  continued  in  office  until  February,  1886.  He  then  resumed 
the  insurance  business,  which  he  has  since  carried  on.  In  May,  1890, 
he  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Breckenridge  Manufac- 
turing Company,  and  since  then  has  given  most  of  his  time  to  the 
management  of  this  concern. 

George  L.  Hall,  son  of  Noah  and  Harriet  (Hotchkiss)  Hall,  was 
born  in  Meriden  in  1822,  in  the  same  h'ouse  where  he  has  always  lived, 
and  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm.  He  taught  school  for  14 
winters,  working  on  the  farm  summers.  He  served  as  one  of  the 
committee  on  the  high  school  building,  and  also  as  committee  of  the 
Northeast  school  district.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Joseph  Al- 
worth,  of  England,  who  came  to  America  in  1843,  his  children  coming 
two  years  later.  He  always  followed  the  manufacturing  business, 
and  came  from  Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  where  he  was  employed  in 
woolen  manufacturing,  to  Meriden,  entering  the  employ  of  Charles 
Parker,  remaining  until  his  death. 

Nelson  Hall,  son  of  Orrin  and  Annie  G.  (Hall)  Hall,  was  born  in 
Meriden  in  1821,  and  remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  the  age  of 
21,  when  he  started  in  the  peddling  business,  which  he  carried  on  for 
six  years.  He  then  began  the  manufacture  of  Britannia  goods  in 
Middletown,  and  from  there  went  to  Middlefield,  and  about  1853  sold 
out  the  business  to  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company  and  came  back  to 
Meriden,  locating  on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  has  since  carried  on 
farming.  In  1873  he  built  his  present  house  near  the  site  of  the  old 
one.  He  served  on  the  board  of  relief  several  years.  He  married 
Alma  E.,  daughter  of  Ira  Preston,  of  Meriden. 

Russell  Hall,  son  of  Orrin  and  Annie  G.  (Hall)  Hall,  was  born  in 
Meriden  in  1835,  and  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  until  he 
was  19  years  of  age.  He  then  started  in  the  tin  peddling  business, 
which  he  followed  for  19  years.  About  1861  he  located  at  his  present 
place,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  manufacturing  peddlers' 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  639 

supplies  and  tin  ware,  and  dealing  in  all  kinds  of  paper  stock  and 
metals,  but  of  late  years  has  given  more  attention  to  grocers'  sup- 
plies, including  tin  and  glass  ware,  wooden  ware,  cutlery,  paper  bags, 
paper  of  all  kinds,  etc.  He  was  married,  first,  to  Emily  S.,  daughter  of 
Ira  Preston,  of  Meriden.  His  present  wife  is  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 
Ransom  Baldwin,  of  Meriden. 

Wilbur  B.  Hall,  son  of  Lewis  and  Lucy  M.  (Birdsey)  Hall,  was  born 
in  Meriden  in  1860,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He 
was  employed  for  six  years  with  the  Wilcox  Silver  Plate  Company, 
Meriden,  established  business  for  him.self  in  1882,  and  in  1885  built 
his  present  factory,  where  he  is  engaged  in  manufacturing  silver 
plated  and  white  metal  goods.  He  married  Lillie  E.,  daughter  of 
George  Beckley,  of  Meriden. 

Daniel  H.  Hart,  son  of  Samuel  I.  and  Abigail  D.  (Hall)  Hart,  was 
born  in  1815  at  Meriden.  He  was  brought  upon  a  farm,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  at  Suffield  Institution.  At  the  age 
of  21  he  went  to  live  on  the  farm  of  Daniel  Hall,  his  grandfather  on 
his  mother's  side,  where  he  remained  until  after  the  war  closed.  He  . 
then  located  on  his  present  farm,  which  was  formerly  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Isaac  Lewis.  He  married  Harriet  G.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Miller,  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1840.  His  grandfather,  Benjamin 
Hart,  was  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  died  at  the  age  of  85. 

Ives  W.  Hart,  son  of  Daniel  H.  and  Harriet  G.  (Miller)  Hart,  was 
born  in  1842  in  Meriden,  was  educated  at  the  Meriden  Academy,  and 
has  always  followed  farming.  He  has  been  clerk  of  the  East  school 
district  since  1885,  and  treasurer  of  Meriden  Grange.  Xo.  29,  since  its 
organization. 

Herman  Hess,  born  April  4th,  18G1,  in  Meriden.  is  a  son  of  Fred- 
erick and  Johanna  (Yobke)  Hess.  He  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. He  was  employed  in  the  dr}'  goods  business  about  five  years, 
was  in  the  ticket  and  freight  offices  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  railroad 
five  years,  and  was  afterward  employed  for  five  years  with  the  Meri- 
den Malleable  Iron  Compan}'.  In  1883  he  was  elected  city  auditor  to 
fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Frederick  B.  Derby;  in  October, 
1886,  was  elected  town  clerk  and  registrar  of  vital  statistics;  was  elected 
city  clerk  in  December,  1886,  and  reelected  each  year  since.  He 
married  Eugenia  D.,  daughter  of  the  late  Norman  W.  Pomeroy,  of 
Meriden. 

Fred.  M.  Hotchkiss,son  of  H.  Dwight  and  Eliza  (Smith)  Hotchkiss, 
was  born  in  Prospect,  Conn.,  in  1846.  He  was  employed  by  H.  L. 
Spencer,  grocer,  of  Meriden,  for  two  years.  In  1863  he  went  to  New 
Haven  as  bookkeeper  in  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  Yale  &  Brj-an, 
remaining  with  them  as  bookkeeper  three  years,  then  went  on  the 
road  as  salesman.  In  1869  he  started  in  the  brokerage  business  in 
New  Haven,  remaining  about  one  year,  then  entered  the  employ  of 
E.  Henry  Barnes,  pork  packer,  and    in  1871  established  a  wholesale 


640  HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

and  retail  grocery  business  in  Waterbury,  continuing  for  six  years. 
He  spent  the  winters  from  1877  to  1879  in  the  South  on  account  of 
his  health,  devoting  the  rest  of  the  time  to  settling  the  estate  of  his 
grandfather,  David  M.  Hotchkiss.  He  afterward  started  on  the  road 
again  for  the  wholesale  grocery  and  importing  house  of  J.  D.  Dewell 
&  Co.,  New  Haven,  remaining  with  them  until  he  started  business  in 
Meriden.  Several  years  previous  to  leaving  Dewell  &  Co.,  he  had 
established  a  carriage  repository  and  harness  business,  now  known  as 
the  Meriden  Harness  Company,  in  Menden,  and  March  1st,  1889, 
established  a  wholesale  grocery  business.  He  is  wholesale  agent  for 
some  of  the  largest  companies  in  the  country.  He  is  first  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Connecticut  Commercial  Travelers'  Association,  national 
director  of  the  Travelers'  Protective  A.ssociation  of  America,  and  his 
voice  is  often  heard  on  the  floors  of  conventions  of  traveling  men  in 
defense  of  the  commercial  travelers  and  their  interests.  He  married 
Nellie  A.,  daughter  of  H.  L.  Spencer,  of  Meriden. 

H.  E.  Hubbard,  born  in  1844  in  Haddam,  Conn.,  is  a  son  of 
Epaphro  and  Achsah  (Dickinson)  Hubbard.  In  1866 he  went  to  Hart- 
ford, engaging  in  the  stair  building  business  in  the  firm  of  C.  B.  May 
&  Co.  In  1872  he  came  to  Meriden  and  established  business  for  him- 
self on  State  street,  in  what  was  known  as  the  Old  Meriden  Steam 
Mill,  which  was  burned  in  the  summer  of  1873.  A  year  after  he  built 
a  planing  mill  on  Cherry  street,  which  was  burned  in  1875,  and  in 
1877  or  1878  he  built  his  present  place  on  Center  street.  He  married 
Lora  B.,  daughter  of  Orrin  Hale,  of  Glastonbury,  Conn.  He  was 
alderman  of  the  First  ward  two  years,  and  once  first  selectman  of  the 
town. 

Oliver  J.  D.  Hughes,  M.  D.,  son  of  Honorable  John  H.  Hughes,  of 
Bushey  Park,  Herts,  England,  and  Sophie  L.  Tidblom,  was  born  in 
the  port  of  Buenos  Aires,  Argentine  Republic,  37  years  ago.  He  was 
educated  at  St.  John's  Grammar  School,  Buenos  Aires,  Royal  Surrey 
Cadets,  Peckham,  London,  Real  Gymnasium,  Mannheim  and  Heidel- 
berg University  (degree  Ph.  B.  1871)  Germany.  He  received  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  from  Long  Island  College  Hospital  in  1875.  He  passed 
the  German  Army  Medical  Board  (3d  Army)  in  1870,  and  served 
through  the  Franco-German  War  (1870-71)  in  Third  (Crown  Prince's) 
Army,  Medical  Department;  was  decorated  with  Iron  Cross,  Baden 
Cross  of  Merit  and  war  medal.  He  was  house  surgeon  at  Long  Island 
College  Hospital  and  Eastern  District  Ho.spital,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
hou.se  surgeon  and  chief  of  staff  at  Marine  Hospital,  Stapleton, 
vStaten  Island,  N.  Y.,  also  assistant  under  Doctor' Kitchen  at  Ward's 
Island  Emigration  Asylum,  N.  Y.,  and  was  surgeon  Pacific  Mail 
Steamship  Company,  Mexican  Mail,  and  inspector  on  board  of  health, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  He  first  went  into  private  practice  at  Fultonville, 
N.  Y.,  for  a  few  months,  then  went  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  was  asso- 
ciated  with  Doctor  J.   G.    Johnson.     From   there  he   went    into    the 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  641 

Mexican  service,  coming  home  to  be  married  to  Jennie  W.  Toothe  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  returning  with  her  to  Mexico.  He  returned  to 
the  United  States  and  settled  in  Meriden  six  years  ago,  at  38^  West 
Main  street.  He  has  been  town  physician  for  four  years,  member  of 
board  of  school  visitors,  and  health  board  and  high  school  committee, 
and  is  a  member  of  state,  county  and  city  medical  societies.  He 
erected  his  pre.sent  residence  in  1890  at  88  East  Main  street. 

P.  Ethan  Hull,  son  of  Cornelius  and  Polly  (Rogers)  Hull,  was  born 
in  Meriden  in  1836,  and  was  educated  at  Meriden  Academy.  He  was 
first  employed  in  grocery  and  dry  goods  stores  and  afterward  in  the 
harness  business.  He  then  went  West  for  one  year  selling  lumber. 
Returning  East  he  established  himself  in  the  stationers'  hardware 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hull  &  Co.  He  was  afterward  for 
13  years  with  ^liller  Brothers  Cutlery  Company,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  superintendent  of  the  !\Ieriden  Saddlery  &  Leather  Com- 
pany. He  has  served  two  years  in  the  council.  He  married  Frances 
L.,  daughter  of  Ezra  Pratt,  of  Meriden.  His  father  was  for  a  great 
many  years  in  charge  of  the  coffee  mill  department  of  the  Charles 
Parker  Company. 

John  A.  Hurley,  born  in  1854  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  is  a  son  of 
William  and  Ellen  (Ray)  Hurley.  He  was  employed  in  the  dry  goods 
bu.siness  with  Edward  Malley,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  from  1871  to  1879, 
and  from  January,  1879,  was  employed  as  bookkeeper  for  McMahon  & 
Wren,  wholesale  liquor  dealers,  Bridgeport,  Conn.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  firm  February  1st,  1886,  the  firm  name  becoming  McMahon, 
Wren  &  Co.,  and  went  to  Meriden  June  1st,  1888,  to  take  active  part 
in  the  management  of  the  Meriden  Brewing  Company.  He  married 
Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  S.  Bvrne,  of  New  Haven.  The 
Meriden  Brewing  Company  was  organized  in  1887.  The  members  of 
the  company  were  J.  H.  McMahon  and  P.  W.  Wren,  of  the  wholesale 
liquor  firm  of  McMahon,  Wren  &  Co.,  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and  W.  E. 
Green  and  J.  A.  Hurley.  The  company  advanced  and  developed  more 
rapidly  than  any  other  brewery  in  the  country.  In  a  little  over  two 
years  they  built  up  a  business  that  reached  into  every  corner  of  this 
state,  and  that  extended  to  all  or  nearly  all  the  commercial  centers  of 
the  country.  It  is  the  largest  brewery  between  New  York  and  Boston, 
and  possesses  an  annual  producing  capacity  of  100,000  barrels.  One 
ereat  advantage  it  has  over  other  breweries  is  that  the  beer  is  made 
from  spring  water  obtained  from  wells  located  on  the  premises.  Its 
plant  is  in  every  way  superior  to  that  of  any  other  brewery  in  New 
England.  Mr.  Green  left  the  concern  January  1st,  1891.  The  com- 
pany, with  A.  Wintter  &  Co.,  of  Bridgeport,  formed  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany under  the  title  of  The  Connecticut  Breweries  Company,  October 
18th,  1890.  The  corporation  purcha.sed  all  the  property  of  both  con- 
cerns. Peter  W.  Wren  is  president:  A.  Wintter,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer; J.  A.  Hurley,  manager  of  Meriden  Brewery. 
■10 


642  HISTOKV   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Isaac  B.  Hyatt,  son  of  Roswell  and  Elizabeth  (Curtis)  Hyatt,  was 
born  in  1848  in  Norwalk,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  enlisted  in  the  17th  Connecticut  Volunteers  in  January, 
1804,  and  was  mustered  out  in  July,  1865.  He  then  returned  to  Nor- 
walk and  came  to  Meriden  in  1867.  He  learned  his  trade  of  Britannia 
working  with  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company. 

Julius  I.  Ives,  of  South  Meriden,  son  of  Jotham  and  Mary  R.  (Way) 
Ives,  was  born  in  1842  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  went  South  for  two  winters  and 
was  in  the  lumber  business,  connected  with  the  Wilmington  Lumber 
Company.  Since  that  time  he  has  carried  on  farming.  He  married 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  William  Johnson,  of  Middletown.  His  father 
was  born  in  Meriden,  located  on  his  farm  at  South  Meriden  (then 
called  Hanover)  in  1830,  and  died  in  1863.     His  mother  died  in  1878. 

James  Kane,  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Keating)  Kane,  was  born  in 
1836,  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  when  15  years  of  age.  His  par- 
ents died  in  Ireland.  After  remaining  a  short  time  in  New  York  he 
located  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  learned  his  trade  of  James  S. 
Hooker.  He  then  went  to  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  as  foreman  for  sev- 
eral contractors,  among  whom  were  William  Harlow  and  Jared  & 
Boyd,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  afterward  returned  to  Hartford  and  was 
foreman  for  Joel  Hills  &  Brother.  In  1864  he  came  to  Meriden  and 
was  foreman  for  Robert  Oughton.  In  1868  he  established  business 
for  himself,  and  about  1881  returned  to  Hartford,  on  account  of  his 
health,  where  he  carried  on  business  until  1885,  when  he  again  came 
to  Meriden,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  business.  In  1887  he  went 
to  Florida  on  account  of  his  health,  and  while  there  superintended  the 
mason  work  on  the  Ponce  De  Leon  Hotel,  at  St.  Augustine.  He  was 
foreman  on  the  Meriden  woolen  mill,  built  the  ^'Eolian  Organ  &  Music 
Company's  factory,  assisted  in  building  the  Meriden  Britannia  and 
the  Wilcox  &  White  Organ  Company's  buildings,  erected  buildings 
for  Edward  Miller  &  Co.,  built  the  convent  school  and  addition  to  the 
Catholic  church.  On  a  wager  that  he  could  lay  3,000  brick  in  a  day, 
he  once  performed  what  is  called  the  greatest  feat  on  record,  at 
Bridgeport,  by  laying  3,500  brick  in  5  hours  and  35  minutes.  He  has 
served  as  councilman.  He  married  Bridget,  daughter  of  James  and 
Mary  Whalen,  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are:  James 
T.,  Robert  E.,  William  M.,  Joseph  P.,  Mamie  E.  and  Kittie  B.  James 
T.  was  born  in  1862,  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  was  only  two  years 
old  when  he  came  to  Meriden.  He  learned  his  trade  with  his  father, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  James  Kane  &  Son  for  the  past 
eight  years.     In  1888 he  was  elected  alderman. 

Silas  W.  Kent,  son  of  Chester  G.  and  Polly  (Bly)  Kent,  was  born  in 
1850,  in  Remsen,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  educated  at  Wesleyan 
University,  Middletown,  Conn.,  graduating  in  1872.  He  came  to  Mer- 
iden in  1873,  and 'uas  since  been  connected  with  the  Beecher  Manufac- 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  643 

turing  Company,  and  is  now  the  manufacturer  of  the  Blizzard  horse 
shoe  ice  creeper.  He  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Rox- 
anna  Chapman,  of  Southington.Conn. 

Wm.  Wallace  Lee  was  born  July  2()th,  1828,  in  Barkhamsted, 
Litchfield  county,  Conn.,  and  is  the  second  son  in  a  family  of  five  sons 
and  one  daughter  that  grew  to  maturity.  He  is  of  the  fifth  genera- 
tion from  John  Lee,  who  came  from  Colchester,  England,  in  1634,  and 
was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Farmington,  Conn.,  in  1641. 
His  education  was  obtained  in  the  common  schools.  He  learned  the 
machinist  trade,  and  has  always  followed  it  as  a  journeyman.  He 
was  five  years  a  constable,  two  years  a  justice  of  the  peace,  four  years 
alderman  and  two  years  a  member  of  the  legislature.  He  was  mar- 
ried, July  24th,  1851,  to  Mary  Jane  Carrington,  of  an  old  New  Haven 
county  family.  They  had  three  sons  (all  died  young)  and  one  daugh- 
ter, now  the  wife  of  Edwin  E.  Smith,  business  manager  of  the  Mcri- 
den  Republican.  In  politics  Mr.  Lee  is  a  republican.  He  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  first  republican  convention  in  Connecticut,  and  voted  for 
Fremont,  Lincoln  and  Horace  Greeley. 

Isaac  C.  Lewis,  son  of  Isaac  and  Esther  (Beaumonti  Lewis,  was 
born  in  Meriden  in  1812,  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  was  first  president  of  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company,  continuing 
in  that  office  for  12  years.  He  represented  the  town  in  the  legisla- 
ture four  terms,  and  was  twice  mayor  of  Meriden.  He  married  Har- 
riet, daughter  of  Noah  Pomeroy,  of  Meriden. 

Lew  Allen  Lipsette  was  born  in  1852  in  New  York  city,  and  was 
educated  at  the  College  of  New  York.  He  came  to  Meriden  about 
twent}'  j'ears  ago.  He  married  Amelia  E.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Urick, 
of  Meriden.     He  has  editorial  charge  of  the  Meriden  Daily  Journal. 

George  H.  Lohmann,  son  of  Carl  and  Minna  (Taeger)  Lohmann, 
was  born  in  1847,  in  Brunswick,  Germany,  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  town,  and  learned  the  wood  engraving  busi- 
ness. He  came  to  America  in  1872,  locating  first  in  New  York,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  for  about  three  years.  In  1875  he  came  to  Mer- 
iden, establishing  himself  in  the  wood  engraving  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Sanford  &  Co.,  which  continued  for  four  years.  In  1879 
Mr.  Lohmann  made  a  contract  with  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company 
as  engraver.  He  was  elected  alderman  in  1887.  He  married  Annie 
Schrader,  of  Brunswick,  Germany.  Mr.  Lohmann  served  one  year  in 
the  German  Prussian  war.  His  father  is  a  pensioner,  having  served 
the  German  government  for  50  years. 

Reverend  Paul  F.  M'Alenney,  son  of  Bernard  and  Mary  (Cassidy) 
M'Alenney,  was  born  March  8th,  1848,  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  His 
father  died  in  Ireland  in  1851,  and  his  mother  and  family  came  to 
America.  They  landed  in  New  York,  where  they  resided  a  short 
time,  and  then  located  in  Waterbury,  Conn.,  where  they  remained 
several   years,  and   finally  removed   to   Plainville,  Conn.,  where  the 


644  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

mother  died  in  1869.  He  went  to  live,  when  about  twelve  years  of 
age,  with  relatives  in  Manchester,  Conn.,  where  he  attended  a  public 
school  for  a  short  time.  He  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  and  having 
finished,  returned  to  the  home  of  his  mother  in  Waterbury,  moved  to 
Plainville,  and  remained  with  the  family  until  her  death.  He  entered 
St.  Francis'  College,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  graduated  with  honors 
in  1871.  The  following  year  he  studied  at  St.  Bonaventure's  College, 
Alleghany,  N.  Y.  He  completed  his  studies  in  Montreal  College  and 
the  Grand  Seminary,  and  was  ordained  December  23d,  1876.  His  first 
charge  was  as  assistant  pastor  of  St.  Peter's,  Hartford,  Conn.,  until 
August,  1881.  He  was  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  church,  Kensing- 
ton, with  Plainville  as  a  mission.  During  his  pastorate  of  Kensington 
and  Plainville  he  paid  over  $5,000  debt  and  made  many  needed  im- 
provements in  the  former,  and  in  the  latter  he  organized  the  parish, 
secured  the  land,  built  the  church  of  Our  Lady  of  Mercy,  and  left  the 
property,  which  cost  about  $15,000,  entirely  free  of  debt.  He  was  ap- 
pointed pastor  of  vSt.  Rose's  church,  Meriden,  and  took  charge  Febru- 
ary 22d,  1885.  During  his  years  in  Meriden  he  built  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Angels,  South  Meriden,  erected  a  convent  chapel  for  the  Sisters, 
remodelled  the  schools  and  church,  built  a  boiler  house  from  which 
all  the  buildings  are  heated,  purchased  50  acres  of  land  at  the  city 
limit  on  Broad  street,  for  a  cemetery,  and  secured  land  in  the  western 
part  of  the  city,  where  he  intends  soon  to  erect  a  church  and  school. 

John  McWeeney,  born  in  1842  in  Ireland,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Catherine  (McKeon)  McWeeney.  He  came  to  America  in  1858.  locat- 
ing in  Branford,  and  came  to  Meriden  in  1859.  He  was  employed  by 
the  Meriden  Cutlery  Company  for  16  years,  and  established  a  coal  and 
wood  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  McWeeney  &  vSabin,  in  1873. 
He  has  also  been  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  since  1886.  He 
was  elected  councilman  in  1887  and  alderman  in  1889,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  town  board  of  relief  since  1886.  He  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Edward  Burke,  of  Cheshire,  Conn. 

C.  J.  Mansfield,  M.  D.,  born  in  1843  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  is  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Eliza  (Buckingham)  Mansfield,  the  latter  a  cousin  of 
Governor  Buckingham,  of  Connecticut.  He  was  educated  at  the  high 
school,  Sheffield,  Mass.,  and  graduated  from  New  York  Homeopathic 
Medical  College  in  1868.  For  two  years  he  practiced  in  New  York  city, 
and  in  1870  came  to  Meriden.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Connecticut  State 
Medical  Societ}'.  He  married  Emma,  daughter  of  George  W.  Lyon,  of 
Meriden. 

Edward  M.  Merriam,  son  of  Alvah  and  Mary  A.  (Sperry)  Merriam, 
was  born  November  1st,  1843,  in  Woodbury,  Litchfield  county,  Conn.,^ 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Woodbury,  Meriden,  and  Washington 
Academy,  and  has  followed  farming  in  Meriden.  He  has  served  as 
clerk  and  treasurer  of  Northwest  school  district.  His  father  was  born 
in  Meriden  on  the  farm  where  Edward  M.  lives,  in  1799,  was  brought 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    KAVEN   COUNTY.  645 

up  on  the  farm  until  21.  then  started  in  the  peddling  business,  which 
he  followed  until  shortly  after  he  settled  again  in  Meriden,  in  1861. 
After  that  he  followed  farming,  and  died  in  1878.  He  kept  .store  in 
Woodbur}'  from  1830  to  18o(),  where  he  manufactured  goods  and  .sent 
out  peddlers,  then  followed  the  wholesale  Yankee  notion  business  for 
ten  years.  His  grandfather,  Amasa  Merriam,  bought  the  farm  place 
in  Meriden  in  1795  for  ^300. 

George  C.  Merriam,  son  of  Nelson  and  Rosetta  (Couch)  Merriam, 
was  born  in  Meriden  in  1834,  and  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. In  1851  he  went  to  New  York  in  the  employ  of  Hopkins,  Allen 
&  Co.,  remaining  until  1859,  then  went  to  Wilmington,  N.  C, 
entering  business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  M.  McCarter  &  Co. 
The  day  Sumter  was  fired  on  he  came  home,  and  in  July,  1862,  en- 
listed in  and  was  appointed  second  lieutenant  of  Company  A,  15th 
Connecticut  Regiment.  He  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany E,  in  1864  was  made  captain  in  the  8th  Regiment,  and  in  1865 
was  mustered  out.  At  the  expiration  of  a  year  he  went  to  Vermont, 
■engaging  in  the  lumber  business  for  two  years,  then  returned  to  Mer- 
iden. After  spending  one  year  in  the  office  of  Foster,  Merriam  &  Co., 
he  went  to  Nevada,  and  two  years  later  returned  to  Meriden  and  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  Charles  Parker  Company,  remaining  there  eight 
years.  On  the  death  of  Albert  Foster,  he  became  secretary  and  treas- 
tirerof  Foster,  Merriam  &  Co.  He  has  served  six  years  as  councilman 
and  two  years  as  alderman.  He  married  Helen  R.,  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Sarah  Bradley. 

Eli  I.  Merriman,  son  of  Ira  and  Elizabeth  (Hubbard)  Merriman, 
was  born  in  Meriden  in  1837,  and  was  educated  at  the  Meriden  Acad- 
emy. He  was  clerk  in  the  grocery  business  for  Collins  &  Co.  for  about 
five  years,  then  engaged  in  hoop  skirt  manufacturing  in  the  firm  of  J. 
Wilcox  &  Co.,  which  was  afterward  made  a  joint  stock  company  for 
making  balmoral  skirts,  Mr.  Merriman  being  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  company.  They  afterward  went  into  the  woolen  business  as 
the  Meriden  Woolen  Company,  of  which  he  was  for  five  j-ears  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.  Since  1879  he  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Meriden  Malleable  Iron  Company.  He  married  Mary  Ely,  daugh- 
ter of  N.  F.  and  Nancy  (Ely)  Miller,  of  Bloomfield,  Conn. 

Wallace  A.  Miles,  son  of  Almeron  and  Caroline  (^Lawrence)  Miles, 
was  born  in  1841  in  Southington,  Conn.,  where  his  parents  temporar- 
ily resided,  moving  to  Meriden  when  he  was  six  months  old.  He  was 
educated  by  private  tutor  and  at  Meriden  Academy.  He  was  first  em- 
ployed as  clerk  in  the  Meriden  post  office  under  Postmasters  Yale  and 
Asel  H.  Curtis.  He  afterward  for  many  years  had  charge  of  shipping 
for  the  Charles  Parker  Company,  then  went  into  the  hardware  and 
crockery  business  in  the  firm  of  Birdsey  &  Allies,  who  were  also  manu- 
facturers of  stationers"  hardware.  In  the  spring  of  1876  they  dissolved 
partnership,  Mr.  Allies  taking  the  manufacturing  business,  which  he 


646  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

continued  until  1888.  He  was  collector  of  taxes  for  1875,  '70  and  '77, 
has  been  assessor  of  town  and  city  since  1877,  is  a  member  of  the 
board  of  compensation  for  the  city,  to  which  place  he  was  unani- 
mously chosen  by  the  city  council  in  1886,  was  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature in  1875,  '76  and  '77,  and  was  elected  mayor  in  1888.  He  enlisted 
in  the  27th  Regiment  in  April,  1862,  and  went  out  in  October,  return- 
ing in  August,  1863.  He  married  Angeline  Patterson,  of  Bloomfield, 
Conn. 

William  H.  Miller  was  born  April  29th,  1822,  at  Ramapo  Works, 
Rockland  county,  N.  Y.  He  attended  a  private  school  until  he  was 
16  years  old,  when  he  engaged  with  the  Colts  Patent  Fire  Arms  Com- 
pany, at  Paterson,  N.  J.,  to  learn  the  trade  of  gun  maker,  continuing 
with  them  until  the  .spring  of  1841.  He  then  went  to  Chicopee 
Falls,  Mass.,  and  was  employed  by  the  Ames  Manufacturing  Company 
in  the  manufacture  of  the  Jenks  breech  loading  carbine.  In  the  fall 
of  1843  he  went  to  Mill  Creek,  Pa.,  in  the  armory  of  a  Mr.  Nippes,  who 
manufactured  muskets  for  the  government.  In  the  spring  of  1844  he 
engaged  in  company  with  Mr.  Hosea  Ball,  to  make  the  tools  and  start 
up  the  rifle  manufactory  at  Cincinnati,  O.,  of  John  GrifTeth,  who  had  a 
contract  with  the  government  to  make  5,000  rifles.  After  completing 
this  work,  Mr  Miller  returned  in  the  fall  of  1844  to  Paterson,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1845  went  to  Chicopee,  Mass.,  to  work  on  pin  machinery 
for  Charles  Benedict  and  William  Ball.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
he  engaged  at  Springfield  Armory,  Mass.,  to  work  on  tools  for  a  new 
carbine  under  the  superintendence  of  Cyrus  Buckland.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1846  he  was  engaged  by  Colonel  Samuel  Colt  to  work  on  his 
pistols  at  Whitney  ville,  this  county.  When  the  business  was  removed 
to  Hartford  in  1847,  Mr.  Miller  went  with  it  as  a  contractor  to  make 
the  lock  work  of  pistols.  While  at  Hartford  Joshua  Stevens  (now 
president  of  the  Stevens  Tool  &  Fire  Arms  Company,  of  Chicopee 
Falls)  and  Mr.  Miller  made  an  improvement  in  revolving  pistols  and 
had  it  patented.  In  the  fall  of  1849  they  formed  what  is  called  the 
Massachusetts  Arms  Company,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
these  pistols,  which  he  continued  until  1862,  when  he  was  engaged  as 
superintendent  of  the  gun  manufactorj'  of  Parker,  Snow,  Brooks  & 
Co.,  at  Meriden.  In  1864-5  he  made  several  inventions  and  improve- 
ments in  fire  arms,  one  of  which  is  now  the  celebrated  Parker  Shot 
Gun.  Another,  invented  in  company  with  his  brother,  George  W. 
Miller,  is  the  cartridge  extractor  now  used  in  the  Springfield  musket. 
In  1848,  in  company  with  his  brother,  George  W.,  Mr.  Miller  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  pocket  cutlery,  and  in  1870  formed  the  Miller 
Brothers  Cutlery  Company.  He  continued  in  that  business  until  1885. 
In  January,  1886,  Mr.  Miller  was  appointed  and  commissioned  as  post- 
master at  Meriden,  which  position  he  held  until  February,  1890. 

Henry  L.  Morehou.se,  son  of  Cyrus  A.  and  Cornelia  (Canfield)  More- 
house, was  born  in  1845  in  New   Milford,  Conn.,  and  graduated  from 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  647 

Eastman's  College,  Ponghkeepsie,   N.  Y.     He  learned    his   trade  in 
Bridgeport  with  his  brother,  and  in  1869  established  business  for  him 
self  in  New  Haven.     Since   1872  he  has  carried  on  the  contracting 
and  building  business  in   Meriden.     He  married  Mattie  C,  daughter 
of  Charles  D.  Wright,  of  Meriden. 

George  N  Morse,  son  of  Joseph  and  Lucy  (Hall)  Morse,  was  born 
in  Meriden  October  16th,  1853,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Meriden  and  at  Connecticut  Literary  Institution,  vSuffield. 
He  first  worked  in  a  paint  store  a  short  time,  was  afterward  employed 
in  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company,  then  in  the  grocery  business,  and 
later  with  his  father  in  the  hardware  business.  After  his  father  sold 
out  he  went  to  New  York  and  worked  for  A.  T.  Stewart,  and  after- 
ward with  the  Whiting  Manufacturing  Company.  Returning  to 
Meriden,  he  established  himself  in  the  fire  insurance  business,  which 
he  carried  on  for  ten  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  for  one  year  in  the  West,  and  in  January,  1884,  established 
the  furniture  business  in  Meriden,  which  he  has  since  carried  on.  He 
was  elected  to  the  senate  in  1888  by  the  largest  plurality  ever  given 
in  his  district  for  a  democratic  candidate.  He  ran  for  city  clerk,  also 
for  alderman,  and  in  1889  was  democratic  candidate  for  mayor.  He 
was  correspondent  for  the  Nciv  York  Mirror  and  the  Turf,  Field  &■ 
Farm,  contributing  a  number  of  valuable  articles  to  the  latter;  was 
delegate  from  his  town  at  the  state  convention  at  Hartford,  to  choose 
delegates  to  the  national  convention,  and  was  a  member  of  Charter 
Oak  Hose,  Volunteer  Fire  Department.  He  is  a  descendant  of  John 
Morse,  one  of  the  founders  of  Wallingford  in  1670,  a  deputy  and  com- 
missioner to  the  general  court  for  14  years,  and  who  died  in  1707  at 
the  age  of  103.  On  his  maternal  side,  are  Governor  Johnathan  Law, 
and  Brenton  Hall,  first  representative  from  Meriden  in  1806.  Mr. 
Morse  married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  John  C.  Byxbee,  of  Meriden. 

D.  K.  Murphy  was  born  April  13th,  1841,  in  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
educated  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  where  he  lived  from  the  time  he  was 
2i  years  old  until  about  21,  when  he  learned  the  cigar  inaking  trade 
in  Westfield,  Mass.,  working  at  that  until  1872.  He  then  went  into 
the  millinery  and  fancy  goods  business  for  a  year  in  Middletown, 
Conn.,  and  in  the  fall  of  1873  came  to  Meriden,  and  in  January,  1874, 
established  the  millinery  business  in  Meriden,  which  he  carried  on 
four  years.  vSince  that  time  he  has  been  in  the  undertaking  business, 
also  fire  insurance  business  since  1886.  He  served  as  a  member  of 
the  water  board  two  years.  He  married  Anna  B.,  daughter  of  Edward 
Comer,  of  Winchester,  N.  H.,  and  for  many  years  a  resident  of 
Keene,  N.  H. 

J.  S.  Norton,  Jr.,  son  of  J.  S.  &  Anna  M.  (Sage)  Norton,  was  born 
in  Guilford,  Conn.,  January  31st,  1851.  He  left  Guilford  when  he  was 
10  years  of  age  and  has  since  resided  in  Meriden.  He  entered  the 
Home  Bank  in  1866,  filling  various  positions  up  to  cashier,  which 
position  he  has  held  since  1881. 


648  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Samuel  D.  Otis,  M.  D.,  son  of  Israel  S.  and  Caroline  (Dickinson)  Otis, 
was  born  in  1856  at  Old  Saybrook,  Conn.,  was  educated  at  the  University 
of  New  York,  graduating  from  the  medical  department  in  1876.  He 
began  practice  in  Tuckerton,  N.  J.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1877  located 
in  Meriden,  where  he  has  since  practiced.  He  is  a  member  of  state, 
county  and  city  medical  societies.  His  preceptor  was  Doctor  John  H. 
Granniss,  of  Old  Saybrook.  He  was  elected  alderman  in  1887.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Doctor  Edward  C.  Newport,  of  Meriden. 

William  Parker  was  born  in  1825  in  Hartford,  Conn.  His  father 
moved  from  Hartford  to  Albany,  N.Y.,  and  from  there  to  New  Haven, 
where  he  died.  William,  at  the  age  of  11  years,  went  to  Wallingford, 
where  he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  afterward  worked  in  the  shop 
of  Hall  &  Elton.  He  established  a  livery  business,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Bartholomew  &  Parker.  In  1853  he  came  to  Meriden,  where 
he  also  carried  on  the  livery  business  for  10  years  in  the  rear  of  where 
the  old  Central  Hotel  stood.  He  afterward  kept  the  Meriden  House 
stables  for  five  years,  and  in  1868  started  the  business  on  West  Main 
street,  which  he  sold  out  in  1873,  on  account  of  his  health.  He  served 
four  years  in  the  council  and  was  assessor  two  years.  He  married 
Nancy  L.  Whiting,  of  Branford,  Conn. 

C.  W.  Patten,  son  of  William  and  Louisa  (Harrison)  Patten,  was 
born  in  1845  at  Montville,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  at  old  Bacon  Acad- 
emy, Colchester.  He  worked  for  Clark  &  Smith,  New  London,  Conn., 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  about  18  years  ago  came  to  Aleriden  and 
established  a  butcher  business,  which  he  has  since  continued.  He 
married  for  his  first  wife  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Allen  Sisson,  of  Say- 
brook, Conn.,  and  for  his  second  Mary  G.,  daughter  of  John  Kinder,  of 
Meriden. 

James  M.  Perkins,  son  of  Russell  G.  and  Sarah  (Bartlett)  Perkins, 
was  born  in  1823,  in  Ludlow,  Mass.  His  father  moved  to  Pittstown, 
N.  Y.,  where  James  M.  went  to  school.  His  father  afterward  moved 
to  Franklin,  N.  Y.  James  M.  learned  his  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner 
in  Oneonta,  N.  Y.,  and  afterward  engaged  in  putting  in  water  wheels 
at  different  places  on  the  Delaware.  Later  he  was  engineer  on  the 
New  York  &  Erie  railroad.  He  came  to  Meriden  about  35  years  ago, 
taking  charge  of  the  hammer  forging  at  what  was  then  Parker  &  Per- 
kins, now  the  Charles  Parker  Company,  spoon  shop,  East  Meriden,  of 
which  he  is  now  superintendent.  He  has  served  on  the  board  of  re- 
lief. He  married,  first,  Almira  Allen,  of  Gilboa,  N.  Y.  His  present 
wife  is  Abby  E.,  daughter  of  Edward  O.  Belden,  of  Meriden. 

Reverend  J.  T.  Pettee  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sharon,  Norfolk 
county,  Mass.,  September  5th.  1822.  His  father  was  Tyler  Pettee,  son 
of  Hezekiah  and  Chloe  (Ware)  Pettee,  of  Foxboro,  Mass.  His  mother 
was  Esther  M.,  daughter  of  John  Hews,  of  Foxboro,  and  Esther  Mann, 
of  Wrentham.  Mr.  Pettee  was  educated  at  the  district  school.  Rice's 
Academy,  Newton  and   HoUiston,  Lowell  high  school  and  Wesleyan 


HISIORV   OF   NKW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  649 

University,  ]\Iiddietown,  Conn.  His  life  has  been  devoted  to  preach- 
ing, writing,  superintending  and  teaching.  lie  has  .served  as  judge 
of  probate,  selectman  and  school  superintendent.  He  was  married, 
October  26th,  1843,  to  Mariette  R.  Clark,  of  Meriden.  They  have  had 
but  one  child,  Emily  Parker  Pettee,  decea.sed.  Mr.  Pettee  is  a  democrat 
in  politics  and  a  Methodist  in  religion. 

August  Pistorius,  son  of  August  and  Charlotte  (Weaver)  Pistorius, 
was  born  in  Prussia  in  1829.  He  learned  the  tailoring  trade  in  the 
city  of  Berlin,  served  from  1849  to  1853  in  the  Prussian  army,  and 
came  to  America  in  18i")5,  locating  first  in  New  Haven.  In  October, 
18,55,  he  came  to  Meriden  and  was  employed  by  Joseph  Stevens  in  the 
tailoring  business.  Mr.  Pistorius  started  business  in  1870  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Pistorius  &  O'Neil,  which  continued  one  year,  since 
which  time  he  has  conducted  business  alone.  He  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Conrad  Fisher,  of  Germany.  She  died  December,  1863. 
His  present  wife,  Louisa,  is  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  The  children 
living  by  first  wife  are  Henry  and  Charles,  and  by  present  wife: 
Louisa,  Gus.sie,  Annie,  William,  Minnie  and  Frederick.  Mr.  Pi.storius 
has  been  Corner  School  District  committee  .since  1883.  Pie  was  one 
of  the  originators  of  the  first  German  Lutheran  church,  was  elected 
chairman  of  the  meeting  and  afterward  chairman  of  the  trustees, 
which  position  he  held  while  a  member  of  that  church.  He  was  one 
of  the  original  starters  of  the  German  Mutual  Aid  Society  and  held 
the  office  of  treasurer  for  the  first  eleven  years,  afterward  was  presi- 
dent and  is  now  trustee.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Elmo  Commandery, 
No.  9,  K.  T.,  of  Meriden,  Conn. 

James  T.  Pomeroy,  .son  of  Noah  and  Nancy  ( Merriman)  Pomeroy, 
was  born  in  Meriden  in  1827,  and  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  has  always  lived  and  followed  farming.  The  old  homestead 
is  supposed  to  be  nearly  200  years  old,  and  was  moved  a  short  distance 
from  the  old  site  in  1882,  when  he  built  his  present  house.  He  mar- 
ried Delilah  F.,  daughter  of  William  H.  Guild,  who  was  engaged  in 
the  steam  pump  business  for  35  years,  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  who 
came  to  Meriden  in  1846.  Their  children  are:  Leanora  E.,  married  J. 
H.  Beckett,  of  Meriden;  Nellie  J.,  married  R.  J.  Molloy,  of  Meriden; 
Carrie  F.,  died  1881,  and  was  the  wife  of  David  Flansburgh,  of  Meriden; 
and  Charles  Lewis  and  William  H.  Pomeroy.  His  father,  Noah 
Pomeroy,  was  born  in  Saybrook,  Conn.,  and  was  a  son  of  Charles 
Pomeroy,  a  merchant  of  that  place.  The  family  trace  their  ancestry 
back  to  the  eleventh  century  to  a  distinguished  Norman  knight,  who 
fought  at  the  battle  of  Hastings  under  William.  After  the  death  of 
his  father,  Noah  Pomeroy  moved  with  his  mother  to  Meriden  in  1818. 
In  his  early  days  he  peddled  tin  ware,  and  afterward  engaged  in  its 
manufacture,  which  he  carried  on  for  over  20  years.  His  sons  after- 
ward conducted  the  business  for  about  18  years,  when  they  sold  out. 
His  son,  Norman,  afterward  engaged  in   the  grocery  business,  which 


650  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY, 

he  carried  on  up  to  within  a  few  years  of  his  death.  Charles  S.  went 
West  as  a  land  agent,  and  also  practiced  law  there.  He  was  elected 
to  congress  from  Iowa,  and  has  since  practiced  law  in  Washington,  D. 
C.  James  T.  remained  on  the  farm,  which  he  has  since  carried  on. 
Noah  Pomeroy  served  as  selectman  many  years,  and  justice  of  the 
peace  by  appointment  of  the  state  legislature,  as  long  as  it  possessed 
the  power  to  appoint,  during  his  whole  residence  in  Meriden.  In 
1832  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  representatives,  and  in  1837  to  the 
senate.  He  was  director  in  the  Meriden  Bank  from  its  organization, 
and  was  chcsen  president  in  1849,  but  resigned  six  months  later. 

Reverend  A.  T.  Randall. son  of  Reverend  H.  C.  and  Alary  L.  (Davis) 
Randall,  was  born  September  23d,  1854,  at  Poquetannock,  Conn.  He 
graduated  from  St.  Stephens  College  at  Annandale,  N.  Y.,  in  1877, 
and  from  Berkeley  Divinity  School,  Middletown,  Conn.,  June  2d,  1880, 
and  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  June  7th,  1881,  at  Litchfield,  Conn. 
He  came  to  Meriden  as  assistant  to  Doctor  Deshon  June  4th,  1880. 
The  latter  was  rector  for  33  years,  and  died  January  1st,  1883.  Mr. 
Randall  had  full  charge  of  the  parish  from  the  death  of  Doctor  Deshon 
until  he  was  made  rector  at  Easter,  1884.  November  30th,  1888,  the 
parish  house  was  dedicated,  built  at  a  cost  of  $16,000,  raised  by  sub- 
scription. 

T.  L.  Reilly  was  born  in  1858  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  and  was 
educated  at  the  parochial  school  attached  to  St.  Mary's  church,  and  at 
the  State  normal  school.  New  Britain,  graduating  in  1876.  He  imme- 
diately entered  the  office  of  Town  Clerk  Walsh,  of  New  Britain,  as 
assistant.  In  1877  he  came  to  Meriden  and  studied  law  in  the  office 
of  Judge  Donahoe,  now  of  Middletown;  was  afterward  employed  as 
bookkeeper  for  John  F.  Butler,  and  later  in  the  packing  department 
of  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company.  In  1880  he  became  the  Meriden 
correspondent  of  the  AVw  Haven  Daily  Union,  afterward  had  charge  of 
the  local  department  of  the  Meriden  Press-Recorder,  was  later  connected 
with  the  Meriden  Republican  for  three  years,  and  then  engaged  with 
the  N'eic  Haven  Register,  doing  their  legislative  work,  remaining  with 
them  until  the  Meriden  Journal  Publishing  Company  started,  of  which 
he  has  since  been  secretary  and  local  editor.  He  married  Marie  E., 
daughter  of  M.  Rowen,  of  Blackstone,  Mass. 

M.  G.  Reynolds,  son  of  Thomas  and  Ellen  (Gill)  Reynolds,  was 
born  in  Ireland  in  1838,  and  came  to  America  in  1863,  locating  in  New 
Haven.  A  few  months  later  he  came  to  Meriden  and  worked  in  an 
auger  shop  a  short  time,  then  worked  at  teaming.  About  1865  he 
went  West,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  grocery  business  for  abont 
two  years.  He  returned  to  New  Haven,  remaining  about  eight  months, 
and  in  1868  went  to  Wallingford,  where  he  started  the  grocery  busi- 
ness. In  1870  he  came  again  to  Meriden  and  established  business  at 
his  present  place  on  West  Alain  street.  He  married  Alary,  daughter 
of   Owen  Campbell.     He  has  been  chairman  of  the  committee  of   the 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   KAVEN   COUNTY.  651 

West  school  district  since  1886.  and  was  elected  assessor  in  1888,  1889 
and  1890. 

John  L.  Richmond,  son  of  Leonard  and  Edna  (Wright)  Richmond, 
was  born  in  1836  at  Canaan,  Conn.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  at  West  Granville,  Mass.,  where  he  went  when  young, 
remaining  there  until  18  years  of  age.  He  afterward  located  in  Glas- 
tonbury, Conn.,  where  he  learned  his  trade.  He  came  to  Meriden  in 
1855,  and  from  that  time  until  1877  (with  the  exception  of  the  time  he 
was  in  the  war)  was  employed  with  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company. 
In  1877  he  bought  Mr.  Lewis'  interest  in  the  firm  of  Griswold,  Lewis 
&  Glock,  the  firm  afterward  being  Griswold,  Richmond  &  Glock  until 
July  1st,  1889,  when  a  stock  companj^  was  organized  under  the  name 
of  the  Griswold,  Richmond  &  Glock  Cooperative  Company,  with  N. 
F.  Griswold,  president;  John  L.  Richmond,  treasurer,  and  Charles  C. 
Glock,  superintendent.  Mr.  Richmond  served  in  the  3d  Connecticut 
Volunteers,  under  Captain  Jared  R.  Cook.  He  has  served  as  alder- 
man and  as  councilman  several  years.  He  married  Eunice  E., 
daughter  of  Sherman  Stone,  of  Durham,  Conn. 

Charles  L.  Rockwell,  son  of  Francis  A.  and  Mary  (Lee^i  Rockwell, 
was  born  in  Ridgefield,  Conn.,  was  educated  at  Fort  Edward  Institute, 
X.  Y.,  and  has  alwavs  been  identified  with  banking  business.  He 
was  teller  of  the  National  Bank  of  Xorwalk,  Conn.,  from  1863  to  1870, 
and  has  since  been  cashier  of  First  National  Bank  of  Meriden;  is  also 
a  director  in  same,  vice-president  and  trustee  of  City  Savings  Bank, 
treasurer  and  tru.stee  of  Meriden  Trust  &  Safe  Deposit  Compan}', 
director  of  Meriden,  Waterbury  &  Connecticut  River  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Meriden  Horse  Railroad  Com- 
pany. He  is  also  trustee  of  the  Wesleyan  University  at  Middletown, 
Conn. 

William  F.  Rockwell,  son  of  Francis  A.  and  Mary  (Lee)  Rockwell, 
was  born  in  Ridgefield,  Conn.,  in  1845,  and  was  educated  at  a  select 
school  in  Ridgefield,  and  at  Fort  Edward  Institute,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
prepared  for  college.  He  was  first  employed  as  assistant  bookkeeper 
in  a  flour  and  grain  house  in  New  York  city,  and  afterward  had 
charge  of  the  office  for  three  years.  In  1868  he  established  a  general 
country  store  at  Washington,  N.  J.,  under  the  firm  name  of  Cummins, 
Rockwell  &  Co.,  which  continued  until  1873,  and  since  that  time  he 
has  been  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Miller  Brothers  Cutlery  Com- 
pan3%  Meriden.  He  married  Louise,  daughter  of  J.  D.  Taylor,  of 
Washington,  N.  J. 

T.  S.  Rust,  son  of  Daniel  and  Ann  (Haskell")  Rust,  was  born  in  1844 
at  Northampton,  IMass.,  and  was  educated  at  Williston  vSeminary, 
Easthampton,  Mass.,  his  parents  having  moved  there  when  he  was  a 
child.  He  is  a  machinist  by  trade,  and  during  the  early  part  of  the 
war  he  returned  to  Northampton,  where  he  worked  on  guns  and 
gun  machinery,  afterward  locating  in  Meriden,  where  he  also  worked 


652  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

on  guns  and  gun  machinery  with  Snow,  Brooks  &  Co.,  now  Parker 
Brother-s.  In  1864  he  began  the  practice  of  dentistry  in  Meriden, 
succeeding  D.  S.  Colton,  who  was  his  brother-in-law.  He  married 
Fannie  M.,  daughter  of  Chaunceyand  Miranda  F.  Colton,  of  Westficld, 
Mass. 

Henry  Sabin,  son  of  Colonel  Horace  and  Emily  (Grosvenor)  Sabin, 
was  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  in  1841,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  He  was  employed  by  the  Meriden  Cutlery  Company  for  22 
years,  and  in  1873  established  himself  in  the  coal  and  wood  business, 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  McWeeney  &  Sabin.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  in  1886.  His  fir.st  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Olney  Burton,  of  Pomfret,  Conn.  His  second  wife  was  Myra,  daughter 
of  H.  B.  Harvey,  of  Pottsville,  Pa.'  His  present  wife  is  Bertha, 
daughter  of  James  Brooks  Ely,  of  Meriden.  Mr.  Sabin  enlisted  in 
the  1st  Conn.  Cavalry,  but  was  taken  sick  before  the  regiment  left  and 
had  to  return  home. 

F.  E.  Sands,  son  of  Jesse  and  Mary  E.  (Turner)  vSands,  was  born  in 
1863,  in  New  Fairfield,  Conn.  He  was  educated  at  Danbury,  Conn., 
and  at  Yale  College,  graduating  in  1885,  as  civil  engineer.  After 
graduating  he  was  employed  on  the  Nezu  Haven  Union  staff,  and  in 
April,  1886,  together  with  others,  formed  the  Journal  Publishing  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  is  treasurer. 

H.  S.  Savage,  son  of  Elliott  and  Sarah  F.  (Southmayd)  Savage,  was 
born  in  1861,  in  Meriden,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  worked 
at  surveying  under  S.  C.  Pierson  for  nearly  three  years,  and  since  1877 
has  been  employed  by  the  Bradley  &  Hubbard  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, for  the  past  four  years  in  charge  of  invoice  department.  He 
was  elected  to  the  council  in  December,  1888.  He  married  Alice  A., 
daughter  of  James  Self,  of  Meriden. 

Henry  L.  Schleiter,  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Gilbert)  Schleiter. 
was  born  in  Rosendale,  Germany,  June  24th,  1830.  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica May  2d,  1847,  locating  in  New  London,  Conn.  He  learned  the 
boot  and  shoe  business  with  A.  D.  Smith,  remaining  in  his  employ  six 
years,  and  then  established  business  for  himself,  continuing  there 
until  February  1st,  1869,  when  he  located  in  Meriden,  where  he  has 
since  carried  on  the  business.  While  in  New  London  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  common  council  four  years,  and  has  served  six  years  as  a 
member  of  common  council  in  Meriden.  He  was  assessor  of  taxes 
one  year,  member  of  board  of  water  commissioners  four  years,  the 
last  two  years  being  president  and  superintendent,  and  afterward  was 
elected  superintendent,  .serving  seven  years,  making  nine  years  in  all 
as  superintendent  of  water  works.  He  resigned  on  account  of  ill 
health,  and  was  reelected  in  January,  1890.  He  enlisted  April  20th, 
1861,  as  first  lieutenant  in  Company  A,  3d  Regiment,  Conn.  N.  G., 
serving  three  months  at  Fort  Trumbull,  and  in  the  fall  of  1861  he  re- 
cruited a  company  and  joined  the    13th  Connecticut  Volunteers,  as 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  653 

captain  of  Company  I.  The  regiment  went  out  with  the  New  England 
division,  commanded  by  Major-Generai  B.  F.  Butler,  and  at  New  Or- 
leans his  company  was  detached  from  the  regiment  and  made  special 
body  guard  to  General  Butler.  Captain  Schleiter  resigned  in  ISfiS, 
on  account  of  ill  health  contracted  in  the  service.  He  married  Adelia, 
daughter  of  Captain  William  Potter,  of  New  London. 

August  vSchmelzer,  born  in  1841,  in  Germany,  is  a  son  of  C.  A.  and 
Joh'anne  (Wetzel)  Schmelzer.  He  came  to  America  in  1871,  and  located 
in  Meriden,  where  he  worked  in  the  woolen  mill,  and  afterward  with 
the  Charles  Parker  Company.  He  then  went  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  work- 
ing in  a  sash  and  blind  factory,  and  in  the  fall  of  1872  returned  to 
Meriden  and  was  again  employed  in  the  woolen  mill  from  1873  to 
1879.  From  1880  to  1889  he  was  employed  by  the  Malleable  Iron  Com- 
pany. In  1873  he  established  a  news  agency,  in  1874  added  cigars  and 
tobacco,  in  1876  became  agent  for  the  German  Lloyd  Steamship  Com- 
pany, and  in  1878-9  for  the  Hamburg- American.  He  is  a  notary  pub- 
lic, and  also  in  the  coal  and  wood  bu.siness,  buying  out  A.  A.  Beadle, 
June  1st,  1889.  He  married  Flora,  daughter  of  Glottlob  Schoen,  of 
Werdau,  Germany.  He  was  elected  councilman  in  1886,  and  reelected 
in  1888,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  relief. 

J.  G.  Schwink,  Jr.,  son  of  J.  G.  and  Barbara  (Schaabt  Schwink,  was 
born  in  Yalesville,  Conn.,  in  1857.  He  was  brought  up  on  his  father's 
farm  until  16  years  of  age,  and  like  his  father,  has  always  followed  the 
milk  business  with  farming.  In  1871  he  came  to  Meriden  with  his 
parents.  He  married  Lillian  S.,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Sophia 
Grether.  Her  father  carried  on  the  butcher  business  in  Meriden  for 
many  years.  Mr.  Schwink  served  as  a  member  of  the  Southeast  School 
District  committee  in  1886-7,  and  as  treasurer  in  1888.  In  1889  he  built 
bis  present  residence,  corner  East  Main  street  and  Paddock  avenue.  His 
father  came  to  America  about  1850,  locating  in  Yalesville.  His  mother 
before  marriage  was  employed  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  family  of 
Charles  Parker,  of  Meriden.  Mrs.  Schwink's  uncle  on  her  mother's 
side,  John  Dreher,  and  her  mother  were  the  only  Germans  in  Meriden 
at  that  time,  and  were  the  organizers  of  the  first  German  Lutheran 
church  in  Meriden.  Her  mother  was  employed  for  seven  years  in  the 
family  of  Noah  Pomeroy.  Her  parents  came  to  America,  locating  in 
Meriden  about  1850. 

Isaac  Skidgell.  son  of  Nicholas  and  Amy  (Van  Wart)  Skidgell.was 
born  in  1822,  at  Tarrytown,  N.  Y.,  and  was  educated  at  the  old  Tarry- 
town  Academy.  He  went  to  New  York  when  16  years  of  age  and 
lived  there  until  1860,  when  he  went  to  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  as  engineer 
for  the  Wheeler  &  Wilson  .Sewing  Machine  Company,  remaining  five 
years.  In  1864  he  came  to  Meriden  and  since  that  time  has  been 
engineer  for  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company.  He  has  followed 
steam  engineering  since  he  was  16  years  of  age.  He  was  elected 
boiler  inspector  in  1868  and  has  been  reelected  each  year  since.     He 


6.54  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY. 

married  Frances,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Frances  Devoe,  of  New 
York. 

Edward  W.  Smith,  M.  D.,  son  of  David  and  Fidelia  (Parker)  Smith, 
was  born  in  Meriden  in  1854.  He  graduated  from  Hopkins  Grammar 
School,  New  Haven,  in  1874,  and  from  Yale  in  1878,  and  after  attending 
medical  school  one  year,  he  taught  school  for  one  year  at  Yalesville. 
He  then  entered  McGill  Medical  College,  Montreal,  graduated  in  1882, 
and  returning  to  Meriden,  immediately  began  practice.  He  is  a 
member  of  State  and  County  Medical  Societies.  He  married  Helen 
B.,  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Abby  A.  Rice,  of  Meriden,  Conn.  Oliver 
Rice  was  a  native  of  Meriden. 

George  W.  Smith,  son  of  Willis  and  Olive  (Smith)  Smith,  was  born 
in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  in  1825,  graduated  from  Yale  Law  School  in 
1857,  and  immediately  began  practice  in  Meriden.  He  was  justice  of 
the  peace  continuously  while  in  Meriden,  and  for  many  years  probate 
judge.  He  was  also  justice  of  city  court,  and  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  City  Savings  Bank.  His  first  wife  was  Kate  A.,  daughter  of 
Lyman  Carrier,  of  Canton,  Conn.  She  died  in  1882.  His  .second  wife 
was  Mary  A.  Smith,  whose  father,  Daniel  Smith,  was  a  native  of  Stoning- 
ton.  Conn.,  and  whose  mother  was  Alona  Abbott  Smith,  of  Stonington, 
Conn.,  daughter  of  General  Lyman  Abbott,  also  of  Stonington,  Conn. 
George  W.  Smith  died  in  Meriden,  Conn.,  August  21st,  1890. 

F.  W.  Stiles,  son  of  Truman  and  Eliza  (Wooding)  Stiles,  was  born 
in  1849  in  Meriden,  was  ediicated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  New 
Haven  Business  College,  and  learned  the  carpenters  and  builder's 
trade  when  he  was  15  years  old,  with  his  father,  who  was  for  many 
years  in  the  business  and  at  one  time  was  foreman  for  the  Lyon  & 
Billard  Company.  Mr.  Stiles  makes  a  specialty  of  repairing  dangerous 
and  unsafe  buildings,  and  is  the  oldest  contractor  and  carpenter 
builder  that  has  been  continuously  in  the  business  in  Meriden.  In 
1884  he  started  house  moving  in  connection  with  his  building  busi- 
ness, and  is  doing  the  principal  work  in  that  line.  He  was  married  in 
1875  to  Elizabeth  J.,  daughter  of  John  Aubrey,  of  Meriden. 

A.  W.  Tracy,  M.  D.,  born  in  1846  in  Ireland,  is  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Julia  (Hannon)  Tracy.  He  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  when 
three  years  old,  locating  in  Island  Pond,  Essex  county,  Vt.,  where  his 
parents  still  live.  He  attended  St.  Sulpie  College,  Montreal,  and  St. 
Charles  College  near  Baltimore,  and  was  graduated  from  McGill  Col- 
lege, Montreal,  in  1873.  He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Island 
Pond,  Vt.  Since  November,  1875, he  has  practiced  in  Meriden.  He  is 
a  member  of  state  and  county  medical  societies.  He  married  ^largaret, 
daughter  of  Edward  Broderick,  of  Willimantic,  Conn. 

James  C.  Twichell,  son  of  Dwight  and  Jane  (Carter)  Twichell,  was 
born  in  Southington,  Conn.,  in  1842,  was  educated  at  Lewis  Academy, 
Southington.  and  came  to  Meriden  in  1871.  He  was  employed  with 
the  Meriden  Malleable  Iron  Company  for  about  eight  years,  and  since 


HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  665 

1878  has  been  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Smith  &Twichell,  succeeding  Bowditch  &  Prudden.  He  was  coun- 
cilman two  years  and  was  elected  alderman  in  1888.  He  married 
Ellen  E.,  daughter  of  Edwin  Gridley,  of  Southington.  He  enlisted  in 
the  20th  Regiment,  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  and 
afterward  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  He  was  mustered 
out  in  July,  1865. 

Waldo  C.  Twiss,  son  of  Ira  and  Vincie  (Andrews)  Twiss,  was  born 
in  Montreal,  Canada,  in  1829,  and  was  educated  at  Meriden  Academy 
and  Suffield  Institution.  He  has  resided  in  Meriden  since  he  was  7 
years  of  age.  He  followed  the  house  moving  business  for  25  years, 
and  since  1875  has  been  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He  mar- 
ried Cornelia  I.,  daughter  of  Watrous  Ives,  of  Meriden.  His  father 
was  a  clock  maker  by  trade,  and  was  engaged  in  that  business  in 
Canada,  when  Waldo  C.  was  born.  He  and  his  brothers  were  the  first 
Yankees  to  attempt  the  manufacture  of  clocks  in  Canada.  From  1839 
to  1848  his  father  kept  the  old  tavern  in  Meriden,  having  bought  the 
propert}-  some  years  before.  He  afterward  built  several  mills.  His 
grandfather,  Joseph  Twiss,  fottght  in  the  campaign  at  Saratoga  and  at 
the  taking  of  Burgoyne. 

John  Watson,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Holt)  Watson,  was  born  in 
1850,  in  Lawrence,  Mass.,  and  was  educated  at  Roxbury  Latin  School. 
He  came  to  Meriden  in  December,  1879,  and  has  since  been  employed 
as  cashier  and  head  bookkeeper  for  the  Meriden  Silver  Plate  Com- 
pany. He  was  elected  member  of  city  council  in  December,  1889. 
He  married  Sadie  A.,  daughter  of  Wilder  Beal,  of  Boston, 'Mass. 

F.  J.  Wheeler,  son  of  Everett  and  Maria  (Curtis)  Wheeler,  was  born 
in  Stratford,  Conn.,  in  1834.  He  learned  the  tinner's  trade,  and  when 
he  was  21  years  of  age  went  to  school  for  one  j'ear,  after  which  he 
worked  at  his  trade  in  Waterbury  for  six  years.  In  1862  he  came  to 
Meriden  and  bought  out  J.  C.  Smith,  and  has  since  carried  on  the 
business.  He  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  William  L.  Bennett,  of 
Huntington,  Conn. 

Henry  S.  Wilcox,  son  of  Henry  T.  and  Elizabeth  W.  (^Scovil)  Wil- 
cox, was  born  in  1835  at  Meriden.  His  first  experience  in  business 
was  as  bookkeeper  for  his  father,  who  was  in  the  manufacturing  busi- 
ness. The  factory  was  burned  in  1853,  and  Henr}' became  bookkeeper 
with  the  Meriden  Hardware  Company.  In  1855  he  started  in  the  grocery 
business  with  his  father,  and  in  February,  1867,  they  started  the  drug 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  T.  Wilcox  &  Co.  This  is  the 
oldest  established  drug  business  in  Meriden.  His  father  died  in  1885. 
Mr.  Wilcox  has  served  three  terms  as  town  treasurer,  and  once  as 
councilman.  He  married  Jane  E.,  daughter  of  Ira  Merriman,  of 
Meriden. 

Julius  W.  Yale,  son  of  Julius  and  Polly  N.  (Wilcox)  Yale,  was  born 
in  1834  in   Meriden,  on  the   old  homestead.     He  has  always  followed 


656  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

farming  on  the  land  originally  settled  by  his  great-great-grandfather, 
and  which  has  remained  in  the  family  for  the  five  generations.  He 
married  Mary  C,  daughter  of  David  Hobart,  of  Meriden,  in  18G2,  and 
has  five  children.  His  ancestors,  as  connected  with  the  county's  his- 
tory, are  as  follows:  (1),  Thomas  Yale  (a  brother  of  Elihu  Yale,  from 
whom  Yale  University  takes  its  name),  was  one  of  the  original  plant- 
ers of  New  Haven,  and  an  active  member  of  its  first  church.  (2), 
Thomas,  Jr.,  born  in  1678,  was  a  planter  in  Wallingford,  and  active 
in  town  and  church  affairs.  In  1729  he  moved  to  Meriden,  on  land 
which  has  since  become  the  Yale  homestead,  in  the  Southeast  dis- 
trict of  the  town.  He  was  active  in  both  town  and  church  aff^airs 
in  Meriden,  as  he  had  been  in  Wallingford.  (8),  Noah,  born  in  1723, 
died  in  1803.  (4),  Joel,  born  in  1759,  died  in  1805.  (5),  Julius,  born 
in  1795,  died  in  1867.  (6),  Julius  W.,  born  in  1834.  His  son,  Julius 
H.,  born  in  1863,  is  the  sixth  generation  of  the  family  cultivating  the 
original  grant  of  land. 

Levi  B.  Yale,  .son  of  Levi  and  Abigail  E.  (Bacon)  Yale,  was  born 
March  25th,  1838,  in  the  same  house  where  he  has  always  lived,  at- 
tended school  at  the  Meriden  Academy,  and  married  Frances  E., 
daughter  of  Dedodatus  Royce,  of  Berkshire,  N.  Y.  His  father  was 
born  April  11th,  1792,  in  Meriden,  about  one-fourth  mile  from  the 
farm  where  Levi  B.  was  born.  He  was  first  selectman  seven  years, 
a  member  of  the  legislature,  and  justice  of  the  peace.  He  figured 
prominently  during  the  agitation  of  the  anti-slavery  question,  many 
times  jeopardizing  his  life  in  defense  of  anti-slavery  principles.  He 
taught  school'  for  14  winters,  beginning  when  he  was  only  16  years 
old,  and  also  taught  singing  school  seven  winlers.  He  married  Abi- 
gail E.,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Bacon,  of  Middletown,Conn.  She  died 
May  7th,  1845,  and  he  afterward  married  Jennette,  daughter  of  Dedo- 
datus Royce,  of  Berkshire,  N.  Y.,  who  survived  him.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 18th.  1872. 

August  Yost,  son  of  Frederick  and  Catherine  (Wehrheim)  Yost, 
was  born  in  Germany  in  1844,  and  came  to  America  in  1855.  He 
located  at  Warehouse  Point,  Conn.,  for  a  short  time,  then  moved  to 
Rockville,  and  was  for  15  years  employed  in  the  New  England  Mills, 
the  last  four  years  as  designer.  In  June,  1872,  he  established  a  bakery 
business  in  New  Britain,  Conn.,  and  in  September  of  the  same  year 
moved  to  Meriden,  starting  the  bakery  business  on  Liberty  street, 
opposite  the  town  hall,  where  he  remained  three  years.  In  1875  he 
located  at  his  present  place  on  West  Main  street.  He  married  Agnes, 
daughter  of  George  Naedele,  of  Germany.  His  father  was  a  baker  in 
Germanv,  and  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  83,  and  active. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


THE    TOWN    OF   CHESHIRE. 


Geographical  and  Descriptive. — Early  Settlers. — Roads. — Taverne. — Small  Pox.— Civil 
Organization.- — Manufacturing  Interests. — Mines  and  Mining. — Cheshire  Tillage. — 
West  Cheshire. — Brooksrale. — Mixville. — Cheshire  Street  ^Other  Localities. — Rail- 
roads.— Lodges  and  Societies. — Soldiers'  Monument. — Educational  and  Professional 
Interests. — Cheshire  Congregational  Church.— St.  Peter's  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.— Cheshii-e  Metliodist  Episcopal  Church. — St.  Bridget's  Roman  Catholic 
Church. — Biographical  Slcetches. 


THE  town  of  Cheshire  was  settled  under  the  juri.sdiction  of  Wal- 
lingford,  from  which  it  was  set  off  as  a  town  in  1780,  after  hav- 
ing sustained  the  relation  of  a  parish  from  1723.  The  locality- 
was  early  regarded  as  favorable  for  the  uses  of  the  Walliugford 
planters  and  was  called  by  them,  "  West  Farms,"  the  "  West  Society," 
or  "  Xew  Cheshire "  (in  distinction  from  the  old  town  in  England) 
until  the  present  name  was  adopted.  The  town  is  bounded  north  by 
Southing-ton,  in  Hartford  countv;  east  bv  Meriden  and  Wallingford; 
south  by  Hamden;  and  west  by  Waterburj'  and  Prospect.  It  is  about 
seven  miles  in  length,  north  and  south,  and  about  four  miles  in  width, 
the  area  being  less  than  16,000  square  acres  of  land. 

The  general  surface  is  diversified  by  hills  and  valleys,  and  presents 
a  most  attractive  landscape.  In  the  central  part  the  land  appears  in 
the  form  of  an  undulating  plateau,  from  which  flow  the  principal 
streams  and  along  which  are  level  lands,  being  in  some  localities  of 
the  nature  of  swamps.  Hoppen's  brook  takes  its  rise  southeast  of  the 
village;  Mill  river,  northwest  of  the  same  locality  and  flowing 
through  Hamden,  in  its  southerly  course,  empties  into  the  sound  at 
New  Haven,  about  fifteen  miles  distant.  Flowing  northeast,  in  the 
northwestern  part,  and  emptying  into  the  Quinnipiac,  which  cuts 
through  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town,  is  the  Ten  Mile  river,  which 
rises  in  Prospect.  Also  coursing  northeast  and  dropping  their  waters 
into  the  Quinnipiac  are  the  Honey  Pot  .ind  Broad  Swamp  brooks. 
The  swamp  through  which  it  flows  is  several  miles  in  extent.  The 
vallcN's  along  these  water  cour.ses  are  generally  very  fertile,  the  soil 
being  a  gravelly  loam.  On  the  hills  the  soil  is  less  rich,  but  is  admir- 
ably adapted  for  fruit  culture  and  the  gras.ses.  There  are  some  fine 
orchards  and  farms — and  of  all  kinds,  more  than  three  hundred  in 
number — a  large  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  being  agriculturists. 
41 


658  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  following  account  of  the  early  settlers  of  Cheshire  was  contrib- 
uted by  Honorable  E.  R.  Brown,  of  Cheshire,  also  author  of  articles 
on  Roads,  Taverns,  Small  Pox  and  Early  Industries. 

In  the  southeast  portion  of  the  town  and  near  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Silas  Ives,  Joseph  Ives  settled  in  the  year  1694;  the  same  year  of  his 
marriage  to  Esther  Benedict.  He  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the 
first  settler,  in  what  is  now  Cheshire.  He  was  chosen  the  first  deacon 
of  the  Congregational  church  in  1724,  and  served  the  church  in  that 
capacity  until  the  year  1730,  at  which  time  the  second  church  edifice 
was  erected.  Deacon  Ives  was  a  very  useful  and  devoted  member  of 
the  infant  parish.  In  this  same  house  also  his  son  Joseph  and  grand- 
son Titus  i-esided.  The  latter  was  a  revolutionary  soldier  and  was 
with  Washington's  army  at  Harlem,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  the  year 
1777.  A  letter  written  by  his  wife,  and  sent  to  him  at  Harlem,  during 
his  last  sickness,  and  also  the  gun  used  by  him  in  the  colonial  struggle 
for  independence,  are  now  extant  and  are  preserved  as  precious 
memorials  by  the  family  of  Mrs.  vSilas  Ives,  who  are  descendants,  who 
reside  withm  a  few  feet  of  the  old  Ives  homestead,  and  who  own  and 
occupy  the  same  property  that  has  been  in  the  possession  of  Deacon 
Joseph  Ives  and  his  descendants  for  about  200  years. 

Near  the  pi^esent  residence  of  H.  C.  Bristol  was  in  early  times  the 
residence  of  Captain  John  Hotchkiss,  who  settled  here  in  1694,  the 
same  year  of  his  marriage  to  Mary  Chatterton.  He  evidently  settled 
here  nearly  the  same  year  that  Deacon  Joseph  Ives  located  a  short 
distance  to  the  southward,  these  two  families  mentioned  evidently 
being  the  two  first  families  that  located  in  what  is  now  Cheshire.  A 
son,  Captain  John  Hotchkiss,  Jr.,  married  Mirriam  Wood,  and  also 
resided  here,  and  here  died  of  the  small-pox  in  the  year  1732.  Cap- 
tain Hotchkiss  was  prominent  in  the  formation  of  the  parish  of 
New  Cheshire  in  1723,  and  was  one  of  its  officials  until  the  time  of  his 
decease. 

A  short  distance  east  of  where  Samuel  Mallory  last  lived,  at  top  of 
hill,  was  formerly  the  home  of  Sergeant  Caleb  Matthews,  who  settled 
here  about  the  year  1715.  About  this  time  he,  in  company  with  Cap- 
tain John  Hotchkiss,  purchased  some  300  acres  of  land.  A  portion  of 
this  land  they  bought  of  Jonathan  Atwater,  and  a  part  of  Benjamin 
Beach,  called  second  division  land.  The  name  of  Caleb  Matthews  ap- 
pears among  the  first  records  of  the  Congregational  society  in  1723, 
where  he  was  often  elected  to  positions  of  influence.  Sergeant  Caleb 
Matthews  married  first,  Elila,  in  1715,  and  second,  Elizabeth  Frisbie,  in 
1736,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Whittlesey,  of  W^allingford,  performing  the 
ceremony.  In  the  town  cemetery,  on  an  old  brown  stone,  is  recorded 
as  follows:  "  Here  lies  ye  body  of  Mr.  Caleb  Matthev.'s.  He  died  Aug. 
ye  23rd,  1755,  in  ye  81st  year  of  his  age."  On  a  slate  stone  in  close 
proximity  is  also  inscribed:  "  Here  lies  ye  body  of  Elila,  being  ye  wife 
of  said  Caleb  Matthews,  who  died  Jan.  ye  17th,  1736,  in  ye  27th  year  of 
her  age." 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  659 

In  the  southeast  part  of  the  town, and  near  where  Albert  Rice  now 
lives,  Matthew  Bellamy  settled  about  the  year  1708,  at  which  time  he 
was  married  to  Sarah  Wood,  who  died  within  a  few  years,  and  in  1722 
he  again  married  Mary  Johnson.  He  was  the  father  of  Matthew  Bel- 
lamy, who  settled  on  Cheshire  .street;  of  Aaron  Bellamy,  who  lived 
many  years  in  this  place,  and  who  married  Desire  Parker  in  1753,  and 
was  interested  in  working  for  several  years  the  copper  mine  in  this 
locality.  Another  son  of  the  first  mentioned  Bellamy  was  Joseph, 
afterward  known  as  Doctor  Joseph  Bellamy.  He  was  born  in  1719, 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1735,  when  but  16  years  of  age.  He  re- 
ceived his  theological  education  largely  under  the  instruction  of  the 
Reverend  Samuel  Hall,  who  was  then  the  pastor  here,  and  also  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Whittlesey,  who  took  a  deep  interest  in  this  young 
.student.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  in  1740 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in 
Bethlehem,  Conn.  He  became  eminent  as  a  public  speaker  and  as  a 
writer,  possessing  a  strong  and  well  disciplined  mind.  Cheshire  with 
pride  records  his  name  among  the  most  gifted  of  her  sons.  He  died 
in  Bethlehem,  Conn.,  in  the  year  1790,  in  the  72d  year  of  his  age,  and 
in  the  50th  year  of  his  ministry.  His  last  days  were  spent  among  the 
people  where  for  so  many  years  he  had  been  a  faithful  and  devoted 
minister,  and  where,  under  his  instructions,  a  goodly  number  of  young 
men  were  fitted  for  the  gospel  ministry. 

Nearly  opposite  the  present  residence  of  James  White  was  in  early 
times  the  residence  of  Henry  Brooks  and  his  son,  Thomas.  In  the 
year  1685  Henry  Brooks  was  conducting  the  blacksmith's  business. 
He  was  a  farrier  and  shoer  of  horses  in  Cromwell's  army.  He  sold 
out  his  business  in  the  mother  country  in  the  year  1687.  Thomas,  liis 
son,  in  consideration  of  his  father  conveying  to  him  one-half  of  his 
estate,  took  upon  himself  the  maintenance  of  his  father  and  mother 
during  the  term  of  their  natural  lives.  William  Tyler  and  Mary  Tyler 
deeded  to  Thomas  Brooks,  in  April,  1705,  "102  acres  of  land,  2nd  Di- 
vision land,  called  the  Lathrop  farm,  lying  one  mile  from  the  New 
Haven  Mill-River,  and  bounded  South  on  Capt.  John  Hotchkiss,  Jonah 
Hotchkiss  and  David  Smith.  The  South  West  Corner  a  little  pond, 
dated  23rd  April,  1705,  and  Eight  Acres  laid  out  on  the  East  Side  of 
the  farm."  From  the  above  records,  and  from  reports  it  would  seem 
that  Henry  Brooks  and  Thomas  Brooks,  with  their  families,  removed 
to  Cheshire  about  the  year  1705.  They  were  from  Cheshire,  in  Eng- 
land, and  it  is  supposed  by  some  (^who  furnish  good  reasons  for  the 
claim)  that  they  were  the  ones  who  gave  the  name  of  Cheshire  to  this 
place.  A  vote  of  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  furnishes  the  evidence 
that  at  the  house  of  Captain  Thomas  Brooks  religious  services  were 
held  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  first  church  in  New  Cheshire,  in 
1723.  Thomas  Brooks  died  of  small-pox  in  1732,  and  his  loss  was 
deeply  felt  by  the  new  organization.     Nearlj'  all  of  the  Brooks  fami- 


660  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

lies  in  Cheshire,  of  the  different  branches,  trace  their  origin  to  this 
same  Thomas  Brooks,  the  descendants  of  whose  sons  are  very  numer- 
ous, and  are  scattered  about  in  several  different  states  of  the  Union. 
Several  of  them  have  become  prominent  in  different  positions  in  life. 
A  few  rods  west  of  the  residence  of  Thomas  vSaults  was  in  former 
times  the  residence  of  Henry  Bristol,  who  was  the  first  settler  in  what 
is  now  Cheshire,  by  the  name  of  Bristol.  He  settled  here  early  in 
1700,  and  died  in  1750.  Henry  Bristol  was  one  of  some  40  heads  of 
families  who  colonized  a  section  of  the  Connecticut  forest  claimed  by 
the  New  Haven  colony,  which  was  at  this  time  almo.st  an  unbroken 
forest,  abounding  in  great  oaks  which  some  say  were  from  "500  to 
1,000  years  old."  It  required  not  a  little  muscle  and  unflinching  cour- 
age for  a  man  with  a  family  to  .settle  down  for  life  in  a  forest  so  wild 
and  forbidding.  In  the  valley  a  short  distance  east  were  Indian  wig- 
wams, and  the  calls  of  the  Indians  upon  the  pale  faces  were  not  un- 
frequent,  asking  tribute  of  them  for  the  privilege  of  living  in  their 
midst,  and  of  clearing  up  the  land  claimed  by  the  red  men  as  their 
legitimate  po.ssession.  In  the  house  where  Thomas  Saults  lives,  Jona- 
than, a  son  of  Henry,  the  original  settler,  and  Gideon,  a  grandson, 
resided  many  years.  The  latter  served  six  years  in  the  war  of  the 
revolution,  and  was  one  of  the  tall  and  well  built  veterans  selected  to 
receive  the  arms  of  the  British  soldiers  who  surrendered  at  Yorktown. 
He  was  a  strong  built  man,  brave  and  generous.  He  was  also  an 
ardent  patriot,  and  when  once  enlisting  in  Washington's  army  he  staid 
by  it  until  the  end  of  the  war  and  until  English  domination  in  America 
had  ceased. 

North  of  William  Johnson's  house,  about  the  year  1737,  Ebenezer 
Atwater  settled.  One  morning  Mrs.  Atwater  was  awakened  by  the 
shrill,  pitiful  cries  of  their  pig,  and  hastily  rushed  to  the  window 
just  in  time  to  see  a  huge  black  bear  jump  out  of  the  pen  with  the 
pig  in  its  mouth.  The  neighborhood  was  soon  aroused  and  started  in 
pursuit.  The  bear  took  a  southeasterly  course,  crossing  the  fresh 
meadows,  coming  up  on  the  ridge  near  the  old  Johnson  homestead, 
where  it  was  shot  by  Daniel  Johnson.  It  was  a  large  one  and  weighed 
over  200  pounds.  It  was  divided  among  the  neighbors  who  went  in 
pursuit,  and  all  went  home  well  pleased  with  their  day's  exploit. 

East  of  the  academy  about  1^  iniles,  and  fronting  the  road  a  few 
rods  south  of  the  residence  of  William  S.  Baldwin,  was  formerly  the 
old  Tuttle  homestead.  Here  Deacon  Timothy  Tuttle  settled  in  1706. 
He  married  the  same  year  Thankful  Doolittle.  Here  also  his  son, 
Ephraim  Tuttle,  resided,  whose  wife  died  of  small  pox  in  the  year  1732, 
and  also  geveral  families  of  his  descendants  made  this  place  their 
home.  Some  think  this  was  the  first  house  erected  in  what  is  now 
Cheshire,  but  although  among  the  first  it  is  evident  that  a  few  at  the 
southern  part  of  the  town  have  the  seniority.  The  descendants  of 
Deacon  Tuttle  were  numerous,  many  of  whom  resided  for  many  years 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  661 

in  this  locality,  but  to-day  not  a  single  person  bearing  the  name  of 
Tuttle  resides  in  this  portion  of  the  town.  Deacon  Tuttle  was  the 
first  moderator  of  the  Congregational  society,  one  of  the  building 
committee  of  the  first  church  and  one  of  its  deacons  for  16  years.  The 
old  pine  tree  now  standing  near  this  old  house  place,  has  been  sighing 
its  mournful  requiem  for  nearly  a  century  and  a  half  of  years.  It  has 
been  a  guiding  point  to  many  a  traveler  passing  over  this  highway 
between  this  town  and  Meriden. 

In  North  Broad  swamp,  and  sometime  about  1700,  the  first  settlers 
were,  evidently,  Caleb  Hull,  Doctor  John  Hull  and  Captain  Samuel 
Hull,  all  grandsons  of  Doctor  John  Hull,  who  came  to  Wallingford 
from  Derby,  where  he  had  been  the  first  phj-sician.  He  was  at  that 
time  already  an  old  man,  but  in  order  to  secure  his  settlement  in  the 
town,  the  authorities  of  Wallingford  granted  him  a  tract  of  choice 
land  which  they  supposed  contained  70()  acres;  said  land  lying  be- 
tween the  north  side  of  Broad  swamp  and  the  Quinnipiac  river.  This 
grant  was  more  than  a  mile  square,  and  was  known  as  "  Doctor  Hull's 
large  farm,"  the  Hulls  and  the  Atwaters  owning  at  one  time  a  long 
stretch  of  land  between  the  Quinnipiac  river  and  what  is  now  Copper 
valley.  At  the  top  of  the  hill  east  of  the  residence  of  Josiah  Hull  was 
a  dwelling,  which  was  the  home  of  Caleb  Hull.  He  married  Mercy 
Benham  in  1724  and  settled  here  when  but  28  years  old.  In  1710  he 
received  from  his  grandfather.  Doctor  John  Hull,  100  acres  of  land  in 
this  vicinity,  on  the  condition  that  he  should  come  and  live  with  his 
grandfather  until  21  years  of  age,  or  until  his  decease.  Doctor  John 
Hull  died  in  1711.  It  is  evident  that  Caleb  accepted,  for  the  grant  of 
the  100  acres  of  land  to  Caleb  is  a  recorded  transaction.  Doctor  John 
Hull  settled  east  of  the  brook  near  the  place  known  as  the  Ben  Hull 
place.  He  married  Sarah  Ives  in  1727,  and  evidently  located  here 
about  that  time.  He  was  the  father  of  Doctor  Zephania  Hull,  who 
moved  to  Bethlehem,  and  the  grandfather  of  Andrew  Hull,  commonly 
known  as  Squire  Hull.  A  hotel  was  kept  at  this  place  several  years. 
Captain  Samuel  Hull  married  Sarah  Hall  in  1733,  and  settled  .still 
farther  east.  His  house  stood  a  short  di.stance  east  of  the  Darius  Hull 
place.  Captain  Samuel  was  a  great-grandfather  of  Josiah  Hull,  now  a 
resident  in  the  swamp,  and  the  father  of  Jesse,  who  was  six  years  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  the  revolution. 

In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town  and  nearly  opposite  the  house 
of  Warren  Andrews  was  an  old  fashioned  leanto  house,  a  finely  built 
one  for  those  days,  occupied  first  by  Captain  Elnathan  Beach.  He 
married  Abigail  Ufford,  of  Stratford,  and  settled  here  in  1720.  She 
died  in  1738,  and  in  1742  he  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Cook.  Elnathan  Beach  was  a  man  of  great  wealth  for  those  days,  and 
was  of  high  standing  in  the  new  settlement.  He  presented  the  Con- 
gregational church  with  a  bell  for  their  meeting  house,  and  by  his 
last  will  left  a  bequest  of  several   pounds  as  a  fund  for  the  relief  of 


f<Cr2  lllSTORV    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

the  poor  of  the  parish  of  New  Cheshire.     On  a  monumental  tablet  in 
the  town  cemeter}'  may  be  seen  the  following  tribute  to  his  memory: 

"  Here  lies  intered  the  body  of  Elnathan  Beach,  a  gentleman  who 
from  a  small  beginning,  by  an  honest  industry  and  dilligent  applica- 
tion to  business,  raised  a  very  considerable  estate.  His  liberal  bene- 
factions to  the  parish  of  Cheshire  will  perpetuate  his  name,  and  as  he 
was  perhaps  the  first  in  Conn,  who  began  a  fund  for  the  relief  of  the 
poor,  so  he  deserves  a  particular  place  in  the  memory  of  all  who  wish 
well  to  mankind.     He  died  Aug.  16,  1742,  in  the  45th  year  of  his  age." 

John  Beach,  a  son  of  Elnathan,  also  resided  here  for  many  years. 
He  was  the  father  of  Doctor  Elnathan,  Doctor  Bildad,  Doctor  James 
and  Abijah  and  others.  John  Beach  was  a  very  prominent  citizen. 
He  was  elected  to  the  position  of  the  first  selectman  of  the  newly 
incorporated  town  of  Cheshire  in  1780,  and  was  also  its  representative 
in  1782. 

Doctor  Abraham  Beach,  also  a  son  of  Elnathan,  was  born  at  this 
place  in  1743,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  17;')7,  when  but  14 
years  of  age.  He  afterward  became  a  distinguished  clergyman  of  the 
Episcopal  church  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

A  short  distance  east  of  the  late  residence  of  Burritt  Bradley,  was 
formerly  the  home  of  Moses  Bradley,  who  lived  here  in  1752.  He 
had  a  son  named  Stephen  Rowe  Bradley,  who  was  so  full  of  mischief 
that  his  father  could  do  nothing  with  him  and  so  he  concluded  to 
send  him  to  college.  This  arrangement  was  made,  and  the  youthful 
Stephen  entered  Yale  College  in  the  year  1772.  Here  the  elements  of 
mischief  and  sport  so  prominent  in  his  character  did  not  lie  dormant, 
and  many  tricks  are  reported  to  have  been  played  by  him  on  college 
tutors  and  others,  who  were  victims  of  his  mischievous  practices. 
Stephen  R.  Bradley,  with  all  his  inclinations  for  sport,  nevertheless 
graduated  with  honors  at  Yale  College  in  the  year  1775.  He  after- 
ward settled  in  Yermont,  and  became  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in 
that  state.  He  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  and  continued 
a  member  for  16  years.  He  died  at  Walpole,  N.  H.,  in  1830,  aged  75 
years.  How  often  it  proves  true  that  those  who  in  their  youth  seem 
reckless  and  ungovernable,  after  sowing  their  wild  oats,  settle  down  to 
life's  realities,  and  become  the  most  useful  and  influential  men. 

In  the  extreme  southern  portion  of  the  town  and  a  few  rods  south 
of  Leander  Bristol's  place,  Daniel  Andrews  settled  in  the  year  1712. 
His  wife  died  of  small  pox  during  the  scourge  that  visited  this  place 
in  the  year  1732.  A  short  distance  noi-th,  on  the  old  colony  road, 
Thomas  Ives  settled  at  about  the  same  time.  A  young  lady  rode  over 
daily  from  Wallingford,  bringing  the  dinners  to  the  men  at  work 
clearing  up  the  land  near  this  place.  One  day  she  broke  off  a  twig 
from  a  pear  tree  in  starting,  which  she  used  for  a  whip  when  ridiog 
on  horseback.  Upon  arriving  at  her  destination  she  placed  the  twig 
in  the  damp  ground  near  by,  and  it  grew  and  bore  pears,  and  lived  to 
be  over  150  years  old. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    KAVEN   COUNTY.  663 

A  short  distance  west  of  the  Burritt  Bradley  place,  Matthias  Hitch 
cock  settled  in  1710.  He  was  a  useful  and  prominent  member  of  the 
early  parish  of  New  Cheshire. 

West  of  the  late  residence  of  Rier  Bristol  and  a  few  rods  south  of 
the  cider  mill  now  standing,  John  Hitchcock,  a  brother  of  Matthias, 
settled  in  the  year  1712,  the  same  year  of  his  marriage  to  Marlow 
Munson.  He  was  a  prominent  official  in  the  new  .settlement  and  was 
one  of  the  first  committees  appointed  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the 
parish  of  New  Cheshire  in  1723.  His  descendants  were  numerous, 
several  of  them  occupying  positions  of  public  prominence  in  the  state 
and  nation. 

The  hill  west  of  this  place  was  known  as  Scotch  hill.  On  the  west 
side  of  this  hill,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Alonzo 
Brooks,  is  a  large  rock,  known  as  Scotch  rock.  Tradition  informs  us 
that  a  Scotchman,  who  had  deserted  from  the  English  army,  fled  for 
safety  to  the  large  cave  under  this  rock,  and  for  several  months  made 
this  cave  his  home  and  hiding  place,  the  interior  being  much  larger 
than  it  now  appears.  The  names  "  Scotch  hill,"  and  "  Scotch  rock," 
were  taken  from  this  tradition  of  the  Scotch  refugee. 

West  of  Scotch  hill,  and  near  where  Samuel  H.  Brooks  now  lives, 
his  father,  David,  his  grandfather,  David,  and  his  great-grandfather, 
Enos,  resided.  Enos  was  a  son  of  Thomas,  the  first  Brooks  settler  in 
the  new  settlement.  David  Brooks.  A.  M.,  was  a  son  of  Enos.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  the  3-ear  176.T,  was  ordained  to  the  work 
of  the  ministr}',  occasionally  preached  but  was  never  settled  over  any 
church.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention  held  in  Hartford 
in  January,  1788,  to  ratify  and  adopt  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  was  one  of  the  40  who  voted  against  ratification.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  revolution  and  was  among  the  finst  quota 
of  men  furnished  b}'  the  parish  of  New  Cheshire,  entering  the  .service 
first  as  a  private  soldier,  but  afterward  was  duly  appointed  the  quarter- 
master of  his  regiment.  At  the  request  of  hiskinsman,  General  David 
Wooster,  he  prepared  and  delivered  a  discourse  in  Derby,  Conn.,  in 
the  year  1774,  on  the  religion  of  the  revolution.  This  discour.se 
attracted  much  attention  and  was  published  and  helped  to  move 
public  opinion  in  favor  of  the  struggle  for  independence. 

A  short  distance  north  of  the  Soiithwest  district  school  house,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road,  Ephraim  Cook  form.erly  lived.  He  was  a 
tanner  and  had  several  vats  north  of  his  house.  He  al.so  had  a  large 
bark  mill  west  of  his  house.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  was 
the  first  Cook  settler  in  this  locality,  locating  here  in  1727.  He  had 
numerous  descendants,  many  of  whom  moved  out  to  Burton,  Ohio. 
The  ditch  dug  through  the  hill  near  the  old  house  place,  and  which 
can  now  be  seen,  was  the  work  of  Ephraim  Hitchcock,  who  here  dug 
for  silver.     He  was  one  of  the  many  who  sought  but  never  found. 

Near  where  Edward  Doolittle  now  lives,  in  1730  Jahleel  Law  settled. 


664  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

He  was  the  son  of  Governor  Jonathan  Law,  of  Milfoi-d,  and  was  the 
father  of  Esquire  William  Law,  who  was  afterward  a  prominent 
citizen  of  this  town,  holding  many  positions  of  public  trust. 

Near  where  Albert  Stone  resides,  Thomas  Curtiss  settled  in  1717. 
He  was  a  prominent  factor  in  the  early  settlement  of  New  Cheshire. 
He  was  one  of  the  committee  appointed  for  building  the  first  church 
in  1723. 

On  the  road  running  southwest  from  the  residence  of  Norman 
Beach  is  the  place  known  as  the  Gaius  Hitchcock  place,  where  David, 
the  father  of  Gaius,  and  also  Peter,  the  grandfather  of  Gaius,  resided. 
This  house  now  standing  was  built  by  Peter  Hitchcock  in  the  year 
1738.  The  rafters  were  taken  from  the  first  church  built  in  the  parish, 
and  forming  a  part  of  the  old  house  and  its  additions,  are  portions  of 
the  three  Congregational  churches  which  have  been  built  in  Cheshire. 
A  deed  is  in  existence  in  which  Peter  Hitchcock,  Sr.,  conveys  to  "  Peter 
Hitchcock,  Jr.,  ^  of  an  acre  of  land,  in  the  South  East  Corner  of  the 
home  lot,  for  the  love,  good  will  and  affection  he  cherished  for  his  son 
Peter."  David  Hitchcock,  a  son  of  the  elder  Peter,  also  resided  here. 
He  was  a  revolutionary  soldier,  was  an  officer,  with  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain, and  was  afterward  generally  known  as  Captain  David.  He  was 
a  true  patriot  in  word  and  in  deed,  believing  in  those  principles  of 
freedom  and  independence  for  the  establishment  of  which  he  was  will- 
ing to  lay  down  his  life. 

Amasa  Hitchcock,  another  son  of  Peter,  born  in  1739,  lived  during 
the  first  part  of  his  married  life  in  the  old  leanto  house,  now  standing 
a  short  distance  north  of  his  father's.  He  had  a  large  family,  twelve 
children  in  all,  among  whom  was  Amasa,  who  built  and  for  many 
years  dwelt  in  the  house  nearly  opposite  the  Congregational  green. 
He  was  the  first  postmaster  of  the  town  of  Cheshire  at  a  time  when 
the  letters  were  so  few  that  Mr.  Hitchcock  pinned  them  to  the  window 
sashes,  so  that  the  names  could  be  read  from  the  outside,  and  persons 
could  ascertain  by  this  list  whether  or  not  they  had  such  mail  matter 
in  the  post  office.  Robert  Hitchcock,  a  son,  was  here  brought  up.  He 
graduated  at  West  Point,  and  afterward  became  a  naval  officer  of  con- 
siderable distinction,  having  been  promoted  to  the  position  of  com- 
modore in  the  United  States  navy. 

Silas  Hitchcock,  another  son  of  Amasa,  Sr.,  occupied  for  many 
years  the  house  built  by  Bishop  Abraham  Jarvis,  and  here  his  widow 
now  resides.  Silas  Hitchcock  was  a  successful  merchant  in  this  place 
for  many  years.  He  was  a  very  useful  and  exemplary  citizen,  filling 
nearly  every  office  of  public  trust  in  the  town.  He  was  a  man  kind 
in  heart,  charitable  in  expression,  whom  many  loved,  and  around 
whose  bier  many  mourned.  To  leave  such  a  legacy  to  survivors  is 
altogether  more  to  be  desired  than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver.  He 
died  in  1849. 

East  of  the  center  a  few  rods  and  near  the  factory  of  the  Cheshire 


HISTORV    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  66o 

Clock  Company,  Valentine  Hitchcock,  a  brother  of  Amasa  Hitchcock, 
Sr.,  settled.  He  was  born  in  1741.  He  was  the  father  of  the  Rever- 
end Roger  Hitchcock,  who  also  here  resided  until  his  death.  He  was 
ordained  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  1820.  The  salary- 
voted  him  was  $500  annually,  of  which  he  refused  to  take  but  $400. 
requesting  that  $100  be  put  at  interest  and  the  .same  added  annually 
to  the  principal  and  used  if  nece.s.sary  in  the  future  for  the  support  of 
the  gospel  in  the  society.  He  lived  but  a  few  years  and  died  greatly 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  Reverend  Reuben  Hitchcock,  another 
son  of  Valentine,  was  the  pastor  of  a  church  in  Georgia  .several  years. 
He  was  also  the  president  of  an  academy  in  that  state  for  five  years. 
Peter  Hitchcock,  another  son  of  Valentine,  graduated  at  Yale  College 
in  1801,  and  studied  law  in  Litchfield,  Conn.  After  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  he  moved  to  Burton,  Ohio.  He  was  sent  to  the  legislature 
from  that  place  in  1810,  from  1812  to  1816  was  a  state  .senator,  and  was 
president  of  the  senate  for  a  time.  In  1817  he  was  sent  to  the  senate 
of  the  United  States.  He  was  judge  of  the  supreme  court  from  1826 
to  1852.  He  became  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the  state 
of  Ohio.  Going  through  to  Washington  when  first  elected  to  Congress 
and  being  very  plainly  dressed,  and  having  stopped  at  a  hotel  for  din- 
ner, at  once  the  inquiry  was  made  by  several  loungers  about  the  tav- 
ern, "  Who  is  that  seedy  looking  individual  ?"  Very  soon  seated  in 
the  parlor  several  gentlemen  came  in  and  accosted  Mr.  Hitchcock, 
calling  him  in  turn  judge,  general  and  senator.  This  greatly  sur- 
prised the  curious  lookers  on,  who  were  led  to  conclude  that  they  had 
greatly  "  missed  their  mark."  Mr.  Hitchcock  went  to  Burton,  Ohio, 
in  the  year  1806,  with  an  ox  team,  consuming  40  days'  time  in  the 
journey. 

A  short  distance  south  of  the  center  and  nearly  opposite  the  resi- 
dence of  W.  A.  Lanyon,  Josiah  Hotchkiss  settled  in  1712.  He  and  his 
wife  both  died  of  the  small-pox  in  1732,  and  it  is  generally  believed 
that  the  disease  which  proved  so  afflictive  to  the  infant  settlement, 
broke  out  at  the  home  of  this  family. 

Near  the  residence  of  Samuel  Kelsey,  Deacon  Stephen  Hotchkiss 
settled  in  the  year  1707,  with  his  wife  Elizabeth,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  John  Sperry,  of  New  Hayen.  He  was  one  of  the 
deacons  of  the  first  church,  which  was  erected  in  1728,  a  few  rods 
southwest  of  the  residence  of  W.  A.  Lanyon,  and  was  its  deacon  for 
31  years;  also  in  1723  he  was  selected  to  "  Sett  the  Psalms  "  on  the 
Sabbath.  In  1724  the  society  agreed  with  Deacon  Stephen  Hotchkiss 
to  sweep  the  meeting  house  for  one  year  for  one  pound  lawful  money. 

Near  the  residence  of  Doctor  E.  T.  Cornwall,  in  an  old-fashioned 
leanto  house.  Reverend  .Samuel  Hall  settled  in  1723.  He  was  the 
first  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  or  parish  of  New  Cheshire, 
was  ordained  December  9th,  1724,  and  was  its  pastor  until  the  year 
1767,  covering  a  period  of  43  years,  at  which  time   Reverend  John 


666  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Foot  was  ordained  as  colleague.  Notwithstanding,  Mr.  Hall  officiated 
nearly  one-half  of  the  time  for  nine  years  afterward,  and  then  clo.sed 
his  ministry  with  a  discourse  from  Samuel  xix:3i5:  "  1  am  this  day 
fourscore  years  old."  He  died  February  26th,  1776,  aged  81  years. 
Like  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe  he  was  gathered  to  his  fathers.  Mr. 
Hall  was  well  off  financially  for  those  times,  even  when  he  came  to 
Cheshire,  and  was  able  to  purchase  land  and  erect  buildings  thereon. 
The  green  in  front  of  the  present  Congregational  church,  and  that 
part  of  the  town  cemetery  west  of  the  ravine  was  a  portion  of  his 
benefactions  to  the  parish  of  New  Cheshire.  Reverend  Mr.  Hall  was 
an  old  light  on  the  Dana  controversy.  His  last  .sermons  were  deliv- 
ered at  a  time  which  tried  men's  souls.  Lexington,  Concord  and  Bun- 
ker Hill  had  already,  met  the  smoke  and  carnage  of  battle,  and  so 
thrilled  with  patriotic  enthusiasm  was  Cheshire's  venerable  pastor  that 
he  walked  up  and  down  the  aisles  of  the  old  church,  earnestly  urging 
the  young  men  to  march  as  minute  men  to  Boston  to  drive  back  the 
invading  foe. 

The  house  now  standing  on  this  site  was  built  by  Doctor  Thomas 
T.  Cornwall,  who  practiced  medicine  in  this  town  for  many  years, 
and  who  was  a  successful  practitioner.  Also  in  still  later  times  this 
was  the  residence  of  the  Honorable  E.  A.  Cornwall,  a  son  of  the  doctor, 
who  was  a  very  prominent  and  useful  citizen,  filling  in  his  lifetime 
nearly  every  position  of  public  trust  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens to  bestow.     He  died  in  1889. 

On  the  opposite  corner,  where  now  resides  Seth  Calhoun,  the  Rev- 
erend John  Foot  settled  about  the  year  1767.  He  married  Abigal, 
daughter  of  the  Reverend  Samuel  Hall,  succeeded  his  father-in-law  in 
the  pastorate  of  the  Congregational  church  and  was  its  pastor  from 
1767  to  1813,  a  period  of  46  years.  During  his  term  of  service  he 
admitted  to  the  church  549  persons,  and  officiated  at  1,109  funerals. 
He  died  in  the  pastorate  in  the  year  1813,  after  a  long  and  useful 
service  in  the  ministry  of  the  word.  It  is  related  of  Mr.  Foot  that 
when  first  settled  as  a  colleague  of  Mr.  Hall,  then  quite  a  young  man, 
he  was  walking  one  day  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  town,  and 
meeting  a  man  on  the  road  with  two  dogs,  he  pleasantly  accosted  him 
with  the  usual  salutation,  and  then  asked  him  why  he  kept  two  dogs. 
The  man  replied:  "  For  this  reason;  you  will  notice  one  of  my  dogs 
is  getting  old,  and  I  got  the  other  one  as  a  colleague  for  him."  Mr. 
Foot  being  in  the  same  position  to  Mr.  Hall,  saw  the  point  at  once, 
and  even  in  his  old  age  acknowledged  it  to  be  the  sharpest  turn  he 
ever  received. 

Samuel  A.  Foot,  LL.D.,  a  son  of  Reverend  John  Foot,  also  here 
resided  for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  1780,  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1797,  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  but  never 
actively  practiced.  In  1819,  1823  and  in  1834,  he  was  elected  to  con- 
gress, and    in  the  latter  year   was   elected   governor  of  the  state  of 


HISTORY    OF    NKW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  6C7 

Connecticut.  The  same  year  he  received  from  Yale  College  the 
degree  of  LL.D.  It  wa.s  the  land  resolution  introduced  by  Foot  when 
in  congress,  which  drew  out  the  famous  debate  between  Webster  and 
Haines  in  1830.  He  was  also  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives 
in  his  native  state  for  several  terms.  He  died  September  16th,  1846, 
aged  66  years,  leaving  behind  the  record  of  a  highly  useful  life. 

Andrew,  a  son  of  Governor  Foot,  and  now  generally  known  as 
Admiral  Andrew  H.  Foot,  entered  West  Point  Military  Academy  in 
1822,  where  he  staid  but  a  few  months,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
same  year  was  transferred  to  the  navy,  his  long  coveted  position.  He 
entered  as  midshipman,  was  appointed  lieutenant  in  1831,  promoted 
to  commander  in  18S0,  to  commodore  in  1861,  and  was  exalted  to  the 
position  of  rear-admiral  in  1862.  In  1861,  when  the  war  was  well 
under  way,  he  had  no  hesitation  as  to  his  duty.  This  to  him  was  as 
clear  as  the  sun  in  the  heavens.  One  day  while  discussing  this  matter 
with  his  brother,  John  A.,  he  said,  "  Well  brother  John,  tell  me  plainly, 
do  you  mean  to  fight?  If  you  don't  intend  to  do  so,  then  don't  express 
your  opinion  so  loudly.  As  for  me  I  intend  to  fight."  He  was  an 
unswerving  patriot,  and  his  name  will  go  down  to  posterity  engraven 
high  on  the  temple  of  fame.  John  A.  Foot,  another  son  of  the  gover- 
nor, graduated  at  Yale,  became  a  lawyer  and  afterward  removed  to 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  now  resides  there  beloved  and  honored  in  the 
place  of  his  adoption.  Augustus,  another  son  of  the  governor,  also 
moved  to  Cleveland,  and  there  became  a  man  of  prominence  in  public 
matters  and  highly  honored  among  his  associates.  A  like  record  of 
honor,  prosperity  and  usefulness,  but  few  families  enjoy,  as  seemed 
to  fall  to  the  families  of  Reverend  John  Foot  and  his  son.  Governor 
S.  A.  Foot,  a  record  that  will  perpetuate  their  memory  through  suc- 
ceeding- srenerations. 

Nearly  opposite  the  Foot  residence,  where  Miss  Roxanna  Hitch- 
cock now  resides,  Samuel  Beach  settled  about  the  year  1758.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  the  year  1757,  studied  law  and  practiced 
to  some  extent  in  Cheshire.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Reverend 
Samuel  Hall,  for  his  first  wife.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention 
of  this  state,  held  in  Hartford,  in  the  year  1788,  for  the  purpose  of 
ratif3'ing  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  cast  his  vote  in 
the  affirmative.  He  was  chosen  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  church 
in  the  year  1766,  was  sent  to  the  state  legislature  five  different  years 
and  was  elected  to  several  offices  of  public  trust  in  his  native  town. 

Burrage  Beach,  a  son  of  Deacon  Samuel,  also  lived  at  the  old  home- 
stead during  his  lifetime.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1793,  and 
afterward  studied  law  with  his  father.  He  was  for  many  years  the 
leading  lawj'er  in  this  vicinity.  His  excellent  knowledge  of  law  and 
ready  wit,  led  many  even  in  adjoining  towns,  to  seek  his  legal  services 
and  counsel  in  judicial  affairs.  Esquire  Beach,  when  quite  advanced 
in  years,  met  one  day  in   the  city  of   New   Haven   Alfred  Blackman 


668  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

then  a  rising  young  lawyer.  The  squire  was  carrying  a  large  cane 
for  support.  Young  Blackman  noticing  this,  asked  his  aged  friend  if 
he  was  afraid  of  dogs.  Squire  Beach  replied,  "Oh,  no!  I  am  not  in 
the  least  afraid  of  dogs,  but  I  am  sometimes  terribly  annoyed  by 
puppies." 

The  house  now  occupied  by  E.  R.  Brown  was  built  by  Doctor 
Elnathan  Beach,  about  the  year  1780.  He  married  Abigal,  a  daughter 
of  Reuben  Atwater  and  here  resided  a  few  years.  Also  his  brother, 
Doctor  James  Beach,  occupied  this  house  for  a  time  and  practiced 
medicine.  Afterward  this  house  was  occupied  by  the  Reverends 
Doctor  Smith,  Doctor  Bowden  and  Doctor  Bronson,  clergymen  of  the 
Episcopal  church.  In  the  south  front  room,  it  is  stated  the  first  Epis- 
copal missionary  society  was  formed.  From  1796,  forward  for  several 
years,  men  of  great  minds  and  rare  intellectual  attainments  resided 
with  their  families  under  this  roof,  and  this  was  known  as  a  sort  of 
theological  center  for  the  Episcopal  church  in  its  early  history,  where 
its  bishops  often  resorted,  and  where  weighty  and  important  theolog- 
ical problems  were  solved. 

In  front  of  the  Reverend  S.  J.  Horton's  present  residence  formerly 
stood  an  old  fashioned  house  built  by  Deacon  Israel  Bunnell,  who 
settled  here  about  the  time  this  town  was  incorporated.  He  was  a 
large  land  holder,  owning  about  400  acres,  extending  from  turnpike 
to  the  West  mountain.  He  represented  the  town  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture six  different  years,  was  selectman  several  years  and  was  a  deacon 
of  the  Congregational  church.  He  was  a  man  highly  esteemed  for 
his  works'  sake.  Mr.  Bunnell,  like  many  others  in  those  days,  held 
slaves,  and  on  the  records  of  this  town  appears  the  following:  "  Where- 
as application  is  made  by  Deacon  Israel  Bunnell  to  the  subscribers, 
that  he  is  desirous  to  emancipate  and  sett  free  his  negro  maid  servant 
named  Katie,  about  30  years  of  age.  We  having  examined  the  said 
Kate,  find  her  to  be  desirous  to  become  free,  and  that  she  is  a  person 
in  good  health,  and  do  therefore  grant  liberty  to  said  Bunnell,  to 
emancipate  &  sett  free  said  Kate. 

Dated  Cheshire,  Apl.  Sth,  1794. 

Reuben  Atwater,  ;  r^-   -i    a    ^t 
John  Peck,  ^  ^ivil  Authority. 

Wm.  Law,  i 

Elnathan  Beach,  -  vSelectmen." 

Selden  Spencer,    \ 

At  the  head  of  the  street,  where  Mrs.  Hezekiah  Rice  lives,  Eben- 
ezer  Doolittle  settled  about  the  year  1700.  Here  also  his  son,  Ebenezer, 
and  grandson,  Ebenezer,  lived  with  their  families  in  turn.  Elkanah, 
a  son  of  the  last  named,  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  his  college 
diploma  now  being  in  the  possession  of  his  grandson,  M.  C.  Doolittle. 

Nearly  opposite  the  Congregational  parsonage,  Nathaniel  Bunnell 
settled  in  the  year  1709.     He  married  Desire  Peck   and  was  the  first 


HISTOKV    OF   NEW    HAVEX   COUNTY.  669 

Bunnell  settler  in  what  is  now  Cheshire.  He  died  of  the  small  pox 
in  the  year  1732,  and  is  one  of  the  persons  alluded  to  by  the  Rever- 
end Samuel  Hall  in  a  discourse  preached  soon  after,  stating  that  his 
loss,  with  two  others  mentioned,  would  be  to  the  infant  society,  "  like 
breeches  of  the  sea."  Here  also  his  son.  Lieutenant  Ebenezer  Bunnell, 
resided  until  his  death. 

Nearly  opposite  the  residence  of  N.  S.  Piatt  Joseph  Thompson 
settled,  was  a  resident  here  at  the  formation  of  the  parish  of  New 
Cheshire  in  1723,  and  was  its  clerk  for  24  years,  from  the  time  of  its 
organization  to  the  year  1747.  He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of 
the  Congregational  church  formed  soon  after.  In  the  year  1737,  "  By 
their  vote  the  society  agree  to  warn  meetings  by  beating  of  the 
drum,  from  the  house  of  Abraham  Barnes,  to  the  house  of  Jcseph 
Thompson,  on  Tuesday  Eve  and  the  next  Tuesday  evening  to  be  the 
society's  meeting." 

Nearly  opposite  the  house  of  E.  P.  Atwater,  Colonel  Benjamin  Hall 
settled  about  the  year  1727.  He  was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the 
peace  and  aggrieved  persons  were  in  the  habit  of  going  to  him  for 
counsel  and  it  is  stated  that  when  he  could  not  effect  a  settlement  he 
would  send  the  disagreeing  parties  to  his  brother,  the  Reverend 
Samuel  Hall,  as  a  last  resort.  He  married  Abigal,  daughter  of  Rev- 
erend Nathaniel  Chauncey,  of  Durham.  "Dec.  ye  13.  1737,  by  their 
voat  the  society  gave  Capt.  Hall  liberty  to  build  a  pew,  upon  his  own 
charges  in  the  meeting  house  for  himself  and  his  family."  The  house 
now  occupied  by  E.  P.  Atwater  was  built  by  Benjamin  Hall  for  his 
son  Benjamin.  The  latter  married  Mary  Ives  in  1752.  graduated  at 
Yale  College  in  1754,  and  was  for  many  years  a  very  prominent  and 
useful  member  of  the  society  of  New  Cheshire. 

A  few  rods  north  of  the  residence  of  G.  D.  Crane,  Abraham  Doolittle 
settled  in  1710.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Lewis,  and 
was  the  grandson  of  one  of  the  finst  proprietors  of  Wallingford,  who 
bore  the  same  name.  Here  also  lived  for  many  years  his  grandson, 
Abner  Doolittle,  who  was  one  of  the  first  persons  who  swore  off  from 
the  Congregational  .society  and  united  with  the  Episcopalians,  and 
was  a  prominent  factor  in  the  early  history  of  that  church  in  this 
place. 

A  few  rods  south  of  the  residence  of  William  H.  Doolittle,  Doctor 
Benjamin  Lewis  resided  in  1724.  He  married  Esther,  daughter  of 
Caleb  ]\Iatthews.  A  daughter  of  his  married  Titus  Doolittle,  grand- 
father of  the  late  A.  L.  Doolittle.  Doctor  Lewis  had  many  descend- 
ants. 

In  the  northwest  part  of  the  town  and  a  short  distance  southeast 
of  the  late  residence  of  Delos  Hotchkiss,  Sergeant  Samuel  Roys  settled 
in  the  year  1728.  He  married  Martha,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Moss. 
Near  this  residence  formerly  stood  a  rude  stone  monument  some  seven 
feet  high,  suppo.sed  to  have  been  erected  by  the  Indians  in  commem- 


670  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

oration  of  a  battle  fought  here,  for  on  this  ground  prior  to  1840,  were 
found  scores  of  Indian  arrows  and  other  implements  of  Indian  warfare. 

Near  where  James  Todd  now  resides,  Benjamin  Moss  settled  about 
the  year  1728.  North  of  the  residence  of  Samuel  A.  Moss,  Isaac  Moss 
settled  in  the  year  1737.  His  son,  Jesse  Moss,  was  a  revolutionary 
soldier.  Near  where  Samuel  A.  Moss  now  lives  his  great-grandfather, 
Samuel,  settled  about  the  year  1734.  His  son,  Thomas,  was  al.so  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  the  revolution  and  was  a  true  patriot. 

In  the  North  Center  district,  near  where  J.  D.  Walters  resides, 
Joseph  Benham  settled  about  the  year  1735.  His  .son,  Uri,  and 
grandson,  Joseph,  also  resided  here. 

East  of  E.  A.  Atwater's  a  short  distance,  Abraham  Atwater  settled 
about  the  year  1738.  Here  also  his  .son,  Samuel,  lived,  and  his  grand- 
son, Flamen,  each  in  turn  resided  with  their  families.  The  old  house 
was  demolished  in  the  year  1890.  having  a  history  of  over  150  years. 

On  what  is  known  as  Peck  lane  Esquire  John  Peck  settled  about 
the  year  1750.  His  house  stood  a  short  distance  north  of  William 
Peck's  present  residence.  He  was  one  of  the  first  representatives 
from  this  town  the  first  year  of  its  incorporation  in  1780,  and  was  in- 
trusted with  important  interests.  He  was  also  one  of  its  first  select- 
men appointed  the  same  year.  He  was  trial  justice  for  several  years, 
and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  fellow  citizens.  It  is  stated  that 
he  built  at  his  own  expense  a  portion  of  the  present  road,  which  is 
still  called  Peck  lane. 

East  of  the  academy  and  near  where  E.  G.  Doolittle  now  lives, 
Reuben  Atwater  settled  about  the  year  1752.  He  married  Sarah  Hall 
in  1752,  and  Mary  Russell  in  1755.  He  was  a  very  prominent  member 
of  the  society  of  New  Cheshire,  and  also  of  the  town  after  its  incor- 
poration. He  was  sent  to  the  legislature  six  different  years.  He  was 
also  at  the  head  of  the  memorialists  who  petitioned  the  general 
assembly  in  1780,  to  be  .set  off  as  a  distinct  town,  and  was  one  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  settle  and  adjust  all  differences  that  might 
arise,  and  aLso  to  fix  the  lines  for  dividing  proposed  town  of  Cheshire 
from  the  town  of  Wallingford. 

Here  also  his  son-in-law,  known  as  General  Andrew  Hull,  after- 
ward resided.  He  was  also  prominent  in  civil  and  military  affairs. 
He  was  sent  to  the  legislature  20  sessions  and  11  different  years.  He 
was  a  superior  military  officer,  holding  the  rank  of  brigadier-general 
of  the  2d  brigade.  General  Hull  died  in  the  year  1827,  and  was  the 
marshall  for  the  district  of  Connecticut  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

A  short  distance  north  of  the  Cheshire  town  house  Moses  Doolittle 
settled,  also  Andrew  Hull,  his  grandson,  generally  known  as  Esquire 
Andrew  Hull.  He  was  born  in  1754,  came  here  when  a  child  and 
lived  here  until  his  death  in  1824.  He  was  a  very  influential  and  useful 
citizen,  was  a  member  of  the  state  legislature  36  different  sessions  and 
19  different  years,  was  first  selectman  several  years,  a  constable  for  a 


HISroRV    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  671 

time,  and  trial  justice  for  a  series  of  years.  He  was  a  man  of  decided 
traits  of  character  and  held  in  high  esteem  b}'  his  fellow  citizens. 
Naomi,  a  daughter  and  only  child  of  Esquire  Andrew  Hull,  married 
Captain  William  Brown,  who  was  lost  at  .sea  in  the  brig  "Trenton," 
with  all  his  crew  in  the  year  1811.  Several  heads  of  families  from 
this  town  were  among  the  number  lost. 

In  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  extending  along  the  line  that 
divides  Cheshire  and  JMeriden,  in  the  district  known  as  Cheshire 
street,  and  near  the  present  residence  of  George  Baker,  Deacon  Ed- 
ward Parker  settled  about  the  year  1716.  He  was  evidently  one  of  the 
first  settlers  in  this  locality.  He  had  nine  sons,  many  of  whom  resided 
near  their  father;  also  one  daughter,  who  married  Timothy  Hall,  in 
the  year  1748,  and  settled  near  what  is  now  known  as  the  James  Beach 
place.  Deacon  Edward  Parker  lived  in  a  large  leanto  house  built  by 
his  own  hands.  He  was  a  joiner  by  trade,  and  built  several  houses  in 
different  parts  of  the  town.  He  was  employed  to  frame  the  Third 
Congregational  church  in  what  was  then  Branford  (now  Northford)  in 
the  year  1746.  He  v>7as  chosen  deacon  of  the  Congregational  church 
in  1755,  and  well  adorned  this  official  station.  In  the  year  17:M,  by 
vote  of  society,  he  was  given  the  third  seat  in  church.  It  is  stated 
that  on  one  occasion  a  sound  resembling  a  groan  was  heard,  as  if  pro- 
ceeding from  under  the  hearth-stone.  This,  in  those  days  of  much 
superstition,  foreboded  evil,  and  the  death  of  a  child  of  ^Ir.  Parker's 
very  soon  after  added  strength  to  this  conviction.  Another  early 
.settler  on  Cheshire  street,  so-called,  was  Sergeant  Amos  Matthews, 
who  evidently  settled  here  about  the  same  time  as  did  Deacon  Parker, 
and  was  a  man  prominent  in  the  new  settlement.  The  descendants 
of  Deacon  Edward  Parker  were  quite  numerous  lUO  years  ago.  So 
many  were  they  that  this  street  was  known  in  those  days  as  Parker's 
street.  Afterward  the  names  of  Hall,  Bellamy,  Twiss,  Hough,  Cowles, 
Miles,  Smith,  Curtiss,  Yale,  Seeley,  Rice  or  Royce,  Root,  Matthews, 
Plymet,  Bradley.  Hendrick,  Brooks,  Beach,  Newton  and  others  appear 
as  settlers  on  this  street  so  near  the  waters  of  the  Great  river,  so- 
called. 

Charles  Parker,  a  prominent  manufacturer  of  Meriden,  and  an 
honored  citizen,  is  a  descendant  of  Deacon  Edward  Parker;  and  Na- 
thaniel Bradley,  at  the  head  of  the  Bradley  &  Hubbard  Manufac- 
turing Company,  also  of  the  Silver  City,  and  who  ranks  in  wealth  and 
influence  among  the  foremost  citizens  of  the  city  of  ^leriden,  were 
both  from  and  received  their  early  training  in  this  district.  Here  was 
a  grist  mill,  tavern,  saw  mills,  clothing  works,  tin  shop,  paint  shop, 
store, .school  house,  cemetery,  and  many  conveniences  of  a  village.  In 
fact  here  was  more  thrift  and  business  enterprise  than  in  any  portion 
of  the  town  outside  of  the  center,  and  its  relative  importance  in  these 
matters  was  the  reason  for  the  name  of  Cheshire  Street  given  to  this 
section  of  the  town  a  century  ago,  and  by  which  its  location  has  been 


672  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

since  known.  But  few,  comparatively,  of  the  descendants  of  any  of 
the  families  heretofore  mentioned  are  present  residents  of  this  local- 
ity; in  fact  less  families  now  reside  here  and  a  smaller  population  than 
the  facts  of  a  century  ago  bear  witness.  The  new  railroad  running 
from  Cromwell  to  Waterbury  and  having- a  depot  here,  there  is  reason 
to  believe,  will  furnish  inspiration  for  a  renewal  of  settlement,  and 
that  in  consequence  this  place  will  more  than  regain  its  former 
prestige. 

It  is  difficult  for  us  at  the  present  day  to  even  imagine  the  hard- 
ships our  fathers  experienced  in  travelling  from  one  town  to  another. 
They  were  obliged  to  pass  through  swamps  and  marshes,  to  climb 
mountains  and  hills,  to  ford  rivers  or  pass  over  on  rafts,  to  cut  down 
trees,  to  push  their  way  often  through  thick  underbrush,  and  the  en- 
tanglement of  vines,  oftentimes  with  simpl}-  a  "  bridle  path  "  to  mark 
their  way.  Previous  to  the  year  1802  no  roads  were  made  by  being 
rounded  from  the  center  to  the  sides  in  turnpike  form,  as  is  the  usual 
custom  at  the  present  day. 

Among  the  first  roads  built  in  what  is  now  Cheshire  were  the  fol- 
lowing, viz.:  In  lt394a  highway  at  Broad  Swamp.  In  1697  John  Hitch- 
cock and  John  Parker  were  appointed  to  see  what  highways  were 
needed  to  the  Fresh  Meadows  and  westward  to  Mill  river.  In  1702 
two  highways  were  built  on  the  west  side  of  the  river;  one  by  Ben- 
jamin Hull's,  and  one  to  run  westward  to  the  south  side  of  Broad 
swamp,  and  the  other  at  the  north  side  of  said  swamp.  Also  a  road 
to  the  east  side  of  the  West  Rocks  two  rods  wide  for  "  footman  and 
horses  saddled."  Also  a  highway  adjoining  the  New  Haven  line  from 
the  river  westward  through  the  south  part  of  what  is  now  Cheshire 
and  terminating  on  the  West  mountain,  near  Bethany. 

In  several  instances  houses  were  erected  before  any  roads  were  built 
near  them.  After  a  time  parallel  roads  running  north  and  south  were 
surveyed  and  several  of  them  built,  while  cross  roads  east  and  west 
were  built  one  after  another  as  settlement  demanded.  An  old  house 
now  stands  near  the  residence  of  Lauren  Cook,  in  the  extreme  south- 
western part  of  the  town,  said  to  have  been  erected  170  years  ago 
and  before  the  present  road  was  cut  through  over  the  mountain.  Some 
of  the  most  manifest  changes  in  the  location  of  the  roads  here  were 
made  on  the  line  of  the  old  colony  road  at  the  time  of  building  the 
turnpike  in  the  year  1800.  The  old  colony  road  ran  back  of  the  present 
residence  of  Leander  Bristol,  several  rods  from  the  Hamden  line, 
coming  out  at  road  running  west  pa.st  the  John  Sears  place.  On  this 
old  road  were  five  houses,  all  of  which  were  created  by  early  settlers. 
This  road  is  closed,  and  with  the  exception  of  old  wells  furnishes  no 
evidence  of  the  former  settlement.  Also  near  the  Pliney  Hitchcock 
place  the  road  ran  farther  west,  which  was  also  the  case  through  a 
portion  of  the  center  of  the  village.  Also  the  old  colony  road  formerly 
ran  east  of  William   H.   Doolittle's  throusfh  the  flat  land   known  as 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  073 

Tunxis  Valley,  east  of  the  North  Center  district  school  house  and 
east  of  E.  P.  Morgan's  house,  which  now  faces  the  east  on  the  line  of 
this  old  road.  The  old  Isaac  Moss  place,  which  stood  on  the  lot  east 
of  Sandy  hill,  also  faced  the  east.  This  was  an  old-fashioned  leanto 
house,  which  turned  its  long  back  on  the  turnpike  for  over  70  years. 
This  road  crossed  the  turnpike,  connecting  with  the  present  road  that 
runs  past  the  Hiram  Andrews  place,  a  few  rods  west  of  the  turnpike 
and  terminating  near  the  late  residence  of  G,  L.  Hotchkiss.  On  Moss 
farms,  going  north  from  the  residence  of  Samuel  A.  Moss,  the  old  road 
ran  farther  east  some  ten  roads  for  a  distance  of  about  one-quarter 
of  a  mile.  On  this  road  vSergeant  Isaac  Moss,  an  early  settler,  first 
located. 

An  old  road  formerh^  ran  south  of  the  late  residence  of  Charles 
Hall,  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  running  across  to  the  Prospect 
road.  On  this  road  was  a  school  house  and  several  residences.  On 
this  road  Aunt  NinaWelton  lived,  who  was  unwearying  in  her  search 
after  the  great  "  Carbuncle  "  which  she  felt  sure  was  hidden  among 
the  rocks  near  her  dwelling  and  which  only  waited  to  bestow  upon 
the  finder  untold  riches.  She  searched  for  this  night  after  night,  her 
dim  lantern  flickering  here  and  there,  but  she  never  found  the  jewel 
which  she  sought.  This  road  is  now  closed  in  part,  and  the  old  road 
running  west  is  but  seldom  used,  and  is  but  a  cart  path. 

Formerly  the  road  from  the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  H.  C.  Ives,  at 
We.st  Cheshire,  ran  farther  south  than  the  present  road,  running  back  or 
south  of  William  Munson's  place  and  coming  out  near  the  notch.  On 
this  old  road,  now  closed,  Daniel  Humiston,  the  ancestor  of  the  Cheshire 
Humistons,  also  Joseph  Beach  and  others  lived.  An  old  deed  is  now  in 
the  possession  of  J.  L.  Humiston,  signed  over  100  years  ago  by  Esquire 
Andrew  Hull,  Colonel  Ebenezer  Hale  and  Israel  Bunnell,  then  the 
selectmen  of  the  town,  conveying  the  land  in  this  old  road  to  Jesse 
Humiston. 

In  the  southeastern  portion  of  the  town,  east  of  the  late  residence 
of  Samuel  Mallory,  and  east  of  Sperry  hill,  so-called,  was  formerly  a 
road  which  ran  across,  coming  out  near  the  residence  of  H.  C.  Bristol. 
On  this  road  Nathan  and  Ebenezer  Benham  and  others  lived  in  the 
past  century.  This  road  is  now  closed  up  and  forms  a  part  of  a  culti- 
vated field. 

From  1780  to  1820  taverns  were  much  more  numerous  than  at 
present.  These  taverns  all  kept  ardent  spirits  and  tobacco,  and  as  the 
mode  of  travelling  was  usually  on  horseback  or  in  wagons  of  a  very 
rude  construction,  it  is  evident  these  taverns  were  frequent  resorts  for 
the  weary  traveller  in  those  days. 

One  of  the  first  taverns  was  kept  by  Matthew  Bellamy,  in  the  south- 
east part  of  the  town,  near  where  Albert  Rice  now  lives.  The  follow- 
ing is  on  record:  "  In  October,  1722,  Matthew  Bellamy  petitioned  the 
General  Assembly  that  as  your  petitioner  is  living  within  the  town- 
42 


674  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN  COUNTY. 

ship  of  Wallingford,  and  living  very  near  the  place  where  the  miners 
are  at  work,  where  there  is  many  of  them,  and  especially  will  be  many 
now,  and  there  being  no  other  person  within  six  or  seven  miles  that 
can  well  find  them  entertainment  except  your  petitioner,  whereupon 
your  petitioner  with  the  next  owners  of  the  mines  prayeth  your  peti- 
tioner may  have  a  license  by  an  act  of  this  Assembly  to  keep  a  house 
of  entertainment,  that  so  your  petitioner  may  without  danger  provide 
for  and  entertain  the  miners  and  others  as  need  shall  require,  and 
your  petitioner  to  be  under  the  same  penalty  as  other  persons  that  are 
licensed  by  the  Assembly  Court." 

In  the  house  standing  nearly  opposite  the  residence  of  Porter  An- 
drews, known  as  the  Enos  Bassett  place,  a  tavern  or  house  of  en- 
tertainment was  kept  about  100  years  ago.  The  window  through 
which  drinks  were  passed  and  the  shelf  outside  near  the  well  can 
now  be  seen. 

Near  the  residence  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Beecher  a  tavern  was  kept  in 
the  year  1732  by  Josiah  Hotchkiss.  It  was  evidently  at  his  place 
that  the  small-pox  broke  out  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year,  at  which 
time  Mr.  Hotchkiss  and  his  wife  died  of  that  dread  disease.  At  this 
place  much  public  business  was  done  in  the  interests  of  the  new 
settlement. 

In  the  house  now  occupied  by  the  widow  of  Burritt  Bradley  a 
tavern  and  also  a  store  were  kept  for  many  years  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  century.  Abijah  Beach  built  the  house  and  here 
kept  tavern  for  several  years.  Afterward  A.sa  Tuttle  was  the  pro- 
prietor for  a  number  of  years.  In  the  year  1826,  when  the  canal  was 
first  in  process  of  building,  a  gang  of  men  who  were  at  work  near 
where  the  Hamden  poor  house  now  stands,  and  who  were  then  board- 
ing at  Joel  Merriman's,  came  up  one  evening  to  this  tavern  and  store 
and  called  for  whiskey.  Captain  Asa  Tuttle,  fearing  the  results,  re- 
fused them.  At  this  denial  they  became  angry  and  abused  not  only 
the  proprietor,  but  all  persons  present.  Titus  Gaylord  was  standing 
on  the  steps  outside,  and  their  language  to  him  was  too  insulting 
for  him  to  bear.  His  anger  was  stirred  within  him.  .Stepping  into 
the  store  he  selected  an  ax  helve  with  the  right  hang  to  it,  and 
stepping  outside,  where  the  gang  were  carousing,  he  marched  into 
their  midst,  striking  with  his  ax  helve  right  and  left  and  doing  effec- 
tive work  at  each  stroke.  The  intruders  made  a  hasty  retreat,  and 
in  the  morning,  when  the  field  of  battle  was  surveyed,  a  hat  was 
found  covered  with  blood  and  hair,  and  it  was  also  found  that  one  of 
the  men  was  missing  from  Mr.  Merriman's  boarding  house  after  this 
demonstration. 

Nearly  opposite  the  Gains  Hitchcock  house,  in  the  South  Center 
district,  Waitsall  Hotchkiss  kept  tavern  about  100  years  ago.  Here 
fried  cakes  and  gingerbread  were  sold  to  many  a  customer  in  all  parts 
of  the  town.     Fried  cakes  were  here  on  sale  at  one  cent  each. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  675 

A  short  distance  north  of  the  residence  of  Charles  T.  Hotchkiss,  in 
the  western  part  of  the  town,  can  now  be  seen  an  old  shell  of  a  house, 
where  it  is  stated  that  Barney  Munson  kept  tavern  or  a  place  of  en- 
tertainment in  the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  At  this  place 
"  flip"  was  sold  quite  freely  at  three  cents  a  glass. 

In  the  extreme  northwest  portion  of  the  town,  in  what  is  known 
as  the  John  Hall  place,  nearly  100  years  ago,  William  Hall  kept  tav- 
ern. This  place  was  a  noted  resort  for  travellers.  A  cider  mill  stood 
near  by,  which  was  a  very  busy  place  in  the  fall  season  of  each 
year. 

A  short  distance  south  a  lane  ran  directly  west  to  the  mountain. 
Near  the  terminus  of  this  lane  a  Mohav/k  Indian  lived  loO  years  ago. 
Here  were  two  rocks  near  together,  which  he  covered  over  and  made 
habitable.  He  had  committed  some  offense  and  had  fled  thither 
from  his  tribe  in  the  Mohawk  valley.  North  of  this  and  near  the 
Southington  line  Perry  Langdon  kept  a  place  of  public  entertainment 
about  the  3'ear  1820. 

Where  Robert  Minor  now  resides  Lemuel  Hall  kept  tavern  about 
the  year  1820,  and  for  several  years  afterward.  This  tavern  was  a 
noted  resort  for  young  people  even  70  years  ago.  One  morning  Mr. 
Hall  noticed  a  flag  fastened  to  the  chimne}'  of  his  house  and  offered 
a  certain  young  man  who  is  now  living  a  rum  sling  if  he  would  climb 
up  and  take  it  down.  This  was  quite  a  temptation  in  those  days,  and 
the  offer  was  accepted  and  the  flag  taken  down  in  triumph. 

On  the  turnpike  some  two  miles  north  of  the  center,  which  in 
recent  years  has  been  the  residence  of  Deacon  J.  L.  Baldwin,  was  a 
tavern  kept  by  Andrew  Hull  and  others  some  50  or  60  years  ago.  This 
place  was  known  as  the  Farmer's  Home  and  has  been  so  called  by  old 
people  down  to  the  present  time. 

It  is  stated  that  the  turnpike  between  this  tavern  commonly  known 
at  that  time  as  the  Farmer's  Home  and  the  center  of  the  village,  was 
so  straight,  that  from  the  chamber  looking  south  from  the  hotel  on 
Sunday,  could  be  plainly  seen,  people  coming  out  of  the  old  (or  Second 
Congregational)  church,  which  stood  full  as  far  east  of  the  present 
church  as  the  main  road.  This  indicated  to  the  family  the  time  to 
commence  getting  supper. 

On  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Doctor  E.  T.  Cornwall,  the 
Reverend  Samuel  Hall  settled  about  the  year  1723.  He  was  the  first 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  and  served  as  such  for  43  years. 
He  died  in  the  year  1776.  Soon  after  his  death  his  son.  Jonathan  Hall, 
kept  a  tavern  in  the  old  homestead  for  many  years.  He  was  followed 
by  Doctor  William  L.  Foot,  who  also  kept  a  public  house  here  for  a 
few  years.  This  was  a  noted  resort  for  the  town  officials,  who  spent 
many  an  evening  in  this  place,  discussing  matters  of  interest  to  the 
newly  incorporated  town. 

In  the  building  now  the  residence  of  Mrs.   Martin  Brennan,  was 


676  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

some  100  years  ago  the  leading  public  house  of  the  place.  It  was 
erected  by  Abijah  Beach,  who  here  kept  tavern  for  a  number  of  years. 
Afterward  Samuel  Cook,  Richard  Gregory,  Horatio  Terrell,  Jesse 
Nichols,  Samuel  Thompson  and  others  were  the  managers.  In  the 
third  story  was  a  hall  fitted  up  by  Mr.  Beach  for  public  use.  Here 
courts,  balls,  exhibitions,  shows,  singing  schools  and  almost  all  kinds 
of  public  entertainments  were  held.  There  are  those  now  living  who 
remember  attending  dancing  school  in  this  hall. 

The  old  hotel  now  apart  of  the  Wallace  House  was  built  by  Doctor 
Cornwall  early  in  the  present  century  and  by  him  occupied  as  a  resi- 
dence. Several  years  afterward  Doctor  Shelton  purchased  the  property 
and  resided  here.  About  .W  years  ago  this  property  was  purchased  by 
William  Horton,  who  here  kept  a  hotel  for  several  years.  He  was 
followed  by  Levi  Munson,  who  was  proprietor  until  the  year  1780,  at 
which  time  the  property  was  purchased  by  F.  L.  Wallace,  who  moved 
back  the  old  hotel,  built  on  the  extensive  addition  in  front,  and  making 
many  improvements,  as  the  building  and  grounds  in  front  now 
appear. 

On  the  corner  in  front  of  the  private  residence  of  Reverend  Doctor 
Horton,  Deacon  Israel  Bunnell  lived.  He  was  a  large  landholder,  and 
for  many  years  a  prominent  official  of  the  town.  It  was  from  him  that 
Bunnell  lane  derived  its  name.  He  was  sent  to  the  legislature  .six  dif- 
ferent sessions,  and  was  also  selectman  for  a  number  of  years.  Deacon 
Bunnell  kept  tavern  in  this  place  for  several  years,  which  was  a  very 
popular  resort  for  the  travelling  public. 

On  the  opposite  corner,  where  now  stands  the  fine  brick  building 
known  as  Horton  Hall,  was  formerly  a  hotel  built  early  in  the  present 
century  by  Doctor  William  L.  Foot,  who  kept  it  for  a  short  time.  Af- 
terward Benjamin  Dowd  Doolittle  kept  a  public  house  here  for  quite 
a  number  of  years.  At  this  hotel  courts  of  justice  were  often  held, 
at  the  time  Esquire  Andrew  Hull  was  the  trying  justice. 

In  the  year  1732  the  small-pox  broke  out  in  the  infant  settlement, 
introduced  there  by  an  unknown  hand.  The  disease  broke  out  in  the 
center  of  the  village,  generally  believed  to  be  at  the  house  of  Josiah 
Hotchkiss,  a  few  rods  from  the  meeting  house,  and  near  the  present 
residence  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Beecher.  This  was  then  a  house  much  fre- 
quented on  all  public  occasions,  and  the  disease  being  of  an  unusual 
kind,  many  opinions  were  expressed  in  reference  to  its  nature.  People 
went  upon  the  Sabbath  and  other  public  days  to  see  the  sick,  suppos- 
ing the  disease  to  be  the  chicken-pox  or  swine-pox,  or  at  least  only  an 
inflammation  of  the  blood.  After  a  time,  however,  when  it  began  to 
spread,  and  many  persons  were  sick  with  this  disease,  some  were 
afraid  it  was  really  the  small-pox.  Persons  were  sent  for  to  visit  the 
sick  who  had  had  the  disease,  and  they  expressed  the  opinion  it  was 
not  the  small-pox,  which  only  tended  to  make  people  more  careless 


HISTORY   OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  677 

until  Doctor  Harpin,  of  Milford  (being  sent  for),  came  and  at  once 
pronounced  it  the  regular  small-pox. 

At  this  time  124  persons  were  afflicted  with  this  dreadful  scourge, 
out  of  a  population  of  about  350,  or  over  one-third  of  the  inhabitants. 
Out  of  this  number  17  died,  a  large  portion  of  them  being  among  the 
most  useful  and  influential  members  of  the  parish. 

The  Reverend  Samuel  Hall,  Cheshire's  first  pastor,  was  sick  with 
the  disease,  after  heroically  devoting  himself  to  the  alleviation  of  the 
sufferings  of  his  flock,  losing  an  only  son  during  the  pestilence,  and 
it  is  evident  that  many  lives  were  spared  through  his  personal 
exertions. 

In  a  discourse  delivered  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Hall,  entitled, 
"  Bitter  Afflictions,  Remembered  and  Improved,"  after  recovering 
sufficiently  from  the  disease,  he  said,  in  speaking  of  the  losses  sus- 
tained: "  Our  los.ses  by  this  fatal  disease  are  to  us  like  breeches  of  the 
sea."  So  many  were  sick  at  one  time  that  it  was  impossible  to  obtain 
nurses  to  care  for  the  sick,  or  even  help  sufficient  to  properly  bury  the 
dead.  The  following  persons  fell  as  victims  to  this  plague:  (Died  in 
April) — Ebenezer  Johnson,  Elizabeth  Hotchkiss,  Robert  Hotchkiss, 
Mrs.  Daniel  Hotchkiss.  (Died  in  May) — A  child  of  Ebenezer  Johnson, 
Captain  John  Hotchki.ss,  Ebenezer  Johnson,  Jr..  Ensign  Nathaniel 
Bunnell,  Eliphalat  Johnson,  a  child  of  Matthias  Hitchcock,  Josiah 
Hotchkiss,  Lieutenant  Thomas  Brooks,  Mrs.  Ephraim  Tuttle,  Na- 
thaniel Hitchcock,  Mrs.  Josiah  Hotchkiss,  a  child  of  Josiah  Hotchki.ss, 
and  a  child  of  the  Reverend  Samuel  Hall.  The  latter  died  May  17th, 
aged  5  months  and  8  days. 

After  skilled  physicians  and  experienced  nurses  were  employed 
but  few  died  with  the  disorder.  The  sympathies  of  the  colonists  at 
other  points  were  aroused  by  the  sad  accounts  of  this  dread  pestilence, 
and  at  a  meeting  of  the  general  assembly  in  session  the  same  year 
i,"o(t  was  appropriated  for  the  benefit  of  the  sufferers  at  New 
Cheshire. 

The  town  of  Wallingford  was  slow  in  heeding  the  petitions  of  the 
"  West  Farmers  "  when  they  prayed  for  parish  privileges,  and  did  not 
grant  their  oft-repeated  request  until  April  30th,  1723.  On  that  date 
the  town  "  Voted  that  there  shall  be  a  village  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  and  their  bounds  shall  be  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  south- 
east of  Samuel  Cook,  Jr.,  his  farm,  and  thence  running  a  south  line  to 
New  Haven  bounds,  and  from  said  corner  northward,  taking  in  said 
Cook's  farm  and  Matthew  Bellamy's  farm;  thence  a  straight  line  tak- 
ing in  Joseph  Thompson,  his  farm;  from  thence  northward,  taking 
Atwater's,  Jr.,  Tiler's  and  Doctor  Hull's,  their  farms,  at  Broad  Swamp; 
thence  to  Thomas  Matthews'  farm,  over  Stony  River;  thence  in  the 
east  line  his,  to  Matthews',  his  farm,  taking  in  Joseph  Curtis,  his  farm, 
and  William  Hendrick,  his  farm,  to  the  north  line  of  the  village;  with 
this  proviso,  that  whatsoever  farm  or  lot  being  cut  by  said  line  run- 


678  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

ning-  across  shall  be  to  the  town  society  or  to  the  village,  according  to 
the  owner's  choice  or  habit." 

Under  this  arrangement  the  Congregational  church  and  the  first 
schools  were  established  and  maintained.  But  the  inhabitants  of  this 
district,  parish  or  village  early  longed  for  and  asked  to  be  endowed 
with  town  privileges.  December  1st,  1741,  Colonel  Benjamin  Hall 
was  appointed  to  petition  the  general  assembly  for  that  purpose,  with- 
out avail.  In  1769  and  1770  the  petitions  were  urgently  renewed, 
with  no  better  success.  December  16th,  1779,  the  consent  of  Walling- 
ford  is  asked,  and  April  18th,  1780,  the  assembly  is  once  more  besought 
to  set  the  village  aside  as  a  separate  town,  and  this  time  success  attends 
the  effort. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  June  7th,  1780.  Major  Reuben 
Atwater  was  the  moderator,  and  the  officers  elected  were:  Town  clerk, 
Samuel  Beach;  selectmen,  John  Beach,  Timothy  Hall,  John  Peck;  con- 
stables, Lucius  Tuttle,  Jonathan  Hall,  Reuben  Rice;  grand  jurors, 
Benjamin  Hotchkiss,  Jr.,  Matthew  Bellamy,  Ebenezer  Doolittle,  Benoni 
Hotchkiss,  Benoni  Plumb,  Ephraim  Smith;  listers.  Captain  Richard 
Rice,  Lieutenant  Benjamin  Doolittle,  Josiah  Talmage,  John  Bryan, 
Asa  Brunson;  tythingmen,  Amasa  Hail,  Seth  Johnson;  .surveyors  of 
highways,  Doctor  Gold  Gift  Norton,  Aaron  Williams,  Abijah  Hull, 
Titus  Moss,  Titus  Hitchcock,  Israel  Bunnell,  Jonathan  Hall.  Jr.,  Ben- 
nett Rice.  Dimon  Barnes,  Ebenezer  Parker,  Moses  Atwater,  Jr.,  Isaac 
Brooks,  Jr.,  Moses  Blakeslee. 

As  the  town  was  organized  in  the  troublous  times  of  the  revolution, 
much  of  its  early  action  pertained  to  the  struggle  for  independence. 
At  the  first  meeting  Major  Reuben  Atwater,  Israel  Bunnell  and  Jonah 
Hotchkiss  were  chosen  a  committee  to  supply  the  soldiers'  families 
with  provisions.  The  former  and  Samuel  Beach,  Esq.,  were  also  em- 
powered to  ascertain  the  number  of  men  from  Cheshire  at  that  time 
in  the  continental  service,  and  to  class  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
agreeably  to  the  act  of  the  general  assembly,  authorizing  such  an 
enumeration.  In  November  of  the  same  year  it  was  voted  that  the 
town  should  be  divided  into  classes  to  fill  up  the  continental  army, 
and  Captain  Nathaniel  Bunnell,  Captain  David  Hitchcock,  Captain 
Miles  Hull,  Captain  Robert  Martin  and  Captain  Amos  Hitchcock  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  make  such  a  division.  It  was  also  agreed  to 
pay  each  enlisted  man  serving  in  the  continental  army  20  shillings  per 
month  in  silver.  No  account  of  the  enlistments  thus  made  appear  on 
the  records  of  the  town. 

The  following  year  a  record  was  made  showing  that  slaves  were 
held  by  Benoni  Hotchkiss,  Jonathan  Hall,  Benjamin  Atwater  and 
Titus  Atwater,  and  for  many  years  records  of  births  in  the  families  of 
slaves  were  thus  made. 

While  the  care  of  the  poor  of  the  town  was  a  matter  for  frequent 
consideration  at  the  annual   meetings,  more  than  sixty  years  elapsed 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  679 

before  a  separate  home  for  their  maintenance  was  provided.  January 
3d,  18,53.  Julius  Brooks,  Ambrose  E.  Doolittle  and  Benajah  Ives  were 
appointed  to  purchase  a  suitable  home  for  the  indigent  of  the  town. 
This  purpose  was  not  immediately  realized,  but  in  the  course  of  a  few 
years  a  poor  farm  was  purchased,  which,  by  a  vote,  November  5th, 
1859,  was  constituted  the  "Town  House  of  Correction."  In  1884  the 
matter  of  selling  the  farm  was  agitated,  but  on  being  referred  to  the 
judgment  of  Bradley  Miles,  Julius  Moss  and  Joseph  P.  Beach,  they 
advised  that  new  buildings  be  erected  to  make  the  farm  .serve  its  in- 
tended purposes.  In  1889  the  farm  was  valued  at  $4,700,  and  the  per- 
sonal property  on  it  at  $2,718.15.  The  farm  was  maintained  at  an  ex- 
pense of  several  thousand  dollars  per  year,  and  more  than  $800  is  ex- 
pended annually  in  aid  for  the  outside  poor. 

For  many  years  the  town  had  no  fixed  place  to  hold  its  meetings, 
but  on  the  4th  of  February,  1867,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  hall  on  the 
triangular  green,  in  front  of  the  Congregational  meeting  house.  Ed- 
ward A.  Cornwall,  Ambrose  E.  Doolittle  and  Daniel  Judd  were  ap- 
pointed a  building  committee,  with  instructions  to  use  brick  and  have 
the  house  ready  for  use  October  1st,  1867.  But  it  was  not  fully  com- 
pleted until  later  in  that  year,  and  January  6th,  1868,  it  was  valued  at 
$13,540.  It  is  a  roomy  edifice,  having  offices  in  the  first  story,  and  a 
spacious  hall,  fitted  for  general  gatherings,  in  the  .second.  Efforts  to 
build  a  new  hall,  made  in  recent  years,  have  proved  fruitless.  But 
the  old  hall  has  been  well  repaired,  and  in  1889  was  valued  at  $15,000. 

The  burial  place  of  the  Congregational  church  has  been  practi- 
cally under  the  care  of  the  town  since  its  organization,  and  has  be- 
come the  public  cemetery.  It  is  well  located,  and  while  convenient 
to  the  village  is  by  reason  of  its  topography  sufficiently  retired  to  be 
peaceful.  In  the  past  ten  years  it  has  been  much  improved,  an 
impetus  in  this  direction  having  been  given,  in  1875,  when  Mrs.  Daniel 
March  donated  $500  for  that  purpose.  This  fund  was  greatly  increased 
by  other  donations,  and  some  of  it  was  used  in  extending  the  area  of 
the  cemetery.  In  1889  it  embraced  about  eight  acres  and  was  em- 
bellished by  many  fine  monuments.  In  this  cemetery  are  interred 
a  number  of  pioneers,  whose  graves  are  marked  by  old  stones  of  sim- 
ple construction,  one  bearing  the  date  1737.  The  inscriptions  on  others 
have  become  altogether  illegible.  Another  fund  has  been  started  for 
the  erection  of  a  substantial  .stone  gateway,  which  will  .still  further 
beautify  the  grounds. 

The  first  centennial  of  the  corporate  establishment  of  the  town  was 
appropriately  celebrated  October  14th,  1880,  when  addresses  were 
made  upon  the  past,  the  present  and  the  future  of  Cheshire,  by  E.  R. 
Brown,  Reverend  Daniel  March  and  others.  By  a  vote  of  the  town, 
January  2d,  1881,  the  proceedings  were  ordered  to  be  published,  but 
the  measure  failed  of  a  successful  realization. 

The  judges  in   the  probate   district  of  Cheshire,  which  includes 


680  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Prospect,  have  been,  in  the  order  named  :  Silas  Hitchcock,  William 
L.  Foote,  Elihu  Yale,  Asa  J.  Driggs,  William  T.  Peters,  William  L. 
Hinman,  Edward  A.  Cornwall,  William  T.  Peters,  William  A.  Wright, 
George  R.  Johnson,  Bela  E.  Hotchkiss,  Benjamin  A.  Jarvis,  Myron  C. 
Doolittle  and  Alonzo  E.  Smith. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  town  the  following  were  elected  to 
the  office  of  town  clerk:  1780-9,  James  Beach;  1790-1,  Elnathan  Beach; 
1792-1830,  Rufus  Hitchcock;  1831-3.  Edward  A.  Cornwall;  1834-9, 
William  L.  Foote;  1840-4,  Edward  A.  Cornwall;  184/5-7,  Charles  Shel- 
ton;  1848-9,  Silas  Hitchcock;  1850-1,  Edward  A.  Cornwall;  1852,  Nehe- 
miah  Banks;  1853-4,  John  D.  Humiston;  1855,  Benjamin  H.  Bradley; 
1856-66,  William  L.  Hinman;  1867,  Asa  J.  Driggs;  1868-70,  Thomas  E. 
Cornwall;  1871,  William  T.  Peters;  1872,  Edward  A.  Cornwall;  1873-4. 
William  T.  Peters;  1875-7,  Edward  A.  Cornwall;  1876-82,  Milton  C. 
Doolittle;  1883-4,  Howard  T.  Moss;  1885-9,  Milton  C.  Doolittle. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  who  took  the  oath  of  freemen  from 
the  civil  organization  of  the  town,  in  1780  until  1800:  Warren  Benham, 
Jason  Hotchkiss,  Ichabod  Tuttle,  Isaiah  Hall,  David  Rice,  Rufus  Lines, 
John  Peck,  Jr.,  Obed  Doolittle,  James  Upson,  Stephen  Parker,  Asa 
Hitchcock,  Moses  Tuttle,  Charles  C.  Hall,  William  Clark,  Ama.sa 
Lewis,  Thomas  Umberfield,  Rufus  Hitchcock,  Reuben  Preston,  Henry 
Brooks,  Jr.,  Merriam  Hotchkiss,  Edmund  Goodyear,  Levi  Parker, 
Alexander  M.  Kirgan,  Joseph  Ives,  John  Williams,  John  Beecher, 
Zachariah  Ives,  Benjamin  Beecher,  Henry  Brooks,  Samuel  Clark, 
Elnathan  Beach,  Reuben  Hotchkiss,  Zenas  Andrews,  Simon  Grannis, 
Abel  Matthews,  Jr.,  Samuel  Tuttle,  Urbi  Benham,  Barnabas  Lewis, 
Ebenezer  Tuttle,  David  Curtiss,  Isaac  B.  Mo.ss,  Andrew  Hull,  Zealous 
Bristol,  John  Beach,  Samuel  Doolittle,  .Silas  Doolittle,  Asa  Peck,  Ly- 
man Hotchkiss,  Nathaniel  Brown,  Jesse  Atwater,  George  Hall,  Josiah 
Talmage,  Amasa  Hitchcock,  Jr.,  Elias  Gaylord,  Stephen  Cook,  Burrage 
Miles,  Samuel  Williams,  Jesse  Humiston,  Reverend  Reuben  Ives, 
Asahel  Moss,  Edmund  Tuttle,  William  vStarks,  Lyman  Hall,  Burrage 
Beach,  Benjamin  Doolittle,  Jr.,  Emalach  Moss,  Jo.sephus  Hotchkiss, 
Amasa  Andrews,  Morrison  Merriam,  Jared  Ives,  Joel  Moss,  James 
Barnes,  Samuel  Atwater,  Gideon  Brooks,  Israel  Hotchkiss,  Caleb  Todd, 
Joseph  Hitchcock,  Samuel  Andrew  Law,  Joel  Johnson,  William  Clark, 
Jr.,  Ebenezer  Hough,  Jabez  Parker,  Joseph  Twiss,  Levi  Peck,  Jehiel 
Bunnell,  Oliver  Parker,  Cornelius  B.  Cook,  Benjamin  Hoppen,  Job 
Sperry,  Brizilla  Cook,  E.  Doolittle,  Bildad  Beach,  Abner  Newton,  Ly- 
man Parker,  Titus  Ives,  Eber  Adkins,  Asahel  Chittenden,  Jared  Burr, 
Urbi  Benham,  Jr.,  Titus  Atwater,  Aaron  Cook,  Salmon  Throw,  Jesse 
Ford,  Samuel  Sperry,  Roswell  Smith,  Jared  Newton,  David  Hitch- 
cock, Jr.,  Nathan  Ford  Parks,  Abijah  Beach,  Phineas  Ives,  John  Bris- 
tol, Joshua  Brooks,  Moses  Hotchkiss,  Amos  Harrison  Ives,  John 
Ford,  Andrew  Hull  Tuttle,  John  Plymont,  Thomas  Parker,  Amasa 
Doolittle,  Amos  Hall,  Samuel  Peck,  Thomas  Curtiss,  Jesse  Ives,  James 
Niel,  George  Hull. 


irrsTORV  OF  new  havex  county.  081 

From  the  settlement  of  the  town  the  ordinary  mills  have  been 
carried  on,  but  until  recent  decades  manufacturing  has  been  given  a 
.secondary  place  in  the  occupations  of  the  inhabitants.  Half  a  century 
ago  the  manufacture  of  oyster  kegs  was  an  active  industry  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  town,  where  were  from  four  to  six  shops,  in 
which  a  number  of  coopers  were  employed.  Amasa  Preston  thus 
acquired  large  means.  The  products  were  carried  to  Fair  Haven  by 
boats  on  the  canal.  Near  that  waterway  Thomas  and  Julius  Brooks 
had  cooperages  and  on  the  old  Cheshire  turnpike  Benajah  Ives  had 
another  shop. 

Near  the  present  hub  works  of  Joel  Moss,  on  Moss's  Farms,  nearly 
a  century  ago,  Bethuel  Flagg  had  carding,  dressing  and  fulling  works, 
and  there  made  cloth  of  different  kinds.  He  manufactured  broadcloth 
of  a  fine  quality,  as  well  as  that  of  a  cheaper  grade.  Here  were  a  grist 
mill  and  saw  mill,  as  well  as  clothing  works,  and  the  place  was  at  that 
time  a  flourishing  settlement.  About  the  same  time,  also,  near  the 
brass  mill  at  Mixville,  Amos  Baldwin  had  fulling  works,  doing  a  busi- 
ness of  300  pounds  a  year.  There  also  was  a  grist  mill,  and  near  by  a 
tannery,  where  leather  was  manufactured  quite  extensively  for  those 
days.  For  many  years  a  brisk  business  was  done  at  the  hub  works  by 
Joel  and  Lloyd  Moss. 

"About  seventy  years  ago  Norton  Beach  had  clothing  works  near 
•  the  residence  of  Lauren  Cook,  which  were  afterward  carried  on  by 
Enos  Ga3dord  and  Hiram  Bradley.  Large  quantities  of  wool  were 
consumed.     The  place  has  been  vacated." 

In  the  northern  portion  of  the  town,  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
residence  of  Levi  Doolittle,  in  about  the  year  1SL5,  Button  Beecher 
made  fanning  mills,  some  of  which  are  yet  in  existence.  Mr.  Beecher 
afterward  built  a  steamboat  with  a  screw  propeller — an  invention  of 
his  own — and  said  to  be  the  first  of  the  kind  ever  built  in  this  country. 
He  worked  on  this  about  one  year,  and  when  finished  the  boat  was 
taken  from  the  saw  mill  in  the  we.stern  part  of  the  town,  where  it  was 
built,  on  wheels  drawn  by  oxen,  and  carried  over  to  the  canal  at 
Beachport,  and  with  several  notables  on  board,  among  whom  were 
Governor  Foot,  Doctor  Cornwall  and  Doctor  Foot,  a  trial  trip  was  made 
down  the  canal  as  far  as  Hamden.  But  the  thing  did  not  seem  to  be 
a  success,  the  passengers  being  obliged  to  return  to  Cheshire  on  foot, 
and  pronounced  the  whole  scheme  a  failure.  New  York  parties,  how- 
ever, took  hold  of  the  matter  and  the  principle  which  Beecher's  brain 
invented  was,  in  the  process  of  time,  successfully  utilized. 

"  On  Cheshire  street  Seth  De  Wolf  manufactured  tin  ware  exten- 
sively .sixty  years  ago,  employing  quite  a  number  of  hands  and  doing 
a  prosperous  business.  There  are  those  now  living  who  remember  of 
seeing  thirteen  tin  peddlers'  wagons  loaded  with  tin  ware  from  his 
manufactory,  all  starting  out  at  the  same  time  for  a  trip  West  and 
South.  Several  of  these  persons  afterward  became  permanent  settlers 
in  the  South." 


682  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

In  the  same  locality  Nathan  Booth  and  others  made  threshing-  ma- 
chines, and  subsequently  wagon  wheels  were  manufactured  in  that 
shop,  which  stood  near  the  old  Hull  mill.  That  building,  after  stand- 
ing idle  for  some  time,  was  occupied,  in  1848,  by  Sherman  Blakeslee 
and  Bennet  Jeralds,  as  millers  and  manufacturers  of  Britannia  spoons, 
in  which  industry  Blakeslee  was  a  pioneer,  having  begun  in  1839. 
This  property  was  sold  by  Blakeslee  to  Walter  Webb  &  Co.,  of  South 
Meriden,  for  its  water  power  privilege. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  present  century  John  Kensett  painted  pic- 
tures and  manufactured  maps  in  a  shop  which  stood  nearly  opposite 
the  residence  of  H.  T.  Holcomb.  Mr.  Ken.sett  afterward  became  a 
very  celebrated  painter.  For  a  time  Kensett  and  Doctor  Shelton  had 
a  shop  in  which  pictures  were  made  on  a  large  scale,  a  number  of  young 
women  being  employed  as  assistants  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Ken- 
sett.    The  art  of  printing  in  colors  destroyed  that  industry. 

Henry  Merriman  was  a  builder  of  the  old  time  upright  clocks, 
many  of  them  being  attractive  as  well  as  large,  reaching  from  floor  to 
ceiling,  and  they  were  much  prized. 

The  Cheshire  Manufacturing  Company  is  the  oldest  and  most  suc- 
cessful corporation  in  the  town.  It  was  chartered  May  17th,  1850,  and 
has  since  that  time  maintained  its  business  at  West  Cheshire  station 
of  the  Northampton  railroad.  Charles  Hurd,  a  practical  mechanic, 
Arad  Welton  and  Titus  B.  Ives  were  some  of  the  principal  originators 
of  the  enterprise.  The  latter  is  the  only  original  stockholder  surviv- 
ing in  the  town.  James  Tulley  and  Ralph  Guilford  were  among  the 
early  employees  whose  skill  contributed  to  the  success  of  the  com- 
pany. Arad  Welton,  a  conscientious  but  shrewd  business  man,  was 
the  first  president  of  the  company,  and  also  acted  as  superintendent. 
Under  his  management  a  large  surplus  was  accumulated,  in  addition 
to  the  handsome  dividends  paid,  amounting  in  war  times  to  80  per 
cent.  He  held  the  former  position  until  his  death,  in  1870.  N.  T. 
Porter,  of  New  York,  succeeded  him,  and  since  1882  Thomas  Porter, 
of  the  same  city,  has  been  the  president.  The  other  officers  of  the 
company  are:  Titus  B.  Ives,  treasurer  and  superintendent;  and  F.  A. 
Ives,  secretary.  At  this  time  the  capital  .stock  is  $43,000.  The  en- 
larged buildings  of  the  company  present  a  main  structure  30  by  150 
feet,  three  stories  high.  Fifty  hands  find  occupation  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  fancy  metal  and  covered  buttons  and  bra.ss  stamped  goods, 
which  are  sold  by  Porter  Brothers,  of  New  York,  who  are  also  supply 
agents  of  this  and 

The  Cheshire  Brass  Company,  which  was  incorporated  in  Septem- 
ber, 1866,  by  the  stockholders  of  the  former  company,  with  a  capital 
of  $40,000.  A  fine  manufacturing  site,  on  the  Ten  Mile  river,  at  the 
lower  part  of  Mixville,  was  secured,  which  was  improved  to  meet  the 
wants  of  the  company.  The  buildings  are  of  wood  and  the  motor  is 
water  power.     R.  N. Welton  is  the  superintendent  of  the  twenty  hands 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  683 

employed,  who  manufacture  annually  a  quarter  of  a  million  pounds  of 
brass  sheet  and  drawn  brass  wire  goods. 

At  this  place  and  on  the  same  stream  were  also  the  works  of  the 
John  Mix  Manufacturing  Company,  which  was  incorporated  April  7th, 
1853.  The  head  of  the  compan}',  John  Mi.\.  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
manufacturers  of  the  town.  Some  time  about  1830  Edward  A.  Corn- 
wall had  a  small  shop,  supplied  with  water  power  from  the  canal,  below 
the  second  lock,  in  which  were  manufactured  coffee  mills.  After  a 
few  years  John  Mix  leased  the  shop  and  began  making  Britannia 
spoons  in  a  small  way,  increasing  his  output  as  the  years  went  by  until 
thirty  hands  were  employed.  Titus  Mix,  a  brother,  came  from  Mid- 
dletown,  and  associated  himself  with  the  former  in  the  old  business, 
and  the  manufacture  of  gimlets  and  auger  bits  was  also  taken  up. 
This  continued  until  the  abandonment  of  the  canal  destroyed  the 
power  in  1846,  when  the  latter  went  to  Prospect  and  John  Mix  to  the 
place  on  Ten  Mile  river,  which  afterward  became  Mixville.  The  power 
there  had  been  improved  to  operate  a  small  grist  mill,  but  he  increased 
it  and  built  new  shops  in  which  he  manufactured  bits  and  gimlets, 
forming  the  stock  company  in  18o3.  This  company  was  succeeded  by 
Walter  Mix  and  William  Bailey,  and  they,  in  turn,  by  Peck,  Stow  & 
Wilcox,  who  transferred  the  manufacture  of  these  articles  to  South- 
ington,  and  the  shops  at  Mixville  were  left  idle. 

At  West  Cheshire,  Samuel  Hitchcock  and  others,  as  the  Hitchcock 
Manufacturing  Company,  incorporated  October  12th,  1853,  began  the 
manufacture  of  suspenders  and  web  goods,  soon  having  a  flourishing 
business.  A  fine,  four-story  frame  factory  was  erected  and  occupied 
until  March,  1857,  when  the  interest  was  sold  to  the  Waterbury  Sus- 
pender Company,  and  work  in  Cheshire  was  soon  after  discontinued. 
The  shop  after  being  unused  some  time,  was  occupied  as  a  branch 
factory  of  the  Danbury  Hat  Company.  In  1868  Samuel  Hitchcock 
and  others  occupied  it  as  the  American  Braid  Company,  which  con- 
tinued operations  several  years.  Later  vegetable  ivory  buttons  were 
there  made,  which  interest  was  soon  given  up.  Since  1887  James 
Harry  has  occupied  the  building  in  the  manufacture  of  light  carriage 
wood  work,  employing  steam  power  and  giving  work  to  a  small  num- 
ber of  men. 

The  Cheshire  Hardware  Manufacturing  Company  was  incorpor- 
ated March  '2d,  1870,  for  the  manufacture  of  axes,  hatchets  and  other 
edge  tools.  Howard  C.  Ives  was  the  president  of  the  company  and 
the  moving  spirit  of  the  concern.  Charles  Rugg,  a  toolmaker  of 
repute,  was  the  superintendent,  and  as  his  name  was  stamped  upon 
the  tools,  the  concern  was  frequently  called  the  "  Rugg  Company." 
Shops  were  erected  at  West  Cheshire,  where  more  than  5o  men  found 
profitable  employment  until  part  of  the  buildings  were  burned  down. 
With  enlarged  buildings  and  increased  capital  operations  were  again 
resumed  and  continued   some  time,  when  E.  P.  Dunham  and  others 


684  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

became  the  lessees  of  the  shops.  Later  they  were  occupied  by  Peck, 
Stow  &  Wilcox,  who  successfully  operated  several  years,  when  they 
were  again,  in  1888,  partially  destroyed  by  fire,  throwing  a  large  num- 
ber of  men  out  of  work.  Many  of  these  followed  the  transfer  of  the 
works  toSouthington.and  the  remaining  Cheshire  shops  were  vacated 
and  became  the  property  of  Doctor  E.  T.  Cornwall. 

Since  1888  the  above  buildings  have  been  the  factory  of  the  D.  A. 
A.  Buck  Company,  which  was  organized  in  September  of  that  year, 
with  D.  A.  A.  Buck,  president;  E.  T.  Cornwall,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer; and  since  January,  1889,  H.  H.  Rice  has  been  associated  with  the 
company  as  a  member.  The  capital  stock  is  $15,000,  and  the  company 
has  become  well  established  in  the  manufacture  of  toy  and  novelty 
specialties,  many  of  them  being  the  inventions  of  Mr.  Buck.  They 
give  employment  to  more  than  fifty  persons.  The  success  at  Cheshire 
encouraged,  in  the  fall  of  1889,  the  organization  of  the  New  Haven 
Novelty  Company,  as  an  offspring  of  this  enterprise,  for  the  purpose 
of  manufacturing  in  that  city  a  similar  line  of  goods. 

In  the  village  of  Cheshire  George  J.  Capewell  had  a  factory  for 
several  years,  about  1880,  for  the  manufacture  of  specialties  in  hard- 
ware, and  produced  several  patents  which  increased  his  fame  and  for- 
tune as  an  inventor.  In  1883  he  was  instrumental  in  the  organization 
of  the  Cheshire  Watch  Company,  which  was  incorporated  November 
16th  of  that  year,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  Of  this  amount  $50,000 
was  paid  to  Arthur  Hitchcock  for  his  patented  watch,  who.se  move- 
ments were  supposed  to  be  especially  advantageous,  on  account  of 
their  simplicity,  but  which  unfortunately  did  not  stand  the  test  of 
time,  and  the  company  in  consequence  was  soon  seriously  embar- 
rassed. The  officers  elected  were:  George  J.  Capewell,  president ;  E. 
R.  Brown,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  D.  A.  A.  Buck,  superintendent. 
A  fine  factory  site  in  the  village  of  Cheshire  was  secured,  upon  which 
were  erected  brick  buildings,  which  are  reputed  the  best  of  the  kind 
in  the  state.  The  main  structure  is  two  stories,  and  with  the  high, 
well  lighted  one-story  wings,  forms  a  structure  about  30  by  200  feet, 
which  is  practically  fire  proof.  In  a  separate  building  is  the  powerful 
steam  motor  which  operates  the  fine  machinery  with  which  the  fac- 
tory is  supplied. 

Since  its  organization  the  capital  of  the  company  has  been  in- 
creased and  practically  a  new  pattern  watch  has  been  adopted  as  the 
standard  of  manufacture.  This  was  winning  favor  as  a  time  keeper 
in  1889,  at  which  period  George  J.  Capewell  was  president  of  the 
company,  and  W.  A.  Riley  secretary  and  treasurer.  From  60  to  100 
workmen  were  employed. 

The  Cheshire  Clock  Company  was  incorporated  November  28th, 
1884,  with  a  capital  of  $25,000.  Arthur  Hitchcock  was  one  of  the 
leading  promoters  of  this  enterprise,  which  was  destined  to  have  a 
short  and  discouraging  existence.     A   fine  site  for  the  factorv  was 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  685 

secured  near  the  watch  factory,  upon  which  a  long,  two-story  frame 
building  was  erected,  in  which  the  manufacture  of  a  good,  low  priced 
clock  was  begun;  but  before  it  could  secure  a  place  in  the  markets  of 
the  country,  financial  difficulties  caused  a  suspension  of  operations, 
and  much  of  the  machinery  has  been  removed.  On  the  12th  of  March, 
1888,  the  heavy  winds  prevailing  at  that  time  wrecked  a  part  of  the 
building,  which  has  since  been  vacant. 

The  Extension  Water  Guage  Company,  incorporated  vSeptember 
15th,  1880,  and  a  few  other  manufacturing  projects,  failed  of  organi- 
zation, to  the  extent  of  being  able  to  operate  successfully,  and  their 
privileges  were  relinquished. 

The  early  settlers  of  old  Wallingford  were  impressed  with  the 
belief  that  their  numerous  hills  abounded  with  mineral  wealth;  and 
the  evidences  of  the  existence  of  the  precious  metals  were  especially 
abundant  in  what  is  now  the  southeastern  part  of  Cheshire.  Here 
fine  specimens  of  copper  appeared  on  the  surface,  which  led  to  the 
discovery  and  opening  of  a  mine,  some  time  about  1710.  Near  the 
same  time  another  copper  mine  was  opened  at  Simsbury,  and  in  1712 
the  legislature  of  Connecticut  enacted  laws  for  the  benefit  and  en- 
couragement of  the  owners  of  these  two  mines.  A.t  the  latter  place 
operations  were  carried  on  until  the  vein  of  copper  was  exhausted, 
and  in  the  excavation  thus  formed  was  afterward  constructed  the  cele- 
brated Newgate  prison,  which  is  said  to  have  been  of  more  practical 
benefit  to  the  state  than  all  the  copper  mined.  The  mine  in  Chesh- 
ire "was  supposed  to  be  the  richest,  but  the  miners  were  prevented 
from  digging  there  on  account  of  the  great  quantities  of  water  which, 
after  they  had  proceeded  some  depth,  constantly  flowed  in  upon 
them."* 

So  promising  were  the  mines  considered  that  the  original  proprie- 
tors of  the  lands  in  Wallingford  petitioned  the  legislature  for  an  in- 
terest in  the  same,  which  was  granted  in  May,  1712,  when  it  was 
enacted  that  the  heirs  of  the  original  proprietors  should  have  an  equal 
share  in  the  mine  already  worked,  and  in  all  other  mines  which  should 
be  discovered  on  said  lands.  In  October,  1718,  the  legislatuFe  ap- 
pointed three  commissioners  for  the  mining  company,  one  of  whom 
was  Captain  John  Hall,  to  serve  two  years;  and  at  the  end  of  that 
period  another  board  of  commissioners  took  charge  of  the  affairs,  with 
power  to  close  up  the  concern  if  found  necessary.  About  this  time  it 
appears  that  the  mine  was  worked  to  a  considerable  extent,  for  in 
October,  1722,  Matthew  Bellamy  petitioned  the  legislature  for  privi- 
lege to  keep  an  inn  at  his  house,  "  very  near  the  place  where  the  min- 
ers are  at  work,  where  there  is  many  of  them  and  especyally  will  be 
many  now,"  who  would  find  it  difficult  to  secure  entertainment  except 
through  the  petitioner.  It  is  probable  that  the  commissioners  soon 
after  availed  themselves  of  the  privileges  of  their  appointment,  and 
*  Davis,  p.  47. 


680  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTV. 

decreed  that  work  should  be  discontinued,  and  so  far  as  is  known 
neither  the  miners  nor  the  company  obtained  any  great  benefit  from 
these  operations.  Associated  with  these  mines  are  traditions,  which 
appear  to  lack  foundation,  that  gold  in  considerable  quantities  was  also 
found,  which  these  foreign  miners  appropriated  to  themselves;  and 
that  a  ship  the  owners  had  laden  with  copper  ore  to  be  sent  to  Eng- 
land to  be  smelted  was  lost  at  sea.  These  discouraging  circum- 
stances, it  is  said,  had  much  to  do  with  the  abandonment  of  the  mines. 

In  n?,Q-7  a  new  company  was  formed  to  work  these  mines,  on  the 
land  of  Timothy  Roys,  on  "Milking  Yard  hill."  Benjamin  Roys  acted 
as  clerk  of  the  proprietors,  and  from  his  accounts  it  appears  that  they 
expended  £S6  4s.  2d.  in  their  operations,  from  November,  1736,  until 
February,  1737.  In  April  of  the  latter  year  nine  persons  associated 
themselves  formall}'  as  the  company,  and  called  the  mine  the  "Golden 
Parlour."  They  released  Arthur  Rexford  from  his  contract  to  sink 
new  shafts,  but  in  July,  1737,  they  secured  George  Bell  to  sink  twelve 
feet  in  the  "deeper  shaft,  nearest  to  Doctor  Hough's."  The  company's 
expenditures  up  to  this  date  amounted  to  i,'132  13s.  Id.  It  is  probable 
that  the  "Golden  Parlour  Mining  Company"  was  no  more  successful 
in  securing  the  hidden  wealth  than  had  been  its  predecessors,  for  one 
of  the  last  minutes  of  the  doings  of  the  company  pertained  to  an 
assessment  of  the  stockholders  to  liquidate  expenses.  It  is  likely  that 
work  was  suspended  soon  after  1737,  and  that  the  company  found 
neither  gold  nor  enough  copper  to  encourage  it  to  continue.  In  the 
course  of  years  the  mine  holes  or  shafts  became  filled  up,  and  some  of 
them,  while  showing  traces  of  their  existence,  have  since  remained 
undisturbed.  But  in  1854  A.  Bellamy,  a  descendant  of  the  old  Mat- 
thew Bellamy  family,  reopened  one  of  the  shafts  on  "  Milking  Yard 
hill"  (now  Gaylord  hill)  with  the  expectation  of  finding  copper.  Re- 
moving the  earth,  upon  which  large  trees  had  grown,  he  found,  at  the 
depth  of  80  feet,  miners'  tools  and  other  evidences  to  show  that  it 
might  not  have  been  the  intention  to  abandon  the  mine  permanently. 
But  after  some  effort  he,  too,  relinquished  the  work  without  being  re- 
paid for  his  trouble. 

About  a  mile  north  from  this  place  is  a  locality  which  has  been 
named  "  Copper  Valley  "  by  one  of  its  citizens,  George  R.Johnson, 
who  is  a  member  of  a  family  which  has  resided  in  that  part  of  the 
town  more  than  a  century  of  years.  Here  the  first  improvements 
were  made  by  the  Parker,  Bristol  and  Atwater  families.  One  of  the 
Parkers  had  a  pioneer  saw  mill  on  a  branch  of  the  Broad  brook,  which 
rises  in  that  section,  and  whose  waters,  it  is  claimed,  were  used  to 
wash  copper  ore,  mined  in  a  small  way,  more  than  a  century  ago,  and 
since  that  time.  From  the  many  Indian  relics  here  found  it  is  sup- 
posed that  the  Aborigines  much  frequented  this  place,  probably  to 
obtain  the  copper  so  readily  found  on  the  surface  in  many  places. 
These  indications  caused  many  points  to  be  prospected,  and  in  several 


HISTORY    OK   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  687 

mines  considerable  work  was  done,  never,  however,  with  profitable  re- 
sults. The  operations  of  the  New  York  Copper  Mining  Company,  of 
which  William  King  was  the  superintendent,  in  more  recent  years, 
employed  modern  machinery  and  aroused  expectations,  which,  how- 
ever, were  short  lived,  as  it  soon  became  apparent  that  the  veins  were 
not  large  or  rich  enough  to  pay  for  developing  them,  and  work  was 
suspended  inside  of  a  year. 

The  mining  of  barytes  in  Cheshire  was  attended  with  more  profit- 
able results.  Large  deposits  of  this  once  valuable  mineral  were  found 
in  the  southeastern  and  northwestern  parts  of  the  town,  whose  de- 
velopment at  one  time  gave  employment  to  hundreds  of  men,  and  in 
the  course  of  operations  brought  nearly  two  millions  of  dollars  into 
the  town  as  wages.  The  Stamford  Company  alone,  in  the  month  of 
October,  1866,  paid  out  $22,000  as  wages  to  its  workmen. 

One  of  the  richest  deposits  of  barytes  was  found  by  Professor  Silli- 
man  on  the  farm  of  Amos  Bristol.  This  was  mined  about  1840,  and 
later  by  N.  H.  Gaston,  Joel  Hunt  and  others,  the  output  at  first  being 
small.  In  18.'ir)  the  Bristol  mine  was  sold  to  the  Stamford  Mining  & 
Manufacturing  Company,  which  operated  so  extensively  soon  after 
the  civil  war  that  from  sixty  to  seventy  tons  per  day  were  shipped, 
and  the  products  found  a  ready  sale.  The  affairs  of  the  company  in 
the  town  were  managed  by  James  Lanyon,  an  English  miner,  who 
came  to  Cheshire  in  1844,  assisted  by  his  brothers,  Joseph  M.  and 
Henry.*  Several  hundred  Cornish  miners  were  employed  by  the 
Stamford  Company,  and  half  a  dozen  shafts  were  sunk,  the  deepest 
being"  600  feet.  For  some  time  the  barytes  sold  at  $60  per  ton,  but 
declined  to  $10  per  ton.  This  fact  and  the  increased  cost  of  mining, 
after  the  main  veins  were  worked,  forced  the  company  to  discontinue 
work  in  that  section.  The  mineral  had  been  drawn  to  Barytes  station, 
on  the  Northampton  railroad,  distant  two  miles,  to  which  place  sup- 
plies were  also  brought  for  use  at  Jennie's  hill.f  which  presented  a 
mo.st  busy  scene  until  about  1875. 

In  the  meantime  Captain  Peck  and  others  had  developed  the  barytes 
deposits  northwest  of  the  village  of  Cheshire,  to  which  place  the  Stam- 
ford Company,  under  the  direction  of  James  Lanyon,  now  transferred 
its  operations.  Here  the  mineral  was  found  at'a  less  depth,  which  per- 
mitted cheaper  mining,  .several  years.  Four  shafts  were  sunk,  one 
being  300  feet  deep,  and  quite  a  quantity  of  mineral  was  mined  and 
loaded  on  the  railroad,  close  at  hand.  Not  much  work  was  done  at 
these  mines  after  1878,  and  after  a  few  years  more  most  of  the  miners 
removed,  and  what  had  once  been  the  principal  interest  in  the  town 
was  altogether  suspended. 

Cheshire  Village  is  on  a  high  ridge  of  land,  a  little  south  and  west 
of  the  central  part  of  the  town,  and  is  sometimes  called  Cheshire  Cen- 

♦See  sketch  of  life  of  James  Lanyon  in  succeeding  pages. 

tNamed  for  an  old  colored  woman  who  formerly  lived  in  that  locality. 


688  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

ter.  On  either  hand,  east  or  west,  the  ground  slopes  gradually  from 
Main  street,  which  is  elevated  so  as  to  overlook  the  greater  part  of  the 
town,  which  appears  bordered  by  West  mountain,  a  rocky  ledge,  on 
the  east,  and  the  "  Sleeping  Giant  "  on  the  south.  In  the  north  the 
Hanging  hills  of  Meriden  may  be  plainly  seen.  The  immediate  en- 
vironments, consisting  of  orchards  and  fields,  dotted  with  pleasant 
homes,  aid  to  make  this  one  of  the  most  attractive  villages  in  the 
state.  The  principal  streets  are  well  kept,  and  along  some  of  them 
substantial  walks  have  been  built.  Rows  of  stately  elms  line  the  main 
and  other  streets,  and  a  neat  green  square,  near  the  center,  adds  to 
the  beauty  of  the  scene.  On  the  latter  stands  one  of  the  finest  soldiers' 
monuments  in  the  United  States,  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  de- 
fenders of  the  Union.  A  systematic  planting  of  elm  trees  was  begun 
about  1850,  under  the  direction  of  the  Reverend  D.  S.  Rodman,  and 
since  that  time  the  village  has  been  greatly  beautified  by  that  means. 

Cheshire  village  contains  Congregational,  Episcopal,  Methodist  and 
Catholic  churches,  a  flourishing  Episcopal  academy,  a  good  town 
hall,  a  fine  and  commodious  public  house,  several  large  factories  and 
numerous  attractive  residences.  Within  its  limits  are  several  good 
specimens  of  the  quaint  architecture  of  the  la.st  century,  but  others  of 
the  old-time  buildings  have  been  modernized.  The  inhabitants  are 
intelligent  and  thrifty,  and  number  nearly  one  thousand.  Here  have 
lived  some  of  the  prominent  families  of  the  town,  v.'hich  have  been 
those  of  Allen,  Beach,  Brooks,  Bronson,  Bristol,  Baldwin,  Cornwall, 
Doolittle,  Driggs,  Foote,  Fields,  Hull,  Hall,  Hinman,  Hitchcock,  Ives, 
Jarvis,  Law,  Paddock,  Street,  Stevens,  Shelton,  Welton,  Yale  and 
others. 

Among  those  who  discharged  the  duties  of  postmaster  at  Cheshire 
was  Amasa  Hitchcock,  at  his  house  north  of  the  central  part  of  the 
village.  At  another  period  Elihu  Yale  was  the  postmaster,  keeping  it 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  village.  Alfred  S.  Baldwin  was  a  later 
official.  In  1862  E.  R.  Brown  became  the  postmaster  and  continued 
until  he  was  succeeded  by  Edward  C.  Andrews  November  23d,  1885, 
who  first  fitted  up  the  post  office  at  Cheshire  on  an  enlarged  scale.  He 
supplied  furniture  having  200  call  and  14  lock  boxes,  and  was  instru- 
mental in  having  the  number  of  mails  increased  from  three  to  five  per 
day.     Since  1878,  Cheshire  has  been  a  postal  money  order  office. 

For  more  than  a  hundred  years  stores  have  been  kept  in  the  vil- 
lage :  and  some  of  the  merchants  of  a  more  recent  period  have  been 
Messrs.  Upson,  Allen,  Hitchcock,  Foot,  Smith,  E.  R.  Brown  and  George 
Keeler,  several  continuing  in  trade  many  years. 

West  Cheshire  is  a  pleasantly  located  village  on  the  Northampton 
railroad,  a  little  more  than  fifteen  miles  from  New  Haven  and  about 
one  mile  west  from  Cheshire  Center.  It  contains  a  hotel,  several 
stores,  shops  and  factories,  a  school  house  and  about  thirty  other 
buildings.     It  first  became  a  business  point  when  the  canal  was  com- 


HISTOKY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  .  689 

pleted,  in  1827,  and  for  many  years  was  known  as  Beachport.  This 
name  was  given  in  compliment  to  Richard  Beach,  who  owned  a  ware- 
house on  the  canal  and  was  there  engag-ed  in  business.  The  building 
he  occupied  was  a  low  frame,  projecting  overthecanal  basin,  and  thus 
permitted  the  boats  to  load  and  unload  inside  the  building.  Before 
the  building  of  the  railroad  in  the  Naugatuck  valley,  the  shipping 
from  this  point  was  heavy,  as  large  quantities  of  the  freight  for  that 
section  were  here  delivered  and  thence  transported  by  trains.  Richard 
Beach  also  had  a  store  and  in  other  ways  was  active  in  business.  Be- 
coming embarrassed  financially,  warehousing  was  given  up  by  Beach, 
and  the  store  was  kept  by  Edward  A.  Cornwall  and  Clement  Peck. 

In  the  period  of  the  canal— 1827  to  1846— several  boats,  owned  by 
Cheshire  parties,  plied  on  that  waterway.  James  V.  Field  had  one 
for  carrying  barytes  and  Nathaniel  Newell,  running  from  Beachport, 
carried  general  freight.  The  last  boat  running  from  the  latter  place 
was  in  charge  of  W.  H.  Newell,  and  was  built  .solely  for  freight  pur- 
poses. Very  few  of  the  canal  boats  were  supplied  with  cabins.  When 
the  Northampton  railroad  was  built  it  followed,  in  a  general  way,  the 
course  of  the  canal,  in  many  places  u.sing  the  towpath,  hence,  from 
those  circumstances,  it  was  long  known  as  the  "  Canal  railroad." 
Cheshire  station  was  established  on  the  site  of  Beachport,  and  the 
growth  of  the  village  then  began.  Up  to  this  time  there  were  but 
few  residences  in  the  locality,  the  principal  ones  being  those  occupied 
by  the  Welton,  Thompson  and  Field  families.  W.  H.  Newell  was  one 
of  the  early  station  agents  and  was  also  the  postmaster  of  the  West 
Cheshire  office,  since  the  establishment  of  which  the  village  has  prop- 
erly had  Its  present  name.  Warren  Doolittle  was  an  earlier  postmas- 
ter. Howard  C.  Ives,  E.  P.  Dunham  and  Miss  Sarah  Ellis  have  been 
later  ofBcials.  the  latter  in  1889. 

In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town  is  the  hamlet  of  Brooksvale, 
consisting  of  a  few  houses  and  the  post  office,  of  which  Miss  Ella 
Brooks  is  the  mistress.  In  the  administration  of  President  Cleveland 
the  office  was  removed  to  the  house  of  Robert  Cook  and  kept  as  the 
South  Cheshire  office,  but  it  has  lately  been  re-established  with  the 
original  name  and  is  again  kept  in  its  old  locality.  Here  are  also 
small  saw,  grist  and  cider  mills;  and  on  Roaring  brook  are  attractive 
waterfalls  with  fine  surroundings,  which  have  become  a  pleasant 
resort. 

Mixville  is  a  hamlet  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  on  the  Ten 
Mile  river,  and  was  begun  by  the  Mix  brothers.  Here  are  shops,  a 
dozen  residences,  a  fine  school  hou.se  and  a  chapel  for  religious  meet- 
ings.    The  post  office  is  West  Cheshire,  two  miles  distant. 

In  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town,  in    the  bend  of  the  Quinnip- 

iac  river,  is  the  hamlet  of  Cheshire  Street,  containing  a  chapel  erected 

by  the  Adventists,  small  mechanic  shops,  a  store  and  a  cluster  of  farm 

residences.     Ever  since  the  settlement  of  the  town  that  locality  has 

43 


690  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

been  a  point  of  local  interest,  the  neighboring  farmers  being  among 
the  leading  citizens  of  Cheshire ;  but  its  location  near  Meriden  has 
prevented  its  becoming  much  of  a  business  place.  There  is  a  fine  iron 
bridge  across  the  river,  built  about  ten  years  ago  at  a  cost  of  $1,600. 

South  of  the  river  is  the  Broad  Brook  neighborhood  ;  and  still  fur- 
ther south  Johnson's  Grove,  on  a  hill  150  feet  high,  both  being  old 
localities.  In  the  northwestern  part  are  the  Moss  Farms  and  the 
Barnes  neighborhood,  which  are  also  landmarks  of  note. 

Besides  the  Northampton  railroad  running  through  the  town,  north 
and  south,  the  Meriden  &  Waterbury  railroad  passes  diagonally 
through  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town,  having  several  flag  sta- 
tions where  it  crosses  the  principal  highways. 

Temple  Lodge,  No.  16,  F.  &  A.  M.,  so  far  as  now  known,  was  the 
first  Lodge  of  a  secret  order  established  in  Cheshire.  It  was  insti- 
tuted November  11th,  1790,  at  the  house  of  Timothy  Canfield,  which 
was  probably  at  the  Center,  its  exact  location  being  somewhat  obscured 
by  the  lapse  of  so  many  years  and  the  loss  of  early  records.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1791,  the  Lodge  moved  into  a  room  fitted  up  for  it  in  the  tavern 
of  Jonathan  Hall,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of 
Doctor  E.  T.  Cornwall.  Next  its  place  of  meeting  was  over  the  store 
of  Colonel  Rufus  Hitchcock,  north  of  the  church  green.  A  still  later 
home  was  found  in  one  of  the  chambers  of  the  public  house  of  Abijah 
Beach,  south  of  the  green,  where  the  Lodge  surrendered  its  charter 
in  1838.  This  move  was  occasioned  by  the  feeling  against  the  order, 
consequent  upon  the  disappearance  of  Morgan.  The  jewels  were 
placed  in  the  keeping  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  other  property  was 
taken  in  charge  by  Tyler  Ebenezer  Atwater.  After  the  lapse  of  25 
years  Temple  Lodge  was  revived,  through  the  efforts  of  Doctor  Will- 
iam C.  Williams  and  others,  and  .some  of  the  old  property  was  re- 
stored, including  the  first  Bible  used,  which  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  the  Lodge. 

After  the  restoration  of  the  charter,  in  March,  1863,  the  Lodge  be- 
gan holding  its  meetings  in  the  hall  of  John  A.  Hitchcock  (E.  R. 
Brown's  in  1889),  and  there  continued  until  February  29th,  1872,  when 
the  present  hall,  in  the  building  of  H.  C.  Ives,  at  West  Cheshire,  was 
dedicated  for  its  uses. 

The  Masons  have  always  had  among  their  numbers  some  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  the  town — men  who  were  active  in  its  affairs  and 
progressive  in  those  matters  which  had  a  tendency  to  advance  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  The  first  master,  in  1790,  was  David  Bad- 
ger, an  exemplary  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  living  at  the  Cen- 
ter. The  senior  warden  was  Abraham  Ives,  also  an  Episcopalian,  by 
occupation  a  farmer,  living  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town.  The 
junior  warden  was  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the  same  church. 
He  was  Moses  Mo.ss,  of  the  Moss  Farms,  occupying  the  house  now 
owned  by   L.  D.   Moss.     The  first  secretary  was  Timothy  Canfield. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  other  charter  members  were:  Justice  Bellamy,  Samuel  Clark,  Joha 
Martin,  Ebenezer  Tuttle  and  James  Benham.  The  latter  was  the  first 
tyler. 

Up  to  1816  the  Lodge  had  many  additions  to  its  membership  from 
the  leading  families  of  this  and  adjoining  towns,  but  after  that  year 
the  accessions  were  less  frequent,  and  six  years  later  there  was  a  de- 
cline of  interest,  from  which  the  Lodge  had  not  recovered  when 
it  yielded  to  the  wave  of  anti-Masonry  which  swept  so  forcibly 
over  the  country  that  only  a  few  of  the  strongest  Lodges  were  able  to 
withstand  its  shock.  When  it  was  discontinued,  in  1838,  175  persons 
had  been  enrolled  as  members.  Since  the  resumption  of  the  meet- 
ings, in  1863,  there  have  been  about  two  hundred  members,  and,  in 
December,  1889,  there  were  95  members  on  the  rolls  of  the  Lodge.  . 

A  list  of  members  who  have  served  as  masters  of  the  Lodge  in- 
cludes the  names  of  David  Badger,  in  1790;  Samuel  Bellamy,  in  1792; 
Doctor  Elnathan  Beach,  in  1794;  Selden  Spencer,  in  1796,  eight  years; 
Levi  Douglass,  in  1804;  John  Plymate,  in  1805;  Stephen  Jarvis,  Doctor 
Charles  Shelton,  James  Beach  and  Charles  A.  Stanley.  Noah  Hotch- 
kiss  was  one  of  the  earlv  acting  masters. 

Of  the  revived  Lodge  Doctor  William  C.  Williams  was  the  first 
master,  filling  the  cliair  several  3'ears.  The  successive  masters  since 
1865  have  been:  George  A.  Brooks,  Edwin  R.  Lawton,  William  Butler, 
Martin  Catran,  J.  W.  Mix  (late  grand  master  of  the  State  Lodge), 
Franklin  P.  Bates,  Henry  C.  Higgins,  Noah  B.  Welton,  Charles  B. 
Fervell,  Fred.  Doolittle  and  Henry  E.  Fervell. 

L.  A.  Thomas  Lodge,  No.  9,  L  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  at  Cheshire 
village,  July  23d,  1888,  with  17  charter  members,  six  having  previously 
been  connected  with  Hancock  Lodge,  of  South  Meriden,  and  eleven 
with  the  Plantsville  Lodge.  There  were  24  initiates  at  the  first  meet- 
ing, and  the  principal  officers  elected  were:  William  Fahl,  N.  G.;  W. 
C.  Daly,  V.  G.;  George  W.  Keeler,  S.;  E.  T.  Cornwall,  T.  In  1889 
Jesse  Peck  was  the  noble  grand  and  George  W.  Keeler  continued  as 
secretary.  Through  his  efforts,  largely,  the  Lodge  was  established 
and  has  maintained  itself  so  prosperously,  having  in  December,  1889, 
63  members.  A  fine  Lodge  room  had  been  fitted  up  in  the  Center 
school  house,  at  a  cost  of  $500,  and  there  was  an  accumulated  fund  of 
more  than  $700.  This  property  was  held  in  trust  by  A.  S.  Bennett, 
Emil  Stineman  and  Augustus  Hitchcock. 

Edward  A.  Doolittle  Post,  No.5,  G.  A.  R.,  was  mustered  April  16th, 
1881,  with  24  members,  but  few  of  whom  had  previously  been  con- 
nected with  a  Grand  Army  Post.  Franklin  A.  Hotchkiss  was  chosen 
the  first  commander,  and  Arthur  E.  Hotchkiss  the  adjutant.  About 
40  persons  have  been  connected  with  the  Post  as  members,  the  num- 
ber belonging  in  1889  being  39;  and  the  principal  ofiicers  were:  Com- 
mander, Alonzo  E.  Smith;   vice-commander,  Timothy  Guilford;   adju- 


692  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

tant,    Edward   Atwater.     Pleasant  quarters    have    been    provided  at 
Brown's  Hall,  at  the  Center. 

Meeting  at  the  same  place  and  closely  connected  with  the  above  is 
Admiral  Foote  Camp,  No.  34,  Sons  of  Veterans,  which  was  instituted 
in  August,  1888,  with  16  members.  Half  a  dozen  more  persons  have 
since  joined  the  Camp.  The  first  board  of  officers  was  composed  of : 
Captain,  C.  C.  Lord;  first  lieutenant,  William  Andrews;  second  lieuten- 
ant, William  Smith;  adjutant,  Whitney  Smith. 

A  number  of  temperance  organizations  have  been  maintained  in 
the  town,  doing  effectual  work  for  a  space  of  time,  then  going  down 
for  want  of  active  support  and  new  membership.  Among  these  have 
been  Cheshire  Lodge,  No.  2,  I.  O.  G.  T.,  from  vSeptember  20th,  1862, 
until  May,  1879;  Equality  Lodge,  No.  132,  L  O.  G.  T.,  instituted  in 
1870  and  continued  for  a  few  years;  Crystal  Spring  Division,  No.  28, 
Sons  of  Temperance,  instituted  January  28th,  1885,  still  continues  its 
meetings,  but  with  abated  interest. 

The  Cheshire  P\armers'  Club  was  organized  January  20th,  1879, with 
C.  S.  Gillette,  president;  Edward  A.  Atwater,  secretary  and  treasurer. 
About  150  persons  have  belonged  as  members,  and  have  derived  sub- 
stantial benefit  from  the  relation.  In  October  of  each  year  exhibi- 
tions of  farm  and  orchard  products  are  held  in  the  E.  P.  Atwater  lot; 
and  spring  sales  of  stock  are  held  near  the  town  hall,  each  occasion 
bringing  together  large  crowds  of  interested  spectators.  In  the  winter 
lectures  and  social  gatherings  of  an  educational  nature  are  main- 
tained. The  last  board  of  officers  consisted  of :  J.  D.  Walter,  presi- 
dent; Jesse  N.  Humiston  and  Darius  Stebbins,  vice-presidents;  Fred. 
Doolittle,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Cheshire  Grange,  No.  23,  P.  of  H.,  was  organized  in  January,  1885, 
at  the  residence  of  E.  P.  Atwater,  north  of  the  village,  where  its  meet- 
ings have  since  been  maintained.  C.  C.  Lord  was  the  first  master  and 
served  two  years,  being  succeeded  by  the  present  master,  E.  P.  At- 
water, and  J.  N.  Barnes,  who  also  served  two  terms.  E.  P.  Atwater 
has  been  the  sole  treasurer  and  one  of  the  most  active  in  promoting 
the  cause  of  the  order.  The  Grange  has  greatly  prospered,  its  mem- 
bership increasing  from  a  few  per.sons  to  more  than  200  in  1889,  many 
of  them  being  active  workers. 

The  Soldiers'  Monument  is  a  handsome  tribute  to  the  valor  and 
patriotism  of  the  fallen  heroes  of  the  town,  in  the  war  for  the  Union, 
and  occupies  a  prominent  place  on  the  village  green,  in  front  of  the 
Congregational  meeting  house,  where  it  is  enclosed  with  a  substantial 
iron  fence.  The  purpose  to  build  such  a  monument  was  formed  in 
the  summer  of  1865,  when  the  town  tendered  a  reception  to  the 
returned  volunteers  of  the  Cheshire  Company  of  the  20th  Connecticut 
Regiment.  On  that  occasion  it  was  resolved  that  "  a  monument  should 
be  erected  to  the  memory  of  those  citizens  of  Cheshire  who  had  lost 
their  lives  in  defense  of  their  country."     .Substantial  encouragement 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    KAVEN   COUNTY.  693 

to  this  laudable  project  was  at  once  given  by  a  native  of  the  town, 
George  A.  Jarvis,  of  Brookljai,  N.  Y.,  who  offered  to  donate  $1,000  to 
further  this  end,  if  a  similar  amount  would  otherwise  be  raised.  This 
was  done  by  a  Monument  Association,  composed  of  many  citizens  of 
the  town,  which  raised  $1,300  more.  A  design  furnished  by  Robert 
W.  Wright  was  selected  for  a  monument,  which  was  constructed  of 
Plymouth  (Connecticut)  granite,  and  consists  of  a  large  square  base, 
semi-base,  die  and  shaft  of  rectangular  shape,  the  whole  presenting  a 
plain  but  not  unattractive  pile,  more  than  twenty  feet  high.  On 
one  of  the  faces  of  the  semi-base  is  cut  in  large  letters  the  name  of  the 
martyr  president,  Lincoln ;  and  on  the  reverse  side  appears  the  name 
of  the  honored  Admiral  Foote,  who  was  reared  in  this  town.  The 
dedication  of  the  monument  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  die  : 

Erected  1866 

to   perpetuate  the 

Memory 

of  those  who 

Lost  Their  Lives 

IN  the  war  of 

The  Rebellion. 

On  the  south  face  of  the  die  are  inscribed  the  names  following: 
Lieut.  Edward  A.  Doolittle. 
Corp.  TItus  Moss. 
Corp.  John  A.  Peters. 
Corp.  Thomas  Simons. 
Reuben  Benham. 
Lambert  H.  Benham. 
William  Burke. 
James  R.  Baker. 
William  Beadle. 
Willis  Bunnell. 
Edward  B.  Dolph. 
John  Lynch. 
William  Wooding. 

On  the  east  side  are  the  names  of: 

Edward  Barker. 
Bernard  Reynolds. 
George  A.  Barton. 
Fred.  E.  Hoadley. 
Julius  H.  Hotchkiss. 
George  W.  Ingham. 
Henry  B.  Munson. 
Charles  Mulvey. 
Franklin  Moss. 
Alex.  Mercer. 
John  McLaughlin. 
GEORiiE  W.  Mitchell. 
Horace  P.  Rice. 
Benjamin  Y.  Beach. 
Nelson  Beach. 


694  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

And  on  the  north  side  appear  these  inscriptions : 

George  Bristol. 
James  Tucker. 
John  L.  Preston. 
Michael  Reynolds. 
Albert  F.  Russell. 
Henry  S.  Stevens. 
Oliver  T.  Smith. 
Augustus  Talmage. 
William  Uhl. 
Edgar  Upson. 
Patrick  Welsh. 
Charles  Beecher. 
Jared  Bradley. 
Am  ASA  L.  Doolittle. 

This  is  one  of  the  first  .soldiers'  monuments  in  the  Union,  erected 
in  memory  of  its  defenders  in  the  rebellion,  and  its  dedication  July 
4th,  1866,  was  made  the  occasion  of  most  impressive  ceremonies.  On 
the  morning  of  that  day  a  large  concourse  of  people  assembled  in  the 
village,  animated  by  the  dual  purpose  to  celebrate  the  nation's  inde- 
pendence and  to  pay  homage  to  the  men  whose  memory  the  monu- 
ment commemorates.  O.  T.  Doolittle  served  as  chief  marshal ;  Ed- 
ward A.  Cornwall,  Esq.,  was  the  president  of  the  day ;  and  the  vice- 
presidents  were  :  George  A.  Jarvis,  Reverend  E.  Bull,  Reverend  O.  P. 
Holcomb,  Reverend  S.  J.  Horton,  Reverend  Cyrus  Pickett,  Reverend 
J.  H.  Ward,  Doctor  W.  T.  Peters,  Warren  Doolittle,  A.  W.  Welton, 
Nathan  Booth,  Joel  Hinman,  Seth  Calhoun,  Bradley  Miles,  William  A. 
Brown,  Henry  Hotchkiss,  A.  S.  Baldwin,  Benjamin  A.  Jarvis,  Mark 
Bishop,  Benajah  Ives,  Elam  Cook,  Lloyd  Moss,  James  Lanyon,  George 
Bristol,  Burritt  Bradley  and  Edward  Stevens.  The  Reverend  Edward 
Bull  was  the  chaplain  of  the  day.  The  orator  was  Colonel  William  B. 
Wooster,  the  former  colonel  of  the  2()th  Regiment,  who  paid  a  glow- 
ing tribute  to  the  men  who  had  been  under  his  command,  and  who.se 
bravery  was  attested  by  courageous  action  on  more  than  a  score  of 
battlefields,  some  of  them  the  most  hardly-contested  in  the  war.  A 
fine  eulogy  on  the  life  of  Admiral  Andrew  H.  Foote  was  delivered  by 
Profe-ssor  Hoppin,  of  Yale  College,  which  was  .supplemented  by  the 
narration  of  some  interesting  reminiscences  by  a  brother  of  the  be- 
loved townsman,  Hon.  John  A.  Foote,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Other 
exercises  and  diversions  made  it  an  occasion  that  will  long  be  remem- 
bered as  one  of  the  most  stirring  and  patriotic  that  has  ever  taken 
place  in  the  town,  impressing  those  present  with  the  truth  of  General 
Sherman's  maxim,  that  "  Next  to  noble  deeds,  is  the  merit  of  com- 
memorating them." 

The  parish  of  New  Cheshire  was  active  in  establishing  schools,  and 
two  houses  were  built  as  early  as  1728.  The  schools  were  under  the 
control  of   the  ecclesiastical  society  until  the   town  was  organized. 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  695 

Under  its  corporate  privileges  a  school  tax  of  two  farthings  on  the 
pound  was  levied  in  1782,  and  the  following  appointed  the  school  com- 
mittee: David  Badger,  Jared  Hull,  Asa  Blakeslee,  Jonathan  Wain- 
wright,  Jonah  Hotchkiss,  Oliver  Bradley,  Samuel  Atwater,  Jr.,  Abner 
Bunnell,  Jr.,  Amos  Atwater,  Robert  Rice,  Enos  Tyler,  Jeremiah 
Brooks,  Nicholas  Russell,  David  Hotchkiss,  Jonas  Hill,  Asa  Wilmot, 
each  to  serve  in  his  respective  neighborhood.  It  does  not  appear  that 
the  bounds  of  these  districts  were  clearly  defined  until  1794,  when 
they  were  described  and  placed  in  charge  of  these  committeemen:  No. 

1,  Asahel  Hitchcock;  No.  2,  Amasa  Lewis;  No.  3,  Bela  Andrews;  No- 
4,  Lucius  Tuttle;  No.  5,  Ephraim  Hitchcock;  No.  6,  Reuben  Roys; 
No.  7,  Amasa  Clark;  No.  8,  Andrew  Hull,  Jr.;  No.  9,  Jonathan  Hall, 
Jr.;  Nos.  10  and  11,  Josiah  Talmage;  No.  12,  John  Williams;  No.  13, 
Dimon  Barnes. 

After  the  lapse  of  nearly  a  hundred  years  the  number  of  districts 
remained  substantially  the  same,  there  being  twelve  in  all,  in  1889, 
having  as  district  committeemen:  No.  1,  Reverend  S.  J.  Horton;  No. 

2,  Benjamin  H.  Peck;  No.  3,  Charles  vS.  Gillette;  No.  4,  Edward  A. 
Thompson;  No.  5,  Julius''Moss;  No.  6,  Frederick  W.  Doolittle;  No.  7, 
Henry  W.  Scott;  No.  8,  Franklin  N.  Hall;  No.  9,  Harrison  A.  Ives; 
No.  10,  J.  W.  Moss;  No.  11,  Rienzi  H.  Stone;  No.  12,  C.  R.  Bannihr. 
The  schools  were  maintained  at  an  expense  of  $4,014.42,  and  391  pupils 
were  entitled  to  their  privileges.  Of  the  amount  expended  more  than 
$3,000  was  raised  by  a  direct  town  tax.  The  tuition  of  each  pupil  in 
attendance  cost  about  $12.75  per  3'ear.  Teachers'  salary  $30  and  $45 
per  month,  but  two  males  being  employed.  George  R.  Johnson, 
Charles  T.  Hotchkiss  and  Theodore  A.  Cook  have  been  among  the 
recent  acting  school  visitors. 

Many  of  the  .school  buildings  are  old,  and  should  be  replaced  by 
new  ones.  The  house  at  Mixville  is  of  more  recent  construction,  and 
has  a  modern  appearance. 

Several  select  schools  of  character  have  been  maintained  in  the 
town.  In  the  house  built  by  the  Reverend  Whiting,  near  the  Congre- 
gational meeting  house,  the  Reverend  Edward  Bull  lived  many  years 
after  1836,  and  fitted  young  men  for  college. 

In  1861  Miss  Harriet  E.  Calhoun  opened  a  school  for  young  ladies, 
in  the  old  Parson  Foote  mansion,  which  she  has  since  successfully 
maintained.  The  attendance  averages  twenty  pupils  per  session,  and 
instruction  is  imparted  in  the  English,  the  French  and  mathematical 
studies. 

The  Episcopal  Academy  of  Connecticut  is  located  at  Cheshire 
village.  After  the  war  of  the  revolution  a  strong  prejudice  was 
manifested  against  the  Episcopal  church,  as  its  members  were  sup- 
posed to  have  been  in  sympathy  with  the  royalists;  and  there  was, 
in  consequence,  no  little  intolerance  of  its  adherents  and  those  who 
held  their  views.     In  some  instances  they  were  prevented  and  denied 


696  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

the  rights  to  which  they  were  entitled  by  their  citizenship.  Unfortu- 
nately this  illiberal  policy  also  prevailed  at  Yale,  to  the  detriment  of 
churchmen,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  clergy  of  the  diocese  of  Con- 
necticut were  constrained  to  e.stablish  a  college  of  their  own,  in 
which  their  religion  should  not  only  be  tolerated,  but  should  be  en- 
couraged in  its  proper  expression.  In  view  of  all  the  circumstances 
opposed  to  the  inception  of  such  an  enterprise,  it  was  a  bold  under- 
taking and  one  which  could  only  have  been  inspired  by  their  strong 
faith  in  their  purposes  and  a  devotion  to  their  church.  The  move- 
ment which  led  to  this  project  may  have  been  brought  about  by  the 
consecration  of  Doctor  Seabury  to  the  Episcopate,  as  he  most  keenly 
urged  upon  his  brethren  the  need  of  such  an  institution.  Accordingly, 
it  was  made  a  matter  for  the  action  of  the  diocese  at  its  convention, 
February  15th,  1792,  when  it  was  voted  "  that  the  several  clergy  make 
inquiry  of  their  neighboring  towns  and  see  what  can  be  done  toward 
erecting  an  Episcopal  Academy,  and  report  at  the  next  Convention." 
By  1794  the  plan  for  such  a  school  was  fully  developed  and  an  ad- 
dress was  prepared,  pointing  out  the  importance  of  establishing  an 
academy  and  soliciting  subscriptions  for  it.  Wallingford,  Stratford 
and  Cheshire  responded  so  favorably  that  the  convention  was  encour- 
aged at  its  meeting,  held  at  Stratford,  June  3d,  1795,  to  decide  to  found 
such  an  institution.  Proposals  from  the  three  towns  were  now  so- 
licited, and  in  July,  1795,  the  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose 
met  at  the  house  of  Major  Bellamy,  in  Hamden,  and  decided  that  the 
academy  should  be  located  at  Cheshire.  At  the  same  convention  the 
Reverend  John  Bowden,  the  Reverend  Ashbel  Baldon  and  S.  W. 
Johnson,  Esq.,  were  appointed  to  provide  for  the  temporary  govern- 
ment of  the  academy,  and  to  adopt  a  constitution  for  its  future  regu- 
lation, to  be  acted  upon  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  diocese.  This  con- 
vention was  held  at  Cheshire,  June  1st,  1796,  which  placed  the  institu- 
tion under  the  control  of  twenty  trustees,  who  elected  the  Reverend 
John  Bowden  as  the  first  principal. 

Meantime,  the  work  of  building  a  suitable  school  for  an  acad- 
emy had  been  begun.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  with  Masonic 
honors,  April  28th,  1796,  on  which  occasion  Reverend  Reuben  Ives 
and  Reverend  Tillotson  Bronson  delivered  addresses.  Through  the 
influence  of  the  former  more  than  any  other  the  academy  was  located 
at  Cheshire,  thirty  persons  associating  themselves  for  that  purpose, 
and  were  designated  the  proprietors.  Most  of  these  were  Episcopal- 
ians and  were  contributors  not  merely  for  the  benefit  of  the  town, 
but  for  the  church.  Others  were  Congregationalists  who  were  actu- 
ated by  local  considerations.  The  building  cost  £702  lawful  money, 
and  was  in  beauty  and  convenience  in  advance  of  the  architecture  of 
its  time.  So  substantially  was  it  put  up  that  it  remains  to  this  day 
with  but  a  slightly  modified  exterior,  and  in  the  group  of  buildings  is 
known  as  Bowden  Hall.     The  interior  has  been  so  much  changed  that 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  697 

it  bears  but  little  resemblance  to  the  original.  "  For  many  years  this 
humble  building  was  the  most  celebrated  seat  of  learning  in  the  state, 
under  the  control  of  churchmen,  and  until  the  establishment  of  Trin- 
ity College,  it  was  both  college  and  theological  seminary  for  this  and 
other  dioceses." 

Although  beginning  with  the  scope  of  an  academy,  it  was  the  in- 
tention of  the  founders  to  erect  it  into  a  college  as  soon  as  the  finances 
would  permit,  and  with  this  view  some  of  the  first  books  in  the  library 
— the  gifts  of  private  benevolence — were  labelled,  "  Seaburj'  College, 
in  Connecticut."  As  a  step  in  that  direction  an  endowment  fund  was 
started,  in  1797,  and  aid  was  solicited  not  only  from  churchmen  in 
Connecticut,  but  from  foreign  parts.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  a 
fund  of  S3,00()  was  secured.  The  academy,  under  the  principalship  of 
Doctor  Bowden,  prospered,  and  to  give  it  still  better  standing  the  trus- 
tees, on  the  14th  of  April.  1801,  petitioned  the  general  assembly  to  be 
incorporated  as  a  body  politic.  This  was  done  at  the  May  session, 
when  the  present  title  was  authorized.  At  this  time  60  students  were 
in  attendance,  which  number  was  soon  increased  and  the  institution 
prospered.  Doctor  Bowden  was  a  divine  of  great  learning,  and  was 
well  fitted  for  the  work  in  which  he  was  engaged,  instructing  some  of 
his  students  in  the  whole  collegiate  and  theological  courses.  On  the 
12th  of  April,  1802,  he  resigned  to  accept  a  professorship  in  Columbia 
College,  N.  Y.,  which  he  held  until  his  death  in  1817.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded as  principal  by  Doctor  William  Smith. 

Under  the  direction  of  Doctor  Smith  a  new  impetus  was  given  to 
the  movement  to  secure  college  privileges,  which  was  encouraged  by 
the  improved  financial  condition  of  the  academy.  Much  of  the  fund 
secured  was  the  proceeds  of  a  lottery,  authorized  by  the  assembly  in 
October,  1802,  which  netted  the  institution  about  S12,(»00.  This  plan 
of  raising  money  was  at  that  time  entirely  con.sistent  with  Christian 
morality,  and  was  generally  in  vogue  to  further  public  objects.  The 
application  to  the  assembly  in  1804  for  a  college  charter  failed,  and  it 
was  not  again  renewed  until  1810,  when  it  was  also  denied.  Doubt- 
less the  proximity  to  Yale  had  much  to  do  in  influencing  the  legi.sla- 
tors  to  take  this  adverse  action,  and  after  another  attempt  to  secure 
college  privileges,  the  effort  was  abandoned,  and  the  institution  has 
since  been  content  to  sustain  an  academic  position. 

In  June,  1805,  Doctor  Smith  resigned  as  principal,  when  the  Rev- 
erend Tillotson  Bronson  was  appointed,  -'and  his  name  stands  out 
most  prominently  in  the  history  of  the  academy.  He  was  simple  as 
a  child,  yet  of  profound  attainments.  A  correct  scholar  and  deep 
thinker,  he  made  a  lasting  impression  upon  the  minds  of  his  pupils, 
and  we  hear  from  their  own  lips  of  the  love  and  respect  they  felt  for 
him.  Many  a  one  who  was  favored  by  his  instruction  has  stood  by 
his  grave  in  the  cemetery  and   mourned  as  for  a  friend  and  father."* 

*  Doctor  Horton. 


698  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Doctor  Bronson  died  in  1826,  in  the  65th  year  of  his  age,  and  was 
buried  at  St.  Peter's,  Che.shire,  where  a  monument  to  his  memory  has 
been  erected.  He  was  principal  of  the  academy  twenty  years,  and 
now,  after  the  lapse  of  more  than  half  a  century,  is  still  gratefully  re- 
membered in  connection  with  it. 

The  history  of  the  academy  for  the  next  ten  years  was  one  of  de- 
clining interest,  and  for  a  time  it  was  in  such  a  languishing  condition 
that  its  existence  was  only  nominal.  The  principals  in  this  period 
were  Reverend  Asa  Cornwall,  Doctor  Henry  M.  Mason,  Doctor  C.  F. 
Cruse,  in  1831.  and  Doctor  Bethel  Judd,  from  1832  to  1835. 

In  1836  the  Reverend  Allen  C.  Morgan  became  the  principal,  and 
under  his  administration  a  new  impulse  was  given  to  the  fortunes  of 
the  academy.  He  died  suddenly,  in  1838,  and  his  loss  was  greatly  felt 
by  the  friends  of  the  institution,  which  was  now  taken  charge  of  by 
the  rector  of  St.  Peter's  Parish,  the  Reverend  Ebenezer  E.  Beardsley- 
He  was  an  excellent  principal  and  under  his  care  the  academy  pros- 
pered, but  he  felt  constrained  to  resign  in  1843  to  resume  his  duties 
as  mini.ster.  Up  to  this  time  the  pupils  resided  with  private  families 
in  the  village,  but  they  were  now  brought  under  immediate  super- 
vision in  the  family  of  the  principal. 

Doctor  Beardsley 's  successor  as  principal  was  Reverend  Seth  B. 
Paddock,  who  evinced  great  fitness  and  faithfulness  in  that  office  until 
his  death  in  1852.  He  purchased  the  old  Dowd  Doolittle  tavern, 
where  the  courts  used  to  be  held,  and  converted  it  into  a  boarding 
hall,  the  principal  occupying  part  of  the  building  as  a  home.  Later 
this  place  became  the  property  of  the  corporation  and  was  known  as 
the  Senior  House.  After  1858  a  dining  hall  was  built  by  Principal 
Babcock  as  an  addition,  and  in  1863  Principal  Horton  caused  a  large 
three-stor}-  frame  building  to  be  put  up  in  addition  to  former  accom- 
modations. It  was  further  improved  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1873, 
so  that  its  conveniences  and  capacity  were  greatly  increased,  when, 
on  the  early  morning  of  vSeptember  25th,  1873,  the  entire  structure 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  Although  for  the  time  being  a  calamity,  the 
loss  of  the  building  proved  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  in  its  stead  was 
reared  the  handsome  Horton  Hall,  one  of  the  finest  school  buildings 
in  the  county.  The  edifice  is  a  commodious  three-story  brick,  attract- 
ively and  conveniently  arranged,  and  is  the  general  home  of  the  acad- 
emy.    It  was  dedicated  in  July,  1874. 

After  the  death  of  Principal  Paddock,  in  1852,  Reverend  Hilliard 
Bryant  was  for  a  short  time  in  charge,  when  Reverend  Edward  Bal- 
lard was  elected  principal.  He  was  both  a  preacher  and  a  teacher  of 
influence,  and  after  leaving  the  academy  in  1858,  became  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  schools  of  Maine.  In  1858  the  Reverend  J.  H.  Babcock 
became  the  principal,  and  although  able  as  a  teacher  and  liberal  in 
his  ideas,  he  was  unfortunate  in  his  management,  so  that  he  resigned 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  699 

in  1861.  For  one  season  the  academy  was  closed  and  the  pupils 
scattered. 

Under  these  discouraging  circumstances  the  present  efficient  prin- 
cipal, the  Reverend  S.  J.  Horton,  D.D.,  took  charge  of  the  academy 
January  1st,  1862.  He  brought  with  him  as  a  nucleus  his  former 
school,  consisting  of  fourteen  boarding  pupils,  and  from  that  meager 
number  was  reared  the  splendid  school  of  to-day.  Since  his  accession 
267  young  men  have  graduated  with  academic  honors  and  the  school 
has  a  yearly  attendance  of  more  than  75  students.  The  single  build- 
ing of  the  last  century  has  been  improved  and  modernized,  the  cam- 
pus enlarged  and  made  attractive,  and  the  elegant  buildings  which 
now  constitute  the  academy  erected.  These  results  were  brought 
about  mainly  by  the  skill,  tact  and  consecration  to  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation and  the  church  of  the  honored  Doctor  Horton,  who  has  become 
inseparably  identified  with  the  welfare  of  the  academy.  In  these 
projects  he  has  had  the  hearty  cooperation  of  the  faculty  of  the  acad- 
emy, composed  of  half  a  dozen  instructors  and  the  twenty  members 
constituting  the  board  of  trustees.  This  was  officered,  in  1889,  by  the 
following:  President,  Right  Reverend  John  Williams,  D.D.;  vice- 
president,  Reverend  Sanford  J.  Horton,  D.D.;  secretary.  Prof.  An- 
drew W.  Phillips,  Ph.D.;  treasurer,  Hon.  George  R.  Curtiss. 

The  academy  has  also  received  generous  support  from  former  stu- 
dents and  friends  of  the  institution.  Conspicuous  among  these  has 
been  Horatio  N.  Slater,  son  of  vSamuel  Slater,  the  pioneer  cotton  manu- 
facturer of  America,  whose  benefactions  to  the  academy  have  been 
more  than  $10,000.  George  A.  Jarvis  and  Arad  W.  Welton  have  also 
been  liberal  in  their  gifts.  Mrs.  Lucy  H.  Boardman  has  founded  and 
maintained  a  scholarship,  which  bears  her  name. 

In  addition  to  Bowden  Hall,  originally  built  in  1796,  and  Horton 
Hall,  built  in  1873-4,  and  already  described,  the  academy  includes 
Beardsley  Hall  and  Bronson  Hall.  The  former  was  built  in  1865,  by 
S.  J.  Horton,  D.D.,  and  was  designed  for  the  younger  pupils,  but  since 
1867  has  been  the  home  of  the  principal.  It  is  opposite  the  old  acad- 
emy building  and  stands  on  several  acres  of  tastefully  laid  out  ground. 
The  latter,  built  in  1866,  at  the  suggestion  of  H.  N.  Slater,  contains 
the  chapel  and  the  recitation  rooms.  It  is  substantial  and  attractive. 
These  buildings  afford  ample  accommodations  and  Horton  Hall  is 
lighted  by  gas  and  heated  by  steam.  There  are  a  library,  cabinet  and 
laboratory,  while  a  large  gymnasium  affords  opportunity  for  physical 
exercise.  All  the  students  are  dressed  in  gray  cloth  uniforms,  and  a 
military  drill  is  part  of  the  daily  exercise  ;  and  that  system  is  one  of 
the  disciplinary  means  of  the  institution.  That  feature  of  academic 
life  was  introduced  and  has  been  successfully  maintained  by  the  pres- 
ent principal,  Doctor  Horton.  In  1889  Edward  I.  Williams  was  the 
academy  commandant,  and  the  two  companies  of  the  school  were 
officered  by  the  students.     The  .scheme  of  study  covers  a  period  of  six 


700  HISTORY   OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

years  and  embraces  classical,  scientific,  medical  and  business  courses' 
whose  graduates  find  ready  admission  into  the  colleges  and  universi- 
ties of  the  country. 

Proper  religious  instruction  is  combined  with  the  mental  and 
physical  training,  and  the  obiect  for  which  the  academy  was  estab- 
lished has  not  been  forgotten,  its  promoters  still  believing  "that  the 
greatest  good  that  can  be  done  is  to  educate  the  heart  in  accordance 
with  the  teachings  of  the  Divine  Law." 

The  first  attorney  in  Cheshire  of  whom  any  account  has  been  pre- 
.served  was  Samuel  Beach,  a  son  of  Elnathan  Beach.  He  graduated 
from  Yale  in  1757,  and  besides  practicing  his  profession,  was  active  in 
the  afljairs  of  the  town  and  the  church,  of  which  he  was  an  honored 
deacon.  He  was  a  son-in-law  of  the  Reverend  Samuel  Hall,  the  first 
pastor, who  took  a  natural  pride  in  the  attainments  and  character  of  this 
truly  worthy  man.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  which  formed 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  His  son,  Burrage  Beach,  who 
graduated  from  Yale  in  1793,  was  also  an  attorney  in  Cheshire,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  70  years.  The  house  the  latter  occupied,  in  the 
village,  was  long  known  as  thp  "  Old  Squire  Beach  place,"  and  is  still 
standing. 

Stephen  R.  Bradley  was  born  in  Cheshire  October  2oth,  17o4,  and 
graduated  from  Yale  in  1775.  Removing  to  Vermont,  he  became  very 
popular,  and  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  in  1791,  serving 
sixteen  years.     He  died  in  New  Hampshire,  aged  76  years. 

Peter  Hitchcock,  born  in  Cheshire  October  19th,  1781,  graduated 
from  Yale  in  1801.  Three  years  later  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
practiced  several  years  in  Cheshire.  In  1806  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and 
there  .served  as  judge  of  the  supreme  court  from  1826  until  1852. 

Samuel  A.  Foote,  a  son  of  the  Reverend  John  Foote,  was  born  No- 
vember 8th,  1780.  Graduating  from  Yale  in  1797,  he  studied  law  and 
practiced  to  a  limited  extent  in  Cheshire.  He  married  a  daughter  of 
General  Andrew  Hull,  and  was  engaged  in  business  in  New  Haven 
many  years,  but  afterward  lived  in  this  town.  He  received  many  po- 
litical honors,  and  was  elected  governor  of  Connecticut.  As  a  mem- 
ber of  congress  he  introduced  the  celebrated  "  Foote  Resolutions," 
which  gave  occasion  for  the  Webster-Hayne  debate.  His  son,  John 
A.,  became  an  attorney  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Another  son  was  Andrew 
Hull,  honored  as  a  distinguished  admiral  in  the  United  States  navy, 
and  beloved  for  his  manly  character. 

Tilton  E.  Doolittle,  a  graduate  from  Yale  in  1846,  after  practicing 
here  a  short  time,  moved  to  Meriden  and  thence  to  New  Haven,  where 
he  took  a  prominent  place  at  the  bar.  Other  natives  of  the  town  who 
became  attorneys  were:  Jonathan  Law,  Charles  Kelsey,  Lucian  R. 
Hall,  Azariah  Winchell  and  William  Atwater. 

William  Kelsey,  son  of  Joseph  KeLsey,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn., 
in  1818.     He  graduated  from  the  Episcopal  Academy,  Cheshire,  and 


HISTORY   01"   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  701 

Yale  Law  School.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  New  Haven  county 
in  1842,  and  has  practiced  law  in  Cheshire,  Guilford,  and  four  years  in 
Winsted,  Conn.  He  has  served  many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace. 
Mr.  Kelsey  was  married  in  1838  to  Alma  Hull,  of  Cheshire.  They 
have  had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living. 

An  alphabetical  list  of  persons  who  were  physicians  in  the  town, 
or  who  became  practitioners  elsewhere,  shows  the  names  of  the  fol- 
lowing: Doctors  Jeremiah  Atwater,  Isaac  Bartholomew,  Elnathan  Beach, 
Bildad  Beach,  James  Beach,  Pierre  E.  Brandier,  Augustus  Bristol.  Xe- 
hemiah  Banks,  Thomas  Tryon  Cornwall,  John  Cornwall,  Edward  T. 
Cornwall,  Myron  X.  Chamberlain,  Asa  J.  Driggs,  Edgar  B.  Doolittle, 
Edward  Fields,  William  Lambert  Foote,  Sydney  Foote,  John  Alfred 
Foote,  John  Hull,  Amos  Hull,  Zephaniah  Hull,  Amos  Gould  Hull, 
Henry  Hitchcock,  Henry  L.  Hitchcock,  Henry  Hotchkiss,  Cyrus 
Humiston,  Walter  C.  Hitchcock,  William  Horton,  Benjamin  Lewis, 
William  Law,  Henry  Matthews,  Darius  Matthews.  Edward  Mills,  Isaac 
Norton,  Gold  Gift  Xorton.  William  T.  Peters,  Henry  Street,  Charles 
Shelton,  Edmund  Tuttle,  Anson  Tuttle,  Charles  R.  Upson , William  C. 
Williams,  William  Edward  Williams,  George  C.  F.  Williams.  Henry 
Way,  N.  B.  Welton,  Edward  Woodward. 

Of  the  foregoing.  Doctor  Isaac  Bartholomew  was  one  of  the  earliest 
practitioners  in  the  town,  coming  from  Branford  and  living  in  Che- 
shire until  his  death,  in  IToO.  After  this  Doctor  Elnathan  Beach  and 
Doctor  Gold  Gift-  X^orton  appear  as  the  most  prominent  physicians 
before  the  close  of  the  last  century.  The  former  was  the  father  of 
Samuel  Beach  and  grandfather  of  Esquire  Burrage  Beach,  two  of  the 
most  prominent  men  in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  whose  worth  is  well 
remembered.  He  lived  in  the  center  of  the  village  and  once  pre- 
sented the  Congregational  church  with  a  bell. 

Doctor  Pierre  E.  Brandier,  a  native  of  the  West  Indies,  born  Sep- 
tember 18th,  1768,  came  to  Cheshire  some  time  about  1800,  and  skill- 
fully attended  to  a  large  practice  until  his  death,  August  26th,  1831. 
He  is  interred  in  St.  Peter's  cemetery.  Doctor  William  Lambert 
Foote,  a  son  of  Parson  Foote,  was  born  in  Cheshire  in  1778,  and  on 
attaining  manhood  became  a  physician  in  the  town,  remaining  until 
his  death  in  1849.  His  brother-in-law,  Doctor  Thomas  Tryon  Corn- 
wall, was  a  contemporary  practitioner,  and  both  were  skilled  in  their 
profession.  The  latter  was  the  father  of  Doctor  John  Cornwall,  who 
practiced  in  Hamden,  and  grandfather  of  the  present  Doctor  Edward 
T.  Cornwall,  a  physician  in  Cheshire  the  past  seven  years. 

The  Hulls,  from  Doctor  John  Hull  down,  for  five  generations  have 
furnished  able  practitioners,  most  of  them  in  Wallingford.  Doctor 
Amos  Gould  Hull  was  the  inventor  of  the  celebrated  Hull  Truss. 

Doctor  Charles  Shelton  was,  in  his  day,  eminent  in  his  profession. 
He  died  in  1832,  at  the  age  of  50  years.     Doctor  Asa  J.  Driggs  came 

*  Also  called  Gould  Gift. 


702  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

next  in  the  order  of  old  physicians,  and  remained  in  the  place  until 
his  death,  not  many  years  since.  He  was  generally  esteemed  as  a 
good  practitioner.  Doctor  Edward  Woodward,  after  being  in  practice 
several  years,  removed  to  Bristol,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
Doctor  Myron  N.  Chamberlain.  About  the  same  time  Doctor  Charles 
R.  Upson  came,  as  also  did  Doctor  Henry  Way.  The  latter  removed 
to  Bristol. 

Since  ISSS  Doctor  William  C.  Williams  has  been  in  successful 
practice  at  Cheshire.  He  was  the  father  of  Doctor  William  Edward 
Williams,  who  died  in  1872,  aged  22  years;  and  Doctor  George  C.  F. 
Williams,  surgeon  on  Ward's  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  now  of  Hartford. 

The  first  settlers  of  the  present  town  were  members  of  and  tribu- 
tary to  the  church  at  Wallingford,  at  which  place  they  attended  divine 
worship  many  years.  Naturally,  in  the  course  of  time,  and  when  their 
members  had  become  greater,  these  "  West  Farmers,"  as  they  were 
called,  sought  to  have  these  privileges  more  convenient  to  their  homes. 
Hence,  as  early  as  1718,  Homer  Brooks,  Stephen  Hotchkiss  and  Mat- 
thew Bellamy,  in  their  behalf,  petitioned  the  general  assembly,  com- 
plaining that,  "  By  reason  of  the  distance  from  the  town  and  the  diffi- 
culty in  the  way  we  are  under  great  disadvantage  to  appear  on  the 
public  worship  of  God,  and  also  for  Edicating  our  Children,"  and 
asked  to  be  constituted  a  parish.  Natiirally,  too,  Wallingford  was  not 
at  first  friendly  to  that  purpose,  as  it  would  weaken  its  own  society. 
But  the  assembly  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  into  the  matter, 
which  reported  that  it  had  found  the  number  of  families  on  the 
"West  Farms"  to  be  about  45,  "including  in  ye  numb'r  sum  few  new 
beginners  that  have  not  familys."  As  the  value  of  the  estates  these 
families  owned  was  but  ^'2, 000,  the  committee  recommended  that  they' 
remain  with  the  town  of  Wallingford,  and  they  continued  to  worship 
there.  A  plan  was  perfected,  however,  by  which  the  children  of  the 
"West  Farmers"  could  be  taught  in  their  own  neighborhood,  the 
teacher  going  from  one  section  to  another  in  turn,  forming  a  sort  of 
an  itinerancy,  so  that  all  could  be  accommodated. 

A  few  years  later  it  was  deemed  best  to  provide  preaching  at  the 
"West  Farms,"  and  December  11th,  1722,  the  town  (Wallingford)  by 
its  vote,  granted  liberty  "to  ye  farmers  of  the  west  side  of  the  river,  so 
many  as  shall  subscribe,  to  have  a  minister  to  preach  among  them 
for  three  months  this  year,  and  voted  to  give  them  six  pounds." 

It  is  believed  that  these  meetings  and  those  subsequently  held,  be- 
fore a  house  of  worship  was  provided,  were  at  the  houses  of  Captain 
John  Hotchkiss  and  Thomas  Brooks;  and  it  is  probable  that  Samuel 
Hall  was  the  minister  who  first  preached  in  what  is  now  Cheshire. 
The  evident  success  of  the  three  months'  preaching  rendered  this 
people  still  more  anxious  to  have  a  society  of  their  own,  and  they  per- 
sisted in  their  petitions  until  Wallingford  granted  it  to  them,  by  a 
vote  April  30th,  1723,  when  it  was  ordered  "  that  a  village  be  estab- 


HISTORV   OF   NEW    KAVEN   COUNTY.  703 

lished  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,"  and  thus,  about  25  years  after  its 
settlement,  was  called  into  existence  the  first  religious  society,  which 
formed  "The  Congregational  Church  in  Cheshire."  Upon  this  action 
of  Wallingford,  the  seal  of  legislative  approval  was  set  at  the  May  ses- 
sion following;  but  the  people  did  not  hold  their  meeting  for  organiz- 
ing until  July  2oth,  1723,  when  they  formed  themselves  into  the  "  West 
Society  in  Wallingford."  This  name  was  changed,  in  1724,  to  the 
"  Society  of  New  Cheshire,"  and  still  later  the  word  AVii/ was  dropped. 
Timothy  Tuttle  moderated  at  the  meeting.  Joseph  Thompson  was 
chosen  clerk  of  the  society  and  served  until  1747.  Thomas  Brooks, 
Nathaniel  Bunnell  and  John  Hitchcock  were  the  first  society  commit- 
tee and  upon  them  devolved  the  work  of  establishing  regular  worship. 
Samuel  Hall  was  secured  to  preach  for  them  six  months;  and  in  No- 
vember Stephen  Hotchkiss  was  appointed  to  "set  the  Psalms."  Decem- 
ber 4th,  1723,  it  was  decided  to  build  a  meeting  house,  30  by  40  feet, 
and  IS  feet  posts.  The  selection  of  a  site  caused  much  trouble  and 
the  committeemen  were  obliged  to  petition  the  legislature  to  settle 
the  matter  for  them.  That  body  appointed  a  committee  of  three  who 
chose  a  .site,  one-fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  the  present  meeting  house, 
upon  which  was  built  the  first  house  of  worship  in  1724.  The  money 
was  raised  by  a  levy  of  four  pence  upon  every  pound,  and  Joseph 
Thompson  was  appointed  to  "gather  the  rait."  Caleb  Matthews,  Tim- 
othy Tuttle,  Josiah  Hotchkiss,  Nathaniel  Bunnell  and  Thomas  Curtis 
acted  as  the  building  committee.  The  meeting  house  was  very  plain 
and  was  probably  designed  for  temporary  use,  or  until  the  society 
should  be  able  to  provide  a  better  one.  It  was  ready  for  occupancy  in 
the  fall  of  1724  and  in  October  of  that  year  arrangements  were  made 
to  form  a  church.  Meantime  the  society  had  not  been  inactive  in  re- 
gard to  schools.  January  10th,  1724,  they  appointed  a  committee  to 
see  to  their  school,  and  chose  Elnathan  Beach  to  collect  the  rates  levied 
for  their  support. 

The  preliminaries  for  organizing  a  church  having  been  performed, 
the  second  Wednesday  of  December  was  set  for  the  completion  of  the 
work  and  the  ordination  of  their  first  pastor,  who  had  continued  to 
preach  for  the  .society.  Accordingly  on  December  9th,  1724,  eleven 
male  and  fifteen  female  members  were  constituted  the  church  in  New 
Cheshire,  which  was  declared  "  to  be  according  to  ye  establishment  of 
ye  Gov't.  1676."  The  Reverends  Nathaniel  Chauncey,  of  Durham,  and 
Samuel  Whittlesey,  of  Wallingford,  assisted,  and  Samuel  Hall  was  or- 
dained pastor.  Joseph  Ives  and  Stephen  Hotchkiss  were  chosen  as 
the  first  deacons.  At  this  time,  "  Voted  ye  Holy  Scriptures  should  be 
publickly  read  on  ye  Sabbath  in  God's  House,  as  part  of  ye  publick 
worship."     But  five  persons  dissented  from  that  purpose. 

In  1725  a  burial  ground  was  opened,  the  pastor  donating  the  land, 
and  plans  were  made  to  build  a  school  house.  This  could  not  be  done 
at  once,  as  the  inhabitants  living  on  what  became  known  as  Cheshire 


704  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY. 

Street  were  unwilling  and  wanted  a  school  in  their  own  locality;  and 
in  1726  they  were  given  permission  to  have  a  school  of  their  own.  In 
1728  the  society  compromised  the  matter  by  building  two  school 
houses,  one  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  parish  and  the  other  near 
the  meeting  house.  It  had  also  been  found  necessary  to  increase  the 
capacity  of  the  meeting  house,  and  in  1727  a  gallery  was  added.  After 
this  was  done,  February  27th,  1728,  "  Voted  to  seat  the  church  and 
first  to  have  respect  to  Thomas  Beach,  John  Cook  and  Thomas  Twist," 
so  that  they  could  better  hear  the  preacher. 

In  1727  Ebenezer  Johnson  was  chosen  as  the  grave  digger,  to 
have  five  shillings  for  every  grave  dug,  and  seven  years  later  the 
burial  ground  was  fenced.  Two  years  before,  in  1732,  the  .society  was 
scourged  by  the  smallpox,  which  broke  out  in  a  family  living  near  the 
meeting  house,  and  before  the  nature  of  the  disease  had  become 
known,  many  persons  were  afflicted  by  it.  Of  the  300  persons  com- 
posing the  village,  124  were  sick  with  the  dreaded  complaint  and  serv- 
ices in  the  church  v.'ere  for  several  months  suspended.  Notwithstand- 
ing so  manv  were  sick  and  the  service  of  medical  men  so  rare,  but  17 
persons  died.  Yet  among  them  were  several  who  had  been  active  in 
the  affairs  of  the  society,  viz.:  Captain  John  Hotchkiss,  Captain  Thomas 
Brooks,  Ensign  Nathaniel  Bunnell,  Eliphalet  Johnson,  Ebenezer  John- 
son, Robert  Hotchkiss,  Ebenezer  Johnson,  Jr.,  Josiah  Hotchkiss,  Na- 
thaniel Hitchcock,  Elizabeth  Hotchkiss,  the  wives  of  Daniel  Andrews, 
Ephraim  Tuttle  and  Josiah  Hotchkiss.  The  cemeter}'  was  thus  early 
consecrated  as  the  resting  place  of  the  loved  ones  of  many  homes,  in- 
cluding also  the  infant  son  of  Reverend  Samuel  Hall.  The  pastor 
himself  had  been  very  sick  and  after  the  plague  was  over  he  preached 
an  appropriate  sermon,  which  was  printed.  In  the  fir.st  forty  years  of 
the  use  of  the  cemetery  by  Pastor  Hall,  he  officiated  at  the  burial  of 
626  persons.  In  1890  a  fine  archway  entrance  to  the  cemetery  was 
built,  mostly  by  means  furnished  by  Mrs.  March,  and  tablets  were 
placed  in  the  wall  to  her  honor  and  to  that  of  Reverend  Hall. 

The  society  having  outgrown  the  meeting  house,  it  was  voted,  in 
1736,  to  build  a  new  one,  45  by  64  feet,  and  24  feet  between  the  joints. 
John  Parker,  Caleb  Matthews,  John  Hull,  Benjamin  Button  and 
Joshua  Hotchkiss  were  selected  as  a  committee  to  build  it.  A  new 
site,  more  central  and  nearer  to  the  cemetery,  was  presented  by  the 
Reverend  Samuel  Hall,  upon  which  the  house  was  built  in  1738.  This 
house  stood  a  little  east  of  where  the  soldiers'  monument  now  is. 
reaching  into  the  present  highway  and  fronted  to  the  south.  At  the 
north  end  was  the  steeple.  The  pulpit  was  on  the  west  side  and  over 
it  was  a  sounding  board.  Directly  in  front,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
church,  was  the  main  entrance.  Below  the  pulpit  were  seats  for  the 
deacons  and  the  communion  table.  North  of  the  pulpit  were  seats  for 
old  ladies;  south  were  seats  for  old  men,  and  in  front  of  these  the  boys 
of  the  village  were   seated.     Amasa   Hitchcock  recollected  counting. 


HISTORY    OF    NKW    IIAVKN    COUNTY.  705 

about  17/53,  as  many  as  sixty  boys  occupying  these  seats  on  a  single 
Sabbath.  In  1765  the  meeting  house  was  repaired  by  putting  cedar 
shingles  on  its  foreside.  A  well  was  dug  before  the  meeting  house  in 
1778. 

In  1787  the  society  agreed  to  warn  the  meetings  by  having  the 
"drum  beat  from  Abraham  Barne's  to  Capt.  Joseph  Thompson,  on 
every  Tuesday  eve."  In  March,  1773,  a  bell  weighing  450  pounds 
was  procured,  and  the  use  of  the  drum  was  given  up.  In  1797  it  was 
voted  that  the  church  bell  should  be  rung  every  day,  at  noon  and  at 
9  o'clock  p.  M. 

After  the  old  meeting  hou.se  had  been  u.sed  the  greater  part  of  a 
century,  a  new  one,  the  present  house  of  worship,  was  begun  in  1826. 
To  give  it  a  better  location  more  land  was  purchased  in  the  rear  of 
the  old  lot,  and  the  house  was  set  upon  this  new  ground,  thus  per- 
mitting the  beautiful  "green"  which  now  graces  the  approach  to  the 
house.  It  is  also  a  wooden  building,  and  when  the  frame  was  raised 
Jesse  Brooks,  who  was  assisting  in  the  work,  was  killed  by  being 
crushed  between  two  heavy  posts.  The  house  cost  $7,000,  and  was 
dedicated  August  1st,  1827,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  Reverend 
David  S.  Ogden,  of  Southington.  On  that  occasion  a  large  and  well- 
trained  choir,  led  by  Thomas  A.  Cornwall,  furni.shed  the  music.  This 
was  an  innovation  upon  the  singing  of  the  olden  times.  In  1731  the 
society  "voted  to  sing  that  which  is  regular  singing."  In  173."),  "voted 
to  sing  in  ye  public  assembly  ye  Psalms  of  David  in  ye  language  of 
ye  New  Testament  and  applied  to  ye  Christian  State  and  worship  by 
ye  Watts." 

About  1847  the  meeting  house  was  so  much  damaged  by  a  thunder 
storm  that  it  required  extensive  repairs.  At  this  time  the  pulpit  was 
changed  from  the  front  of  the  audience  room  to  the  rear,  and  other 
alterations  made.  In  1863  the  walls  of  the  house  were  frescoed.  A 
lecture  room  and  ladies'  parlor  were  built  on  the  rear  of  the  house  a 
few  years  later.  Since  1884  they  have  been  put  in  attractive  order 
and  supplied  with  a  piano.  The  audience  room  has  also  been  thor- 
oughly renovated,  and  a  fine  organ  was  presented  to  the  church  b}' 
Frank  Gaylord.  In  the  fall  of  1889  a  good  Seth  Thomas  striking 
clock  was  placed  in  the  tower  of  the  meeting  house,  and  at  this  time 
the  property  of  the  church  appeared  to  be  in  good  condition.  Among 
the  adornments  of  the  audience  room  are  tablets  placed  in  memorj^  of 
the  first  and  the  second  pastors  of  the  church. 

The  first  pastor,  Reverend  Samuel  Hall,  was  born  at  Wallingford, 
October  4th,  1695,  and  was  the  second  .son  of  Hon.  John  Hall,  and 
grandson  of  Captain  Samuel  Hall.  The  latter  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  Wallingford,  and  the  Hon.  John  Hall  was,  in  his  day,  one  of  the 
most  influential  men  of  Connecticut,  and  being  wealthy  and  public 
spirited,  he  gave  all  of  his  children  a  liberal  education.  His  first  son, 
John,  was  also  very  prominent,  and  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Lyman 
44 


706  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Hal],  governor  of  Georgia,  who  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  declara- 
tion of  independence.  Other  members  of  the  Hall  family  became 
illustrious. 

Samuel  Hall  was  prepared  for  college  by  Reverend  Samuel 
Whittlesey,  and  in  1716,  graduated  from  Yale,  in  the  last  year 
it  was'  at  Saybrook.  After  serving  as  a  tutor  for  that  institution 
three  years  at  Wethersfield  (where  were  a  body  of  students  who 
had  seceded  during  the  controversy  as  to  permanent  location),  he 
studied  theology  with  Reverend  Samuel  Stoddard,  of  Northampton. 
Thence,  after  preaching  some  time  before  ordination,  he  became  the 
first  pastor  of  Cheshire  church  in  October,  1724.  The  following  Jan- 
uary he  was  married  to  Anne  Law,  daughter  of  Governor  Jonathan 
Law,  and  settled  in  a  homestead  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Edward 
A.  Cornwall  residence.  Of  his  thirteen  children  a  number  grew  to 
maturity,  and  daughters  married  into  the  Whittlesey,  Williams,  Beach 
and  Foote  families;  the  sons,  who  became  well  known,  were  Brenton 
(father  of  Doctor  William  Brenton  Hall,  noted  for  his  heroism  in  the 
yellow  fever  outbreak  along  the  Connecticut  river),  Elisha  and  Jona- 
than Hall.  From  these  have  descended  many  distinguished  men, 
and  their  names  are,  in  many  instances,  still  honorably  perpetuated 
in  Cheshire. 

Mr.  Hall  was  a  vigorous  "Old  Light,"  and  took  an  active  part  in 
the  great  controversy  attending  the  settlement  of  Reverend  James 
Dana  over  the  Wallingford  church.  He  was  an  active  thinker  and 
also  an  eloquent  speaker,  having  power  to  hold  his  members  together 
and  greatly  attached  them  to  him.  He  preached  his  last  sermon  in 
October,  1775,  when  he  urged  the  minute  men  of  Cheshire  to  patriotic 
action  in  driving  the  British  foe  from  Boston,  and  when  they  responded 
he  followed  them,  although  in  his  81st  year,  and  inspired  them  with 
his  presence.  In  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  the  burden  of  the  min- 
istry had  passed  to  his  son-in-law,  John  Foote,  but  he  occasionally 
preached  and  maintained  his  interest  in  the  church  to  the  end. 

Reverend  John  Foote  was  born  in  Branford,  in  1742.  After  grad- 
uating from  Yale,  in  1765,  he  studied  theology  under  Reverend  Samuel 
Hall,  and  married  his  daughter,  November  19th,  1767.  He  was  called 
to  the  ministry  in  Cheshire,  December  2d,  1766,  and  was  installed  in 
March,  1767.  Like  his  predecessor,  he  was  possessed  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability  to  control  a  large  congregation,  but  soon  had  to  con- 
tend with  many  trying  circuinstances.  The  war  of  the  revolution  had 
not  only  crippled  the  resources  of  the  people,  but  it  had  also  cultivated 
the  spirit  of  religious  freedom  and  given  an  impetus  to  the  Epis- 
copal and  other  churches;  and  in  1782  a  few  began  to  petition 
for  exemption  from  taxation  to  support  the  Congregational  church. 
October  30th,  1789,  Abner  Doolittle  "  signed  off  "  to  Episcopacy,  and 
was  soon  followed  by  Edward  Tuttle,  John   Benham,  Epaphrus  Hall, 


HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY.  707 

William  Clark,  Jr.,  Horace  Hitchcock,  Jesse  Humiston  and  others. 
"  Some  to  avoid  paying  taxes  for  the  Cheshire  Church  secured  certifi- 
cates from  .some  Baptist  or  other  minister  that  they  were  attending 
and  helping  support  these  other  enterprises."* 

In  1778  several  members  withdrew  to  form  the  church  and  society 
of  Columbia  (now  Prospect),  where  a  meeting  house  was  erected  and 
Reverend  John  Lewis  was  installed  as  the  pastor.  A  short  time  after- 
ward a  serious  division  of  the  church  was  threatened  by  a  number  of 
members,  most  of  whom  lived  on  Cheshire  Street,  although  the  disaf- 
fection extended  to  other  parts  of  the  parish.  They  were  disinclined  to 
accept  the  teachings  of  the  new  pastor  as  tacitly  as  they  did  those  of 
the  old  one,  and  dissented  from  them.  Of  these  Timothy  Hall,  Cap- 
tain Robert  Rice  and  Job  Yale  were  men  of  influence,  and  in  1780 
they  succeeded  in  having  charges  preferred  against  Mr.  Foote.  In  a 
specified  form  some  appear  grave  and  others  frivolous,  but  they  re- 
ceived the  attention  of  the  Consociation  of  New  Haven  county,  at 
meetings  held  in  January,  June  and  November,  1780,  some  of  which 
were  so  largely  attended  that  an  adjournment  from  the  house  of  Tim- 
othy Hall  to  the  school  house  was  necessary.  The  Con.sociation  did 
not  seem  able  to  settle  the  matter  and  a  new  society  was  projected 
which  had,  besides  those  named  above,  as  members:  David  Brooks, 
William  Law,  Josiah  Smith,  Enos  Atwater,  Gad  Pond  and  Ephraim 
Cook.  A  new  meeting  house  was  begun  on  the  site  of  the  Epi.scopal 
parsonage  at  the  Center,  but  it  was  never  completed  and  was  after- 
ward sold  and  was  removed  to  a  place  near  where  Bunnell  lane  now 
runs,  where  it  was  used  as  a  tannery.  Mr.  Foote,  having  been  admon- 
ished by  the  Consociation,  profited  by  the  advice  and  so  harmonized 
the  discordant  elements  that  the  longer  he  continued  as  pastor  the 
greater  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  people,  and  his  ministry  was 
as  successful  as  that  of  his  predecessor,  extending  over  a  period  of  46 
years.  He  had  received  o49  persons  into  the  church  in  the  most  try- 
ing times  of  the  country's  history.  Being  ill  he  asked  for  a  colleague, 
in  September,  1811,  which  was  granted  and  an  annuity  of  about  two 
years'  salary  voted  him:  but  he  died  before  that  time,  universally 
esteemed. 

Mr.  Foote  built  a  house  directly  opposite  the  one  occupied  by  his 
father-in-law,  which  in  1889  was  still  standing  as  the  home  of  Seth 
Calhoun.  Here  he  reared  a  large  and  talented  family,  whose  fame  has 
extended  to  all  parts  of  the  Union. 

The  Reverend  Humphrey  H.  Perrine,  who  followed  Mr.  Foote  in 
the  pastoral  office,  was  ordained  August  25th,  1813,  and  dismissed 
April  22d,  1816. 

The  pulpit  was  now  supplied  for  several  years  by  Reverend  Jere- 
miah Atwater,  from  April,  1816,  until  July,  1817;  and  Reverend  X. 
Kellogg,  for  one  year,  from  November,  1818. 

♦Reverend  E.  C.  Baldwin. 


708  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

In  September,  1820,  the  church  ordained  one  of  its  own  members 
as  pastor — the  Reverend  Roger  Hitchcock,  who  served  acceptably 
until  his  death,  January  81st,  1823.  He  was  a  son  of  Valentine 
Hitchcock  and  a  brother  of  the  Hon.  Peter  Hitchcock,  of  Ohio. 

After  an  interval.  Reverend  Luke  Wood  next  supplied  the  pul- 
pit, from  December,  1824,  until  1826,  and  it  was  in  this  period  that 
the  new  meeting  house  was  begun  and  completed  in  1827. 

The  Reverend  Joseph  Whiting  was  the  next  regular  pastor,  being 
ordained  October  24th,  1827,  and  after  a  ministry  of  nine  years  was 
dismissed  December  29th,  1836.  In  his  pastorate  many  were  added 
to  the  church,  which  now  entered  upon  a  new  era  of  prosperity. 
He  bviilt  a  new  parsonage  near  the  church,  which  embarrassed  him, 
and  as  his  salary  was  only  $600  per  year,  he  was  constrained  to 
move  to  the  West,  and  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  had  much  to  do 
with  the  founding  of  the  State  University,  where  a  monument  to 
his  memory  stands  in  its  campus. 

The  Reverend  Erastus  Colton  was  the  next  minister,  serving  from 
his  ordination,  January  17th,  1838,  until  July  21st,  1843. 

The  Reverend  Daniel  March,  whose  instruction  books  upon  Bible 
topics  have  given  him  a  wide  reputation,  was  ordained  April  22d, 
1845,  and  dismissed  November  9th,  1848.  Then  came  Reverend 
Daniel  S.  Rodman,  from  October  16th,  1849,  to  December  27th, 
1854;  Clement  W.  Clapp,  from  May  22d,  1855,  until  May  11th, 
1857;  Charles  Little,  from  January  8th,  1862,  until  June  13th,  1865; 
John  M.  Wolcott,  from  November  11th,  1869,  until  September  20th, 
1876;  Joseph  H.  Isham,  from  January  23d,  1878,  till  April  25th,  1882. 

The  acting  pastors  of  the  church  have  been:  Reverend  David  Root, 
from  October,  1857,  until  April,  1859;  John  S.  C.  Abbott,  from  1860, 
for  about  two  years.  He  was  followed  in  1882  by  Reverend  E.  C. 
Baldwin,  who  became  the  acting  pastor  and  so  continued  until  his 
death,  April  27th,  1890.  He  was  an  able,  honest  and  fearless  man, 
having  many  qualities  which  made  him  an  excellent  minister.  He 
was  born  in  Milford  in  1833,  graduated  from  Union  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  1860,  and  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
as  the  pastor  of  the  Bethlehem  church.  From  1865  until  1878  he 
served  in  a  pastoral  relation  the  church  at  Bran  ford.  Subsequently 
he  was  the  editor  of  the  Home  World. 

Since  August,  1890,  the  acting  pastor  of  the  Cheshire  church  has 
been  Reverend  J.  P.  Hoyt. 

In  seasons  when  the  chuixh  had  no  pastor  the  Yale  College  men 
frequently  preached  here,  among  those  thus  coming  being  Reverend 
N.  W.  Taylor  and  Reverend  N.  Porter,  D.D.,  afterward  the  honored 
president  of  Yale. 

The  Congregational  ministers  raised  up  in  Cheshire  have  been: 
Abraham  Beach,  D.D.,  Joseph  Bellamy,  D.D.,  Herbert  Bristol,  Aaron 
Hall,   Lyman    Hall,    Reuben    Hitchcock,    Roger   Hitchcock,    Reuben 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  7<)9 

Moss.  Frederick  William  March.  Asahel  Stevens,  George  Edward 
Street,  Jesse  W.  Brooks;  and  among  those  who  attended  the  church 
and  became  ministers  of  other  denominations  were  Aaron  Beach,  John 
Parker,  David  Brooks,  Waitsell  Munson,  David  Bristol,  Allen  Hough, 
Ransom  Johnson  and  Reuben  Ives. 

The  deacons  of  the  church  and  the  years  in  which  they  were 
elected  have  been  as  follows:  Joseph  Ives  and  Stephen  Hotchkiss, 
1724;  Timothy  Tuttle,  1739;  Edward  Parker.  17.%;  Samuel  Beach  and 
Benjamin  Hotchkiss,  1766;  Benoni  Plum  and  Isaac  Bunnell,  1787;  John 
Peck,  18U9;  Andrew  Hull,  Jr.,  1813;  Jared  Moss  and  Roger  Hitchcock, 
1815;  Cyrus  Baldwin,  1820;  Reuben  W.  Roys  and  William  A.  Brown, 
1827;  Irad  Bronson,  1836;  Merriam  L.  Hotchkiss,  1841;  Je.sse  R.  Brooks, 
1859;  Jared  S.  Baldwin,  1869;  George  Keeler,  Edwin  R.  Brown  and 
Norman  S.  Piatt,  1870;  William  L.  Baldwin  and  Charles  H.  Hall.  1882; 
Frank  N.  Hall,  1888. 

In  1889  the  church  had  283  members,  and  the  officers  of  the  society 
were:  Clerk,  E.  R.  Brown;  treasurer,  George  Keeler;  committee,  Henry 
Gaylord,  E.  P.  Atwater  and  Titus  B.  Ives. 

St.  Peter's  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal)  dates  from  about  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Among  the  early  settlers  of  Chesh- 
ire were  a  number  of  churchmen  who  felt  the  influence  of  the  minis- 
try of  the  rector  of  the  church  at  Stratford — Doctor  Johnson — and  who 
were  thus  moved  to  have  the  forms  of  the  church  set  up  in  their  own 
midst.  Joseph  Moss  was  one  of  the  readiest  to  espouse  that  idea,  and 
gathering  his  neighbors  together  in  the  house  of  Zachariah  Ives,  he 
acted  as  lay  reader  of  the  "service."  In  1751  Reverend  Ichabod  Camp 
visited  the  community  and  formed  the  persons  thus  accustomed  to 
meet  into  an  Episcopal  society.  It  is  probable  that  they  were  now 
visited  at  intervals  by  Doctor  Johnson,  Doctor  Ichabod  Camp  and 
by  other  ministers,  as  missionaries  of  the  "Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  of  London.  As  such  Reverend  Sam- 
uel Andrews  came  in  1761  and  preached  at  stated  periods,  until  his 
zeal  as  a  loyalist  in  the  revolution  made  him  obnoxious  to  the  patriots 
of  this  section,  and  after  the  war  he  moved  to  Nova  Scotia. 

In  1760  Joseph  Moss  bought  the  property  on  which  the  place  of 
worship  stood,  and  aided  by  Henry  Brooks,  Sr.,  Zachariah  Ives,  Ben- 
jamin Lewis,  Amos  Matthews,  Ebenezer  Tuttle,  Moses  Tuttle  and 
Isaac  Tyler,  built  a  small  church,  which  better  accommodated  the  in- 
creased membership  of  the  society.  In  Ma}',  1767,  he  deeded  that 
ground  and  a  part  of  the  present  cemetery  to  Amos  Matthews  and 
Henry  Brooks,  Sr.,  as  the  wardens  of  "St.  Peter's  Church,"  the  con- 
sideration being  £1  10s.  "and  love  and  good  will  to  the  church  of  the 
ever  blessed  Redeemer."  He  acted  as  parish  clerk  many  years,  and 
when  no  minister  was  in  attendance  continued  to  serve  as  lay  reader. 
Thus  he  remained  one  of  the  principal  members  until  his  death,  July 
10th,  1775,  at  the  age  of  62  years. 


710  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

The  first  church  having  become  too  small,  a  second  building  was 
erected  in  1770,  upon  the  site  where  the  present  church  stands.  It 
was  a  high  structure,  42  feet  squai'e,  and  having  galleries,  was  quite 
commodious.  But  in  1795  it  was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  it,  and  a 
steeple  was  also  added.  Owing  to  the  above  proportions,  this  gave 
the  building  an  awkward  appearance,  and  was  not  to  be  commended 
architecturally,  as  the  steeple  appeared  more  prominent  than  the 
church.  After  the  lapse  of  about  forty  years  this  building  was  re- 
moved to  give  place  to  a  new  brick  edifice,  which  was  put  up  under 
the  rectorship  of  Reverend  E.  E.  Beardsley,  and  which  was  conse- 
crated August  1st,  1840.  In  an  enlarged  and  greatly  improved  form, 
that  is  the  building  which  is  now  the  church  of  the  parish.  To  the 
original  structure  a  new  chancel  was  added  in  1864,  which  was  moved 
back  in  1875  to  admit  the  new  transepts  to  the  church,  built  that  year. 
At  the  same  time  the  ceiling  was  ribbed.  In  1881  the  interior  of  the 
church  was  beautified  and  artistic  furniture  and  memorial  windows 
supplied.  In  the  tower  was  placed  a  fine-toned  bell,  weighing  3,874 
pounds,  which  was  the  gift  to  the  church  of  Mrs.  P.  S.  Beers  and  her 
daughters,  Mrs.  N.  S.  Piatt  and  Mrs.  M.  N.  Chamberlain.  In  1886  the 
Reverend  Doctor  Horton  presented  a  brass  pulpit,  and  in  1889  the 
church  received  as  a  gift  a  handsome  brass  lectern  from  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Samuel  Hitchcock,  as  a  memorial  to  their  daughter,  Emily.  These 
improvements  were  the  means  of  creating  a  desire  to  see  the  church 
placed  in  a  still  better  condition,  and  in  the  fall  of  1888  a  warm  friend 
of  the  parish,  residing  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  George  A.  Jarvis,  offered 
to  bear  one-half  of  the  expenses  of  whatever  improvement  might  be 
made.  The  parish  decided  to  build  a  new  front  to  the  old  church,  18 
by  60  feet  and  two  stories  high,  which  would  form  church  rooms  and 
a  chapel.  The  old  tower  being  removed,  a  new  tower  of  stone  and 
brick,  70  feet  high,  massive  and  attractive,  was  added.  The  corner 
stone  of  this  was  laid  by  Bishop  Williams,  July  11th,  1889,  and  con- 
tains the  contents  of  the  old  stone,  laid  in  1889,  with  appropriate  addi- 
tions. The  entire  improvements,  completed  in  the  fall  of  1889,  have 
placed  the  building  in  a  thoroughly  good  condition,  and  it  has  become 
one  of  the  best  country  churches  in  the  state.  Great  credit  for  the 
successful  completion  of  the  work  is  due  the  young  rector  of  the 
parish.  Reverend  J.  F.  Se.xton.  The  entire  church  property  and  rec- 
tory are  worth  $20,000. 

Connected  with  the  church  is  the  well-kept  St.  Peter's  Cemetery, 
embracing  in  1889  several  acres,  and  which  is  controlled  by  the  vestry 
of  the  parish.  A  cemetery  fund,  established  about  25  years  ago,  has 
been  increa.sed  to  $2,000,  and  its  income  permits  the  grounds  to  be  kept 
in  good  condition.  The  cemetery  contains  some  fine  monuments,  and 
there  are  interred  among  many  other  loved  ones,  the  pioneer  minister, 
Reverend  Reuben   Ives,  Reverend  S.  H.  Turner,  of  the  New  York 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  711 

Theological  .Seminary,  and  the  honored  Doctor  Bronson,  who  first  gave 
the  Episcopal  Academy  the  character  it  enjoys. 

For  a  long  period  after  the  establi-shment  of  the  academy  the  head 
of  the  school  was  also  the  head  of  the  parish,  an  arrangement  pro- 
nounced by  Doctor  Beard.sley  as  not  advantageous  to  the  church,  as 
there  was  too  great  a  diffusion  of  interest.  After  the  ministry  of 
Reverend  Samuel  Andrews  had  terminated,  in  1786,  Reverend  Reuben 
Ives  became  the  pastor  of  the  parish  in  1788,  and  continued  about 
thirty  years,  serving,  also,  in  connection,  other  neighboring  churches. 
He  was  a  son  of  the  Zachariah  Ives  before  named,  and  was  born  in 
Cheshire  in  1702.  At  the  age  of  24  he  graduated  from  Yale,  and  the 
same  year  was  admitted  to  deacon's  orders,  at  Derby.  He  was  a  de- 
voted minister  and  a  great  lover  of  music,  being  one  of  the  first  to 
introduce  chanting  in  Connecticut.  He  died  October  17th,  1836.  From 
1820  for  the  next  five  years  the  church  was  suiDplied  by  Doctor  Bron- 
son, principal  of  the  academy,  and  the  assistant  teacher.  Reverend  Asa 
Cornwall.  After  1825  the  latter  alone  was  the  minister  several  years. 
From  1828  to  1834  the  clergy  were  Reverends  Henry  M.  Ma.son,  C.  F. 
Cru.se  and  Doctor  Judd.  Since  the  latter  period  the  following  took 
charge  of  the  interests  of  the  church:  1835,  Reverend  E.  E.  Beardsley; 
1841,  William  F.  Morgan  and  Frederick  Miller;  1843,  E.  E.  Beard.sley; 
1848,  Joseph  H.  Nichols;  1852,  Hilliard  Bryant;  1865,  Julius  H.  Ward; 
1868,  E.  M.  Pecke;  1873, W.  B.  Buckingham;  1876,  O.  H.  Raftery;  1886, 
J.  Frederick  .Sexton,  having  been  the  rector  since  June  of  that  year. 
In  furthering  the  work  of  the  parish  he  published  the  "  Rector's  As- 
sistant," an  attractive  church  magazine,  setting  forth  its  needs,  and 
being  also  intended  as  an  aid  to  devout  life. 

In  November,  1889,  the  parish  had  138  families,  which  supplied  226 
communicants.  The  Sunday  school  had  90  members,  and  Julius  Moss 
was  the  superintendent.  Joseph  Moss  also  served  many  years  in  that 
capacity.  The  wardens  were  Joel  Moss  and  Julius  Moss,  the  former 
serving  at  the  age  of  92  years.  Lloyd  Moss  and  Ralph  Guilford  were 
wardens  in  former  years.  Howard  T.  Moss  was  the  treasurer  of  the 
parish,  and  Milton  C.  Doolittle  the  clerk;  the  vestrymen  were:  Timothy 
Guilford,  Henry  S.  Frost,  Richard  Valentine,  Silas  E.  Jeralds,  Charles 
T.  Hotchkiss,  Joseph  P.  Moss,  J.  Norris  Barnes,  Alexander  W.Welton, 
Charles  L.  Russell,  Jr.,  and  J.  William  Moss. 

The  parish  sustains  a  branch  of  the  "  Church  Temperance  Society," 
a  chapter  of  "  The  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew,"  a  Young  Ladies' 
Guild,  aid  and  missionary  societies,  and  is  active  in  all  tho.se  good 
works  which  characterize  a  live  Christian  church.  In  1889  the  amount 
of  moneys  raised  for  all  purposes  was  more  than  $2,000. 

The  Cheshire  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  erected  in  1834.  As 
early  as  1809  a  class  of  Methodists  was  organized  at  Wallingford, 
which  had  among  its  members  persons  living  in  the  town  of  Cheshire. 
In  1819  the  first  Methodist  church  in  Hamden  was  built,  and  among 


712  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

its  worshippers  were  also  persons  belonging  to  Cheshire.  About  the 
same  time  Ransom  Johnson,  a  devout  local  preacher,  expounded  the 
word  of  God  to  a  small  class  in  the  school  house  on  Cheshire  street, 
and  later  held  Methodist  meetings  in  the  village,  where  he  had  the 
zealous  cooperation  of  Amasa  Preston,  whose  pious  life  is  still  re- 
membered in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town.  In  1825  preaching 
was  established  in  southeastern  Cheshire,  and  since  that  year  the 
town  has  been  a  part  of  the  Methodist  itinerancy. 

The  appointment  at  the  village  was  permanently  taken  up  by 
Reverend  Lucius  Baldwin,  in  1829,  and  from  the  preaching  services 
in  the  old  school  house  has  sprung  the  present  church.  The  circuits 
in  those  days  were  large,  and  comprised  so  many  appointments  that 
meetings  were  held  only  at  long  intervals.  In  1832  old  Hamden  cir- 
cuit embraced  not  only  the  three  classes  of  that  town,  with  71  members 
(some  belonging  to  Cheshire),  but  those  of  Woodbridge,  with  36  mem- 
bers; Pro.spect,  with  45  members;  Salem  and  Naugatuck,  with  24 
members;  Cheshire,  with  36  members;  North  Haven,  with  18  mem- 
bers; Branford,  with  10  members;  and  Wallingford,  with  11  members. 

April  22d,  1834,  the  membership  at  Cheshire  had  so  much  increased 
that  it  had  become  a  separate  appointment,  and  the  question  of  build- 
ing a  church  was  taken  up.  On  that  day  a  building  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  i\masa  Preston,  Elias  Dudley,  Joseph  Doo- 
little,  David  Brooks,  William  Hotchkiss,  Delos  Hotchkiss  and  A.  M, 
Hitchcock.  A  lot  of  land,  centrally  located,  was  purchased  of  Jairus 
Bunnell,  on  which  was  built  a  brick  structure,  having  the  church 
architecture  of  that  day,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  This  was  dedicated  No- 
vember 22d,  1834,  by  Reverend  vSchuyler  Seager.  Repairs  on  the 
building  were  made  in  1859,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200;  in  1872,  costing  $800; 
and  more  recently,  in  the  past  year,  which  have  placed  the  house  in  a 
comfortable  condition.  In  1881  a  large  fund  was  raised  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a  new  church,  but  inability  to  agree  upon  details  and 
the  removal  of  many  members  caused  the  project  to  be  abandoned. 
A  parsonage  was  secured  in  1866,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500. 

Elias  Dudley  was  the  first  class  leader  at  the  Center,  and  among  the 
early  members  was  Damaris  Judd,  who  joined  in  August,  1833,  and 
was  faithful  until  his  death,  in  April,  1880.  Amasa  Preston  was  one 
of  the  mo.st  active  early  members,  and  James  Lanyon,  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Baryta  mines,  sustained  a  similar  relation  in  the  more 
recent  history  of  the  church.  His  influence  greatly  strengthened  the 
church,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the  English  miners  became  mem- 
bers of  it.  After  the  su.spension  of  that  interest,  the  membership  was 
much  diminished  by  the  removal  of  the  miners.  In  1889  there  were 
107  members  reported.  Notable  revivals  in  the  history  of  the  church 
occurred  in  1851,  1859,  1864,  1867-8,  1876  and  1881.  In  September  of 
the  latter  year  scores  of  persons  were  converted. 

The  church  has  for  many  years  maintained  a  Sunday  school,  which 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  713 

is  largely  attended,  and  had,  in  1889,  Alfred  S.  Bennett  as  its  superin- 
tendent. George  R.  Johnson  was  the  secretary  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees, and  the  church  property  was  valued  at  $.5,000. 

The  ministers  of  the  church,  as  appointees  of  the  several  confer- 
ences with  which  it  has  been  connected,  have  been  the  following: 
From  New  Haven  and  Hamden  circuit :  1825,  Reverends  Heman 
Bangs  and  J.  Leach.     From  Hamden    circuit:   1826,  Elias  Crawford; 

1827,  Lucius  Baldwin.     From   Hamden   and   Humphreysville  circuit: 

1828,  Eli  Barnettand  N.  Kellogg;  1829,  Eli  Barnett  and  L.  Baldwin; 
1830,  J.  Nixon;  1831,  Smith  Dayton;  1832,  J.  Hudson. 

In  1833  Cheshire  circuit  was  established  and  has  since  been  main- 
tained as  a  division  of  the  conference:  1833-4,  Reverend  Asa  Bush- 
nell;  1835,  Hart  F.  Pease;  1836-7,  J.  A.  Sillick;  1838,  W.  W.  Brewer; 
1839,  C.  F.  Peton;  1840,  A.  F.  Beach;  1841-2,  Ira  Abbott;  1843,  J.  B. 
Beach;  1844,  S.  W.  Smith;  1845,  S.  W.  Smith  and  G.  A.  Hubbell;  1846, 
J.  E.  Searles  and  R.  H.  Loomis;  1847-8,  A.  S.  Hill;  1849,  G.  L.  Fuller; 
1850,  Charles  Gorse;  1851,  Charles  Gorse  and  A.  S.  Hill;  1852-3,  L.  P. 
Perry;  1854,  supplies;  1855,  B.  Redford;  1856-7,  L.  Beach;  1858,  C.  Chit- 
tenden; 1859-60,  H.  N.  Weed;  1861-2,  Ira  Abbott;  1863-5,  F.  B.  Tower; 
1866,  supplies;  1867-8,  Edward  Cunningham;  1869,  W.  W.  McGuire; 
1870-1,  E.  S.  Hibbard;  1872-4,  David  Nash;  1875,  J.  O.  Munson;  1876-7, 
William  Bryant;  1877-8,  James  W.  Dean;  1879-80,  Albert  Booth;  1881. 
William  R.  Webster;  1882,  Caleb  Parker;  1883-5,  A.  V.  R.  Abbott; 
1886-8,  W.  L.  Holmes;  1889.  G.  A.  Viets. 

St.  Bridget's  Church  (Roman  Catholic)  was  erected  in  1859. 
Nearly  forty  years  ago  Father  Tevens  and  other  Catholic  priests  vis- 
ited the  town  to  encourage  the  adherents  of  their  religion,  occasion- 
ally saying  mass  at  their  houses.  One  of  the  first  services  of  this 
nature  was  at  the  house  of  Michael  Garde,  about  a  mile  below  the 
Center,  and  those  attending  were  chiefly  miners  who  had  but  recently 
come  to  Cheshire.  Mass  was  said  later  in  Baldwin's  Hall  (^now  part 
of  Hotchkiss  &  Allen's  store)  by  Father  O'Reilly,  and  soon  after  a 
more  permanent  place  of  worship  was  found  in  the  hall  of  the  tavern 
of  Martin  Brennan,  where  services  were  statedly  held  until  the  church 
was  erected.  The  movement  which  led  to  its  building  was  started  by 
Father  Hugh  J.  O'Reilly,  who  purchased  one  acre  of  land  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  village,  of  ^Michael  Garde,  for  church  and  ceme- 
tery purposes.  On  this  lot  the  corner  stone  of  a  plain  edifice  was  laid, 
in  the  summer  of  1859,  by  Father  Ouinn,  of  Meriden.  On  Christmas 
of  the  same  year  it  was  first  used  to  celebrate  a  mass  appropriate  to 
the  day,  by  Father  Callan,  also  from  jMeriden. 

In  1883  the  church  building  was  improved  and  beautified,  a  small 
turret  being  added  and  stained  glass  windows  supplied.  An  appro- 
priate re-dedication  by  Bishop  McMahon  followed,  November  4th, 
1883,  and  it  has  since  been  attractively  kept.  In  1889  the  members  of 
the  corporation  were  Hugh  Brennan  and  Michael  Mulvey. 


714  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTV. 

Cheshire  has  never  been  a  separate  parish,  forming-  a  part  of  a 
parish  composed  of  the  churches  in  Hamden,  Southington  or  South 
Meriden.  In  1889  it  was  connected  parochially  with  the  two  latter 
churches,  and  Reverend  Father  Moore,  of  South  Meriden,  was  the 
priest  of  the  parish.  The  only  resident  priest  at  Cheshire  was  Father 
Drea,  who  lived  in  the  Beadle  place  and  served  from  here  the  churches 
at  Hamden  and  .Southington.  At  vSt.  Bridget'.?  mass  is  said  every 
Sundav,  and  there  are  about  25  families  connected  with  the  church. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Isaac  Hobart  Barnes  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  fami- 
lies in  Cheshire.  He  was  born  in  1826  and  is  descended  from  John, 
born  1795;  James,  born  1773;  Ambrose,  born  1745;  and  James, 
who  died  in  New  Haven.  Ambrose  came  to  Cheshire  in  1756 
and  settled  on  the  farm  that  has  been  in  possession  of  the  Barnes  fam- 
ily ever  since,  and  a  part  of  which  is  now  owned  by  Isaac  H.  Am- 
brose married  Beulah,  daughter  of  Lsaac  Blakeslee.  James  married 
Margaret  Bell,  daughter  of  Elisha.  John  married  Roxanna  Peck, 
daughter  of  John.  Isaac  H.  married  Delia  T.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Clark,  of  Milford,  Conn.     The  family  are  Episcopalians. 

John  R.  Barnes,  born  May  20th,  1867,  is  a  son  of  James,  born  July 
17th,  1829,  died  February  3d,  1870;  grandson  of  John,  and  great-grand- 
son of  James,  born  April  16th,  1773.  James,  second,  married  Sarah  E. 
Pennewell.  They  have  two  sons;  J.  Norris,  born  March  12th,  1858, 
and  John  R.  These  sons  are  engaged  in  fruit  growing  in  company 
with  N.  S.  Piatt,  under  the  firm  name  of  Barnes,  Piatt  &  Barnes.  Their 
farm  contains  100  acres.  They  make  a  specialty  of  raising  peaches 
and  other  small  fruit.  They  started  their  peach  orchard  m  1881  and 
have  harvested  three  full  crops  of  fruit  from  it. 

Benajah  Beadle,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1815,  died  October  5th,  1890, 
was  a  son  of  Alford,  who  was  born  in  Wallingford  and  settled  in 
Cheshire  about  1810.  He  raised  a  family  of  four  sons,  of  whom  Bena- 
jah was  the  third.  His  father  was  a  carriage-maker,  and  built  the 
second  one-horse  wagon  made  in  Cheshire.  Benajah  learned  the  trade 
of  carriage-maker  and  followed  it  for  52  years.  In  all  this  time  he  was 
not  away  from  his  shop  to  exceed  one  month  at  any  one  time.  He 
retired  in  1886  and  his  son  now  carries  on  the  business.  Benajah  was 
married  in  1837  to  Julia  A.  Hitchcock,  of  Cheshire.  They  had  two 
sons,  Henry  and  Edgar. 

Sherman  Blakeslee,  born  in  Watertown,  Conn.,  in  1815,  was  a  son 
of  Maning  Blakeslee,  who  moved  to  Prospect  when  Sherman  was  an 
infant,  and  died  about  1833.  He  had  eight  children,  of  whom  Sherman 
was  the  third.  His  early  educational  advantages  were  limited,  but  in 
after  years  he  educated  himself  and  was  a  good  business  man.  He 
was  essentially  a  self-made  man,  with  good  common  sense  and  native 
ability.    He  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  Britannia  ware,  and  after- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  715 

ward  he  was  in  the  mercantile  trade  in  Yalesville,  Conn.,  about  six 
years.  He  then  moved  to  Cheshire  and  was  connected  with  the  John 
Mix  Manufacturing  Company  11  years,  after  which  he  again  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  trade  in  Cheshire.  He  remained  in  this  place  14 
years,  when  he  retired  on  account  of  ill  health  about  1882.  As  a  bu.si- 
ness  men  he  was  noted  for  his  integrity,  square  dealing,  honesty  and 
uprightness.  He  was  a  quiet  and  unpretentious  man  and  devoted  him- 
self strictly  to  his  own  affairs.  He  married  Nancy  M.  Mix  in  18'SS. 
They  had  five  children:  Sherman,  born  1840;  Lauren,  born  1841; 
George  W.,  born  1844;  Etta  M.,  born  1846;  and  Laura  E.,  born  1803. 
Lauren  died  in  the  17th  year  of  his  age  and  Etta  at  the  age  of  19 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blakeslee  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  in 
October,  1888.  He  died  August  1st,  1891,  at  his  home,  after  an  illness 
of  some  months,  at  the  age  of  76  years,  and  leaves  a  wife  and  three 
children — Sherman,  George  and  Laura. 

Rier  Bristol,  born  in  1811,  was  a  son  of  Uriah.  They  were  both 
born  in  Cheshire.  Rier  married  Abigail  Munson,  of  Cheshire,  and 
had  three  children:  Antoinette,  Alfred  and  Abbie.  Alfred  died  in 
1884.  Antoinette  married  William  vS.  Bates,  of  New  York,  who  died 
in  1874.  Rier  Bristol  died  in  1871.  He  was  engaged  in  agriculture 
and  in  manufacturing.  He  inherited  the  farm  where  a  part  of  the 
baryta  mines  in  this  town  was  located.  The  two  daughters  live  on 
the  old  homestead. 

Jesse  R.  Brooks,  born  in  Cheshire  October  1st,  1820,  was  a  son 
of  Jesse,  grandson  of  Henry,  and  great-grandson  of  Henry,  whose 
father,  Thomas,  was  son  of  Henry.  They  were  descendants  of 
Henry  Brooks,  who  came  from  England  about  1670,  settling  first  in 
New  Haven.  The  family  came  from  Cheshire,  England.  Five  gen- 
erations have  lived  on  the  farm  where  Jesse  R.  now  lives  in  Mix- 
ville.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  been  deacon 
of  the  Congregational  church  in  Cheshire  about  26  years.  He  has 
been  twice  married;  first  to  Sarah  C.  Blakeslee  in  1845.  She  died 
in  1852,  leaving  no  children.  His  second  wife  was  Louise  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Anson  Smith,  of  Cheshire.  They  have  two  children.  The 
elder,  Reverend  Jesse  W.  Brooks,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y..  a 
graduate  of  Rutgers  College  and  Union  Theological  Seminary,  mar- 
ried Louise  B.  Upham,  and  has  three  children.  Jesse  R.  Brooks' 
younger  son,  Henry  S.,  is  at  present  engaged  with  his  collegiate 
studies. 

Samuel  Hull  Brooks,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1826,  is  a  son  of  David, 
born  in  Cheshire  in  1791;  he  a  son  of  Reverend  David,  born  in 
Cheshire  in  1744;  he  a  son  of  Enos,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1708;  he 
a  .son  of  Lieutenant  Thomas  Brooks,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1678:  he 
a  son  of  Henry,  who  settled  in  Cheshire  about  1705.  Samuel  H. 
Brooks  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Abram  Doolittle,  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  town  of  Wallingford  about   1670.     Two  brothers,  Henry 


716  HISTORY    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

and  Thomas,  came  from  New  Haven  and  settled  in  Cheshire  in  1705, 
and  named  the  town  Cheshire  after  Cheshire,  England,  their  native 
place.  The  first  church  service  held  in  Cheshire  was  at  the  house 
of  Henry  Brooks.  Micah,  a  son  of  Reverend  David  Brooks,  moved  to 
Western  New  York,  and  was  elected  to  congress  from  there.  He  was 
known  as  General  Micah  Brooks.  David,  the  father  of  Samuel  H. 
Brooks,  married  Linda  Hull,  and  had  nine  children.  Alonzo,  the 
eldest,  died  in  Brooks  Vale  in  1887.  David,  the  second  son,  went  to 
Philadelphia  and  was  engaged  in  constructing  the  first  telegraph  line 
in  the  country,  with  S.  F.  B.  Morse.  He  became  widely  known  as  an 
electrician,  and  invented  an  underground  cable,  for  which  the  West- 
ern Union  Telegraph  Company  paid  him  a  large  sum.  Samuel  H. 
went  with  him  to  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  there  about  15  years. 
He  had  charge  of  the  telegraph  office  in  the  capitol  at  Harrisburg. 
He  returned  to  Connecticut  after  the  death  of  his  younger  brother, 
Edwin  M.,  to  the  old  Brooks  homestead  in  Brooks  Vale.  This  farm 
has  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  Brooks  family  since  1736.  On 
the  farm  is  an  immense  rock,  known  as  Scott's  Rock,  under  which  is 
a  large  cave  in  which  the  regicides  Whaley  and  Goffe  were  secreted 
for  some  time.  Samuel  Hull  Brooks  married  Mary  Eliza  Mather,  of 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  a  descendant  from  Cotton  Mather.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren: Eliza  Mather.  Linda  Hull,  Heman  Mather  and  Mary  Mather. 
Brooks  Vale  was  so  named  by  Mr.  Samuel  Brooks,  about  1847.  His 
brother,  Edwin  M.,  was  the  first  postmaster  there,  and  Samuel  suc- 
ceeded him.  in  I860,  continued  until  1885.  His  neice,  Miss  Ella  M. 
Brooks,  daughter  of  his  brother,  Alonzo,  now  has  charge  of  the  office. 
The  Hull  family  came  from  Derbyshire,  England,  and  settled  in  Wal- 
lingford  about  1687.  The  first  of  the  name  was  Doctor  John  Hull, 
from  whom  descended:  Joseph,  born  in  1668;  Caleb,  born  in  1695; 
Samuel,  born  in  1730;  Samuel,  born  in  1759:  and  Linda,  mother  of 
Samuel  Hull  Brooks. 

Daniel  A.  A.  Buck,  born  in  Tunbridge,  Vt.,  in  1840,  is  a  son  of  Eri 
P.  and  Mary  S.  Buck.  He  removed  to  Weir  Village,  Mass.,  when  five 
years  old.  At  the  age  of  16  years  he  went  to  Clinton,  Mass.,  where  he 
learned  the  trade  of  watchmaker  and  jeweller,  remaining  there  seven 
years.  Later  he  followed  the  same  business  about  twelve  years  in 
Worcester,  Mass.  He  invented  the  Waterbury  watch  in  1878,  and 
went  to  Waterbury  and  helped  to  organize  the  Waterbury  Watch  Com- 
pany, remaining  with  that  company  seven  years.  In  1885  he  came  to 
Cheshire  to  superintend  the  Cheshire  Watch  Company,  with  which  he 
was  connected  for  two  years.  In  1888  he  organized  the  D.  A.  A.  Buck 
Company,  for  the  manufacture  of  toys  and  novelties.  The  works  of 
this  company  are  at  West  Cheshire.  Mr.  Buck  is  president  of  the 
company.  He  was  married  in  1864  and  again  in  1881.  He  has  two 
children  by  the  first  marriage — Nettie  M.  and  Arthur  A. — and  two  by 
the  second — Ashley  M.  and  Irving  W.     Mr.  Buck  is  a  member  of  the 


exhibited  at    tlie  Cc 
attention.       ■' 
inventif 


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the  business  out 


ployed  by  the  S> 


iioved  t' 


re  and  assumed 


which  has  bei 
»art  of  1 
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l-'ulU-r.  .:  .   which 

vorld.     He  also  invt 

when  he  be^:  ~ 

chinery,  on   ^ 
him  in  this  coun 


pany,  of  Hartford,  Conn 

1889,  he    . 

Shoe  Xa: 

Company  (Limited)- 
dition  to  the  above  h' 

t  iirl  11  ct  ri  f-^^^ 

apewell  wav 
Cheshire.     Three  children    have  ui. 
1866;  Mary  A.,  1871:  an^i  r.^.  ••  ■■    t 
Mr.Capewell  is  a  rf-nuhl 
churcli 

■■•\RD    .-ii   '.1  -M   -.   CORNWAi.i  . 

family  has  been  identified 
ketch  being  in  his 


a  It  real 


ward    A 

a  medical  practitioner  in  1794.     He  wa 


jail  Cornwall, 


Wtj 


718  HISTORY    OF    NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

one  of  three  brothers  who  emigrated  from  England  in  the  last  cen- 
tury and  settled  in  Portland,  Conn.  In  his  practice  here  he  was  very 
successful,  especially  in  the  treatment  of  cancer,  his  fame  bringing 
him  patients  from  all  parts  of  the  state  and  from  New  York.  To 
properly  accommodate  them  he  built,  in  1816,  a  large  house,  a  part  of 
which  was  used  as  a  sanitarium.  In  a  remodelled  condition  this 
building  is  now  the  house  of  his  great-grandson.  Doctor  Edward  T. 
Cornwall. 

Not  many  years  after  his  location  in  Cheshire  Doctor  Thomas  Tryon 
Cornwall  married  Lucinda  Foote,  the  talented  daughter  of  Reverend 
John  Foote,  the  second  minister  of  the  Congregational  church  in  the 
town.  This  young  lady  was  so  highly  educated  by  her  father  that,  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  she  passed  a  preliminary  examination  for  ad- 
mission into  Yale,  from  whose  instruction  she  was  debarred  by  her 
sex.  Her  certificate,  signed  by  President  Ezra  Stiles  of  Yale,  showing 
that  she  was  mentally  qualified  to  enter  the  college  classes,  has  been 
preserved  b}'  the  Cornwall  family,  and  is  a  curious  relic.  Of  ten 
children  born  to  this  couple,  but  four  attained  mature  age,  viz.:  Doctor 
John  A.,  a  practitioner  in  Hamden  and  Cheshire,  who  died  in  1825, 
aged  28  years;  Lucinda,  who  deceased  as  the  wife  of  Doctor  Charles 
Shelton,  of  Cheshire;  Abigail,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years; 
and  Edward  Augustus,  born  November  21st,  1802,  an  account  of  who.se 
life  follows. 

Edward  A.  was  educated  at  the  Cheshire  Academy,  and  was  de- 
signed by  his  father  for  the  medical  profession.  Ill  health  compelled 
him  to  relinquish  that  purpose,  and  he  became  a  farmer  at  the  village 
of  Cheshire.  For  many  years,  however,  nearly  all  his  time  was  de- 
voted to  public  affairs.  On  the  11th  of  September,  1825,  he  married 
Eunice,  daughter  of  Abijah  and  Jemima  (Cornwall)  Beach,  of  Chesh- 
ire, and  after  64  years  of  married  life  she  survives  him.  He  died  July 
31st,  1889,  full  of  honors  and  years.  Four  children  were  born  to  them, 
but  one  only  reached  the  years  of  youth  and  manhood:  Thomas  Ed- 
ward, born  December  8th,  1836,  and  died  May  15th,  1873.  The  latter 
was  married  September  21st,  1857,  to  Mary  E.  Rice  (born  April  6th, 
1838),  and  they  were  the  parents  of  Doctor  Edward  Thomas,  born  Sep- 
tember 22d,  1858;  and  Mary  E.,  born  February  23d,  1865. 

Judge  Edward  A.  Cornwall  was  honored  by  his  townsmen  to  an 
unusual  extent.  He  filled  nearly  all  the  minor  ofl&ces  of  the  town, 
and  served  as  clerk  fourteen  years,  treasurer  sixteen  years,  and  select- 
man ten  years.  He  was  judge  of  the  probate  district  of  Cheshire  nine 
years.  His  service  as  a  notary  public  extended  from  1833  until  his 
death.  He  was  also  a  county  commissioner  one  term,  and  was  elected 
as  a  representative  from  Cheshire  in  the  state  legislature  in  1831,  '32, 
'33,  '44,  and  again  in  '73  and  '74.  In  the  session  of  1833  his  associate 
member  was  John  A.  Foote,  son  of  Governor  Foote,  and  after  fifty 
years,  in  1883,  these  two  ex-legislators  visited  the  house  of  represen- 


It 


I 


%J...r,.. 


'^-?'7 


..',-.// 


HISTORY    OK    SKW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  719 

tatives.  The  event  was  so  rare  that  body  took  note  of  it,  passing  reso- 
lutions congratulating  the  happy  occurrence,  and  presented  copies  of 
the  same  to  these  aged  visitors.  In  1837  he  served  as  state  senator 
from  the  Sixth  senatorial  district,  in  all  these  offices  acquitting  him- 
self to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  vSo  favorably  was  he  known 
and  so  well  was  his  judgment  esteemed  that  the  superior  court  of  the 
state  appointed  him  35  times  to  act  in  cases  of  arbitration.  His  neigh- 
bors manifested  equal  confidence  in  his  business  qualifications  and 
integrity  by  entrusting  him  with  the  settlement  of  150  estates,  some 
of  them  involving  large  amotmts  of  money  and  requiring  most  pru- 
dent management.  In  all  these  affairs  every  interest  entrusted  to  him 
was  well  preserved.  Few  men  in  the  town  enjoyed  public  confidence 
to  a  greater  degree  or  were  more  frequently  consulted  in  private 
affairs  than  he.  His  convictions  on  all  matters  were  clear  and  strong, 
and  he  expressed  himself  so  tersely  that  his  views  generallj'  carried 
conviction  with  them.  In  his  habits  he  was  methodical,  industrious 
and  frugal,  which  enabled  him  to  acquire  a  competency. 

Judge  Cornwall  was  a  democrat  of  the  Jeffersonian  school,  and  like 
that  great  statesman,  firmly  believed  in  the  right  of  the  people  to 
govern  themselves,  which,  coupled  with  his  sturdy  nature,  was  one  of 
the  attributes  of  his  popularity  among  his  townsmen.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  church,  in  which,  and  the  society  support- 
ing it,  he  held  various  offices. 

Doctor  Edward  T.  Cornwall,  born  in  Cheshire  September  22d, 
1858,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  E.  and  grandson  of  Doctor  Edward  T.  Corn- 
wall. His  preliminary  education  was  received  at  the  Episcopal  Acad- 
emy in  Cheshire  and  at  the  Abbott  School,  Hartford.  In  1877  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  under  Prof.  Henry  B.  Sands.  In  1881 
he  graduated  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New 
York.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the  fall  of  1881  at 
Meriden,  Conn.,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1884.  He  then 
came  to  Cheshire  and  has  practiced  here  since.  Doctor  Cornwall  is  a 
member  of  the  New  Haven  County  and  State  ^Medical  societies.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  orders.  In  1881  he  was 
married  to  Sarah  A.  Morse,  of  Cheshire.  They  have  one  son.  The 
doctor  is  a  democrat,  and  has  served  one  term  in  the  legislature. 

Alexander  Doolittle,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1824,  is  a  son  of  Amos, 
grandson  of  Amos  and  great-grandson  of  Amos,  all  natives  of  Chesh- 
ire. This  is  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Cheshire.  The  Doolittles 
were  all  Episcopalians  except  Alexander,  who  is  a  Congregationalist. 
In  his  3'ounger  days  he  worked  at  manufacturing  oyster  kegs  for 
nearly  20  years,  since  which  time  he  has  followed  farming.  He  was 
educated  in  the  Episcopal  Academy  in  Cheshire.  He  has  held  all  the 
town  offices  except  town  clerk.  In  1849  he  married  Mary  A.  Andrews, 
of  Wallingford.  They  have  three  children:  Judson  A.,  born  1853, 
married  Nellie  F.  Baldwin,  and  is  engaged  as  civil  engineer  in  Wood- 


720  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

lawn  Cemetery,  New  York;   Emma  C,  born  1856;  and  Edgar  B..  born 
1858,  a  physician  practicing  in  Pennsylvania. 

Ira  A.  Doolittle,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1829,  is  a  son  of  Levi  and 
Esther  Doolittle,  who  had  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living. 
Adolphus  died  in  1875,  leaving  a  family  of  seven  children.  Three 
brothers  live  on  the  old  homestead  in  Cheshire — Levi,  Leonard  and 
Ira  A.  Ira  A.  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Cheshire  and 
at  the  Episcopal  Academy  of  Cheshire.  He  married  Margaret  A., 
daughter  of  Eben  and  Lucy  (Barnes)  Frisbie.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Julia  E.,  who  is  married  to  Charles  B.  Wallace,  and  has  two  sons: 
Bennie  A.  and  Walter  D.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Plantsville. 

Leonard  Doolittle,  born  in  1827,  is  a  son  of  Levi  and  grandson  of 
Ezra,  all  born  in  Cheshire.  Levi  Doolittle  died  in  1875.  By  his  wife, 
Esther  Tuttle,  he  had  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living.  Leonard, 
the  third  son,  was  educated  at  the  common  school  of  Cheshire.  He 
has  been  twice  married;  first  to  Mary  Bristol,  who  died  in  1856.  His 
second  wife  was  Marietta  Hotchkiss,  of  Cheshire,  whom  he  married 
May  26th,  1857.  They  have  three  children:  William  A.,  Emma  E.  and 
Louise  S.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doolittle  are  members  of  the  Advent  church 
of  Southington,  Conn. 

John  L.  Foote,  born  in  1817  in  Cheshire,  is  a  son  of  Doctor  William 
L.  Foote.  He  was  educated  in  the  Episcopal  Academy  of  Cheshire. 
He  was  the  youngest  of  .six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living  in 
Cheshire:  John  L.,  Abigail  H.,  born  1808,  married  Edward  Doolittle, 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  (he  died  in  1837,  since  which  time  she  has  lived  in 
Cheshire  with  her  brother,  John  L.);  and  Eliza  S.,  born  in  1812.  John 
L.  Foote  commenced  business  in  Cheshire  in  the  drug  trade  when  14 
years  old,  and  had  not  missed  a  day  up  to  1889.  Doctor  William  L. 
Foote  practiced  medicine  in  Cheshire  about  40  years  and  was  a  very 
prominent  physician  in  his  day.  He  died  in  1849.  He  was  a  brother 
to  Governor  Foote,  of  Cheshire. 

Ralph  H.  Guilford,  born  in  ^Massachusetts  in  1820,  was  a  .son  of 
Micah  and  brother  of  Timothy  Guilford.  He  came  to  Cheshire  in 
1850  from  Waterbury,  where  he  had  been  working  in  the  button  fac- 
tory. He  helped  establish  the  Cheshire  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
was  the  die  sinker  a  number  of  years.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1886,  he  was  superintendent  and  secretary  of  the  company.  He  mar- 
ried jMartha  A.  Tolles,  of  Plymouth,  Conn,  in  1851.  They  have  had 
two  sons  and  three  daughters:  Emma  J.,  died  1856;  Irving  T.,  died 
1881;  Annie  A.,  Mary  L.  and  Thomas  H.  Mr.  Guilford  was  a  Free- 
mason. He  was  a  strong  temperance  man  and  took  great  interest  in 
temperance  work.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church  in 
Cheshire,  and  was  warden,  .secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  society  at 
the  time  of  his  death. 

Timothy  Guilford,  born  in  Waterbury,  Conn.,   in   1828,  is  a  son  of 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  721 

Micah  Guilford,  born  in  Williamsburgh,  Mass.  He  had  three  sons  who 
grew  to  manhood:  Ralph  H.,  Timothy  and  William  O.  Timothy  Guil- 
ford was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  academy  at  Waterbury. 
He  served  an  apprenticeship  at  tool  making  for  tVie  manufacture  of  cloth 
buttons.  He  came  to  Cheshire  in  1859  and  engaged  with  the  Cheshire 
Manufacturing  Company;  was  foreman  of  the  cloth  button  depart- 
ment, making  the  tools  for  the  manufacture  of  the  same.  He  intro- 
duced an  improved  inethod  for  the  manufacture  of  these  buttons.  In 
1862  he  assisted  in  enrolling  a  military  company  in  Cheshire,  and  was 
elected  captain  of  the  same.  The  company  was  assigned  to  the  2(»th 
Connecticut  Regiment,  which  participated  in  the  great  battles  of  Vir- 
ginia. He  led  his  company  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Get- 
tysburgh.  This  regiment  was  transferred  to  the  army  of  the  Cumber- 
land in  the  fall  of  1863.  He  served  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  he 
was  discharged  on  account  of  ill  health.  He  was  next  employed  by 
the  Waterbury  Button  Company  to  add  the  manufacturing  of  cloth 
buttons  to  their  business.  He  was  manager  there  for  five  years.  In 
1878  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  a  button  made  from  pressed 
hoof.  The  company  was  located  in  Leominster,  Mass.  Under  his 
management  the  business  was  a  .success,  and  in  1880  was  removed  to 
Babylon,  Long  Island,  that  it  might  be  nearer  to  New  York  city.  He 
is  still  connected  with  it.  He  was  married  in  1856  to  Harriet  J., 
daughter  of  Samuel  Taylor,  of  Waterbury.  They  are  both  members 
of  the  Episcopal  church  of  Cheshire.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
of  Waterbury. 

Samuel  Hitchcock,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1813,  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
Hitchcock,  also  born  in  Cheshire.  Samuel  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
and  when  19  years  old  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade,  following  that 
business  until  about  1860.  He  later  engaged  in  manufacturing  sus- 
penders, built  the  large  factory  at  West  Cheshire,  and  operated  it  as 
the  Hitchcock  Manufacturing  Company.  The  factory  was  sold  to  the 
American  Braid  Company,  and  they  afterward  added  the  manufacture 
of  vegetable  ivory  buttons.  Mr.  Hitchcock  had  the  entire  charge  of 
these  industries.  He  retired  from  active  business  in  1882.  He  was 
married  in  1835,  to  Lucy  S.  Bradley,  of  Cheshire.  They  lost  their  last 
child  in  October,  1889.  They  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  in 
1885. 

Reverend  Sanford  J.\ckson  Horton,  D.  D..  widely  known  as 
the  honored  principal  of  Cheshire  Academy  and  as  an  able  minister  of 
the  Episcopal  church,  was  born  in  Franklin,  Mass.,  September  24th, 
1817.  His  father,  Jabez  Horton,  a  respected  farmer  of  that  town,  was 
a  son  of  Comfort  Horton,  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  who  was  a  descendant 
of  one  of  several  Horton  brothers  who  came  from  England  to  America 
at  an  early  day.  There  is  a  tradition  that  from  this  same  stock  of 
Hortons  originated  the  families  of  Haughton  and  Houghton,  the  name 
being  changed  or  perverted  to  the  latter  forms.  In  England  the  fam- 
4.5 


722  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

ily  held  a  respectable  position,  and  there  is  in  that  country  a  neat 
village  bearing  that  name.  His  mother  was  Martha  Miller,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Miller,  also  of  the  town  of  Rehoboth,  and  sister  of  Doctor 
Nathaniel  Miller,  who  removed  to  Franklin,  where  he  became  one  of 
the  most  distinguished  physicians  and  surgeons  in  that  part  of  the 
state,  and  was  for  many  years  the  vice-president  of  the  Massachusetts 
Medical  Society.  Others  of  the  Millers  also  became  prominent  in 
professional  life,  and  the  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  that  portion  of 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island.  Jabez  and  Martha  Horton  reared 
seven  children,  Sanford  J.  being  their  youngest  child,  and  is  now  the 
only  survivor. 

Early  in  his  youth  Doctor  Horton  evinced  an  inclination  for  pro- 
fessional life,  and  it  was  determined  that  he  should  be  thoroughly 
educated.  He  prepared  for  college  partly  in  Franklin  Academy,  but 
completed  his  studies  for  that  end  in  the  Worcester  High  School. 
Having  increased  his  knowledge  and  experience  meantime  by  teach- 
ing school  himself,  he  entered  Trinity  College,  at  Hartford,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1843;  and  in  1869  that  institution  bestowed  upon 
him  the  degree  of  D.  D.,  which  he  had  well  earned  and  which  he  has 
worthily  honored.  After  leaving  college  he  began  preparation  for  the 
work  of  the  ministry  by  studying  theology  in  the  Episcopal  Semin- 
ary at  Alexandria,  Va.,  completing  that  course  in  two  j^ears.  In 
August,  1845,  he  was  ordained  as  deacon  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  as  priest,  in  the  same  place,  in  1846. 
In  the  same  year  he  became  rector  of  St.  Andrew's  church  (now  the 
All  Saint's  Memorial  church),  at  Providence.  From  1848  to  18;'52  he 
was  the  rector  of  Grace  church.  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  the  next  ten 
years  succeeding  he  was  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  church,  in  Windham, 
Conn.  The  last  rectorship  ended  his  active  work  in  the  ministry,  but 
he  subsequently  preached  many  times,  in  connection  with  his  other 
duties,  his  discourses  being  thoughtful,  vigorous  and  effective.  Sev- 
eral of  them,  delivered  on  special  occasions,  have  been  published.  As 
a  minister  he  is  esteemed  a  sound  theologian,  an  able  sermonizer  and 
a  pleasing  and  fluent  speaker.  The  latter  aptitude  has  well  served 
him  in  his  various  addresses  on  many  subjects  not  in  the  domain  of 
his  professional  work,  at  meetings  held  in  Cheshire  and  other  places. 
On  such  occasions  his  speech  has  been  most  favorably  heard,  and  was  a 
potent  factor  in  the  cause  in  which  it  was  evoked. 

Having  been  elected  principal  of  the  Episcopal  Academy  at  Chesh- 
ire, Doctor  Horton  resigned  his  charge  at  Windham  and  assumed  his 
new  duties  Januar}'  1st,  1862,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  citizen  of 
this  town.  In  this  position  he  has  achieved  most  creditable  and  note- 
worthy success.  Under  his  energetic  and  prudent  administration, 
continued  more  than  thirty  years,  this  old  academy,  founded  in  1794, 
not  only  recovered  its  former  prestige,  which  had  given  it  local  dis- 
tinction, but  it  became  one  of  the  foremost  institutions  of  the  kind 


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'V/^^>>  ./y^t>ty 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    KAVEN  COUNTY.  723 

in  the  entire  southern  part  of  New  England.  The  number  of  stu- 
dents was  increased  four-fold,  and  the  nature  of  the  buildings  was 
almost  completely  changed,  being  now  one  of  the  most  extensive  and 
best  equipped  academies  in  the  state. 

In  his  capacity  as  principal  of  the  Cheshire  Academy,  Doctor  Hor- 
ton  has  acqiaitted  himself  a  wise  teacher,  a  skillful  disciplinarian  and 
most  efficient  manager,  his  worth  and  merits  being  lovingly  cherished 
by  hosts  of  young  men  who  have  gone  from  this  institution,  half  a 
score  or  more  having  completed  its  course  yearly.  His  practical 
knowledge  and  able  discernment  enabled  him  to  select  an  experienced 
corps  of  teachers,  who  loyally  assisted  him  in  thoroughly  imparting 
the  elements  of  an  education  which  have  made  it  possible  for  a  large 
proportion  of  the  former  students  to  become  successful  professional 
and  busine.ss  men;  and  through  the  benevolent  aid  and  kindly  offices 
of  Doctor  Horton  a  number  of  deserving  poor  young  men  have  also 
gone  forth,  well  equipped  for  the  duties  of  life.  Their  success  is  suf- 
ficient proof  that  his  charity  was  not  misapplied,  and  he  has  thus 
already  received  some  of  the  rewards  of  a  faithful  teacher.  Near 
the  close  of  his  30th  year  he  tendered  his  resignation  as  principal,  to 
take  effect  July  1st,  1892. 

Doctor  Horton  has  found  time,  amidst  his  duties  as  an  educator, 
to  cultivate  his  love  for  literary  pursuits,  and  he  has  contributed  a 
number  of  articles  for  current  periodicals.  His  genius  for  poetry, 
although  cultivated  only  to  a  limited  degree,  has  found  expression  in 
some  beautiful  poems,  several  of  which  have  been  published  and  have 
been  well  appreciated.  Especially  fine  is  his  poem,  "  The  Real  and 
the  Ideal,"  dedicated  to  his  friend  and  co-laborer  in  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, the  Reverend  Charles  William  Everest,  which  was  published 
in  1877,  but  which  was  first  read  before  the  alumni  of  Trinity  College, 
June  27th,  1866.  His  "  Centennial  Poem  "  and  "  Centennial  Hymn," 
read  November  11th,  1890,  to  the  members  of  Temple  Lodge  of 
Masons  (of  which  order  he  is  also  a  member),  are  masterpieces  in 
beauty  of  diction  and  clearness  of  expression,  as  the  following  lines 
from  the  poem  and  the  hymn  will  show: 

"  One  hundred  years  I     No  force  can  mortal  bring' 
To  check  the  speed  of  time's  on-sweeping  wing, 
Gone  like  a  meteor,  from  the  pathless  skies. 
A  flash,  and  vanished  from  our  wondering  eyes! 
How  brief  a  century  to  our  sight  appears 
Set  side  by  side  with  God's  eternal  years; 
Or  measured  onward  in  the  time  to  be, 
By  countless  ages  that  are  ours  to  see!  , 

One  Hundred  YearsI     How  short  indeed  the  span, 
Compared  with  thousands  since  the  world  begani 
By  centuries  count  we.  as  on  history's  page 
We  read  the  record  of  each  passing  age.  ' 

Scan  each  event  in  panoramic  view. 
The  ('/(/soon  passes,  swiftly  comes  the  nav .'" 


724  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

"  O,  God,  our  streng-th,  whose  guiding  hand 
Through  all  our  life  appears, 
On  Thee,  alone,  our  hopes  depend 
And  wait  the  coming  years. 

"  Though  ceaseless  roll  the  wheels  of  time, 
Obedient  to  Thy  will, 
As  centuries  come  and  centuries  go, 
Thou  art  unchanging  still. 

"  Thy  love  Divine  can  never  fail, 
But,  like  a  fountain's  flow, 
Shall  constant  spread  its  streams  around 
And  all  its  gladness  know. 

"  The  years  eternal,  God,  are  Thine, 
In  this  we  rest  secure. 
That  Justice,  Truth  and  Charity 
Most  evermore  endure," 

Reverend  S.  J.  Horton,  D.D.,  wa.s  twice  married.  He  wa.s  first 
joined  in  wedlock  September  14th,  1846,  to  Annie  E.,  daughter  of 
Pa.schal  Allen,  of  Warren,  Rhode  Island,  who  died  September  13th, 
1850,  leaving  two  sons:  Paschal,  born  February  2d,  1848,  educated  at 
Cheshire  and  Brown  University,  now  resides  at  Saugus,  Mass.;  and 
Nelson  Leprelitte,  born  August  1st,  1850,  living  in  Boston.  For  his 
second  wife  Doctor  Horton  married  April  20th,  1852,  Sarah  S., 
daughter  of  James  S.  Wickham,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children:  a  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  May  30th,  1859,  who 
died  June  7th,  1863,  a  most  beautiful  and  lovable  child:  and  a  son, 
William  Wickham,  M.  D.,  born  November  8th,  1854.  He  was  educated 
at  Cheshire  and  the  New  York  Medical  University.  Having  inherited 
the  Miller  talent  for  surgery,  he  has  become  a  very  successful  practi- 
tioner.    He  is  now  located  at  Bristol,  Conn. 

In  his  relations  to  the  community,  where  for  a  score  and  a  half  of 
years  Reverend  Doctor  Horton  has  resided,  he  has  shown  himself  a 
public-spirited  citizen,  and  has  thoroughly  identified  himself  with  the 
best  interests  of  this  town.  He  has  actively  promoted  the  improve- 
ment of  Cheshire,  aiding  its  material  development  by  building  up  his 
own  property,  and  encouraged  the  location  and  operation  of  manu- 
facturing industries,  to  afford  occupation  for  his  fellow  townsmen. 
He  is  esteemed  a  just  man  and  a  kind  neighbor,  and  the  popular  re- 
gard shown  for  him  by  the  hundreds  of  students  he  has  instructed, 
and  who  have  gone  abroad,  is  also  felt  by  those  who  come  in  contact 
with  him  at  his  home. 

Henry  Hotchkiss,  born  in  Prospect,  Conn.,  September  24th,  1812, 
is  a  son  of  Dyer  Hotchkiss,  also  born  in  Prospect.  Dyer  moved  to 
Naugatuck  when  Henry  was  one  and  one-half  years  old.  The  latter 
stayed  with  his  father  until  he  was  23  years  old,  when  he  married 
Rosett  Beecher,  of  Naugatuck,  and  moved  to  Sharon,  Conn.     He  was 


'^y-L^ 


ill  STORY  .OF  NEW   HA\ 

ling  ore  and   iron  there  s. 
employer  he  lost  all  his  earnin.. 
''d  to  Waterbury,  an  ' 
Haven  for  eight  yt 
vas  able  tcrmove  trj  Cheshire  in  lb 
he  moved  to  tli> 
1  the  Stamford  . 
the  mines  to  the  i 
ng  the   first  tw< 
.eceived  from  70    . 
railroad  to  the  mines, 
seven  children.     On 

Ml    f7r\i!v  I  ,  IX  was  1: 
nd  Loi 
s  in  \V 
1.-.,  >>  lio  died    ■ 
A.  and  John 
ne  well  kno 


■h  the 


Irew   l.uciu 

a  ton.     Hl 
T  the  same  prit 

had   two   sislc; 


lermined  to  prepare  him  for  a  pi 


commended   by  his   teachers   and   classmates.      His  ailment 

meantime,  much  in 

\  occupation  he  wa?  ^ 

ation  as  his  lifework,  and  was  rewarded  with  a  fair  measure 


-Hi,  he  marr-' 

la, 

-,  also  of  Cli 

■id 

tern  part  of 

•  ", 

.  after 

)Ut 

His  witi.  ,  .. . 

^  lied 

a  family  of  three 

chil- 

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ih. 

'■';ness  man  in 

■rk 

,  A.,  the  on; 

ler 

is  now  the  owr 

lie 

located 
three  miles 

quiet  life  ol  .  ^^ ,.,.. 

him  in  death,  December  23d,  1 

dren:  Chauncey  I.,  who  reside 

November  11th    '^^  '     ^   i--  i' 

'.  ity,  where  he  u 

and  surviving  member  of   the  family,  who  is  now  the  owi 

homestead. 

Daniel  Humi.ston  was  a  modest,  unobtrusive  man,  v 
tion  for  public  life,  but  his  townsmen,  appreciating  his 
called  him  to  serve  in  various  offices,  and  in  1840  electcu    n;:r 
of  their  representatives  in  the  state  legislature.     In  politics 
a  whig,  and  later  a  republican.     Mr.  Humiston  was  reared  a  church- 
'j  until  his  death  was  a  '      '  "    r  of  St.  r 

lire.      He  served  on   ti  iryraen  :i 

Aos  the   parish  <  n    the   welfare  of  the  church   be  was 


726  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

warmly  interested,  and  conformed  his  life  to  its  precepts.  In  all  his 
dealings  he  had  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  men,  who  loved  and  honored 
him  for  his  force  of  character.  The  example  of  life  richly  deserves 
imitation,  for  the  world  is  always  made  better  by  having  in  it  such 
men  as  was  Daniel  Humiston. 

George  R.  Ives,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1841,  is  a  son  of  Charles  Ives, 
whose  children  were:  George  R.,  Charles  E.,  Mary  C.  and  Lucy  M. 
George  R.,  the  eldest,  was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  worked  at  farming  with  his  father.  When  26  years  old  he 
commenced  the  business  of  market  gardening,  which  he  followed  until 
1884,  when  he  gave  it  up  on  account  of  ill  health  and  moved  to  the 
village  of  Cheshire.  He  was  married  in  1867,  to  Grace  A.  Hart,  of 
Wallingford,  Conn.  They  have  one  adopted  son,  Herbert  D.,  born  in 
1874.  Mr.  Ives  has  served  one  term  in  the  legislature,  and  has  been 
selectman  six  years. 

Titus  B.  Ives,  of  Cheshire,  is  a  descendant  in  line  of  John  Ives, 
one  of  the  first  planters  of  Wallingford.  One  of  his  sons,  Joseph, 
born  in  1672,  located  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  old  Wallingford 
"  West  Farms,"  now  Cheshire,  in  1694,  and  was  one  of  the  very  first 
settlers  of  this  town.  He  was  a  deacon  of  the  first  church  organized 
here,  and  in  his  day  one  of  the  leading  and  most  useful  men.  His 
son,  Joseph,  was  the  father  of  sons  named  Stephen  and  Titus  (the 
third  generation  in  Cheshire).  The  latter  was  born  in  1747  and  died 
while  a  .soldier  in  the  revolution,  at  Harlem,  in  1777.  He  left  three 
sons:  Joseph,  Chauncey  and  Titus,  who  was  the  grandfather  of  Titus 
B.  Ives. 

In  1796  Titus  Ives  married  a  daughter  of  the  above  Stephen  Ives, 
and  of  their  family  of  ten  children  six  grew  to  mature  years:  Benajah, 
Joel,  Stephen,  Luther,  Augustus  and  a  daughter,  who  married  Samuel 
H.  Hickox.  The  oldest  son,  Benajah,  born  February  26th,  1798,  be- 
came one  of  the  most  useful  men  of  the  town  in  the  present  century, 
and  was  very  influential. 

Benajah  Ives  was  married  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Ufford 
Beach,  of  Cheshire,  and  lived  in  the  Ives  homestead,  built  in  1796, 
which  was  burned  to  the  ground  January  11th,  1891.  For  many  years 
he  carried  on  farming  and  the  manufacture  of  oyster  kegs,  being  suc- 
cessful in  both  occupations.  He  died  much  lamented  July  29th,  1868; 
his  widow,  Mary  A.,  deceased  September  3d,  1879,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
80  years.  Three  of  their  children  lived  beyond  the  years  of  youth: 
Titus  B.,  Frederick  A.,  v^ho  died  July  14th,  1858,  aged  20  years;  and 
Caroline,  who  married  William  Allen. 

Benajah  Ives  was  a  man  of  good  spirits  and  many  excellent  parts. 
He  was  enterprising,  active  and  possessed  a  fine  judgment  of  affairs. 
These  traits  commended  him  to  his  townsmen,  who  called  him  to  fill 
many  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  In  addition  to  his  services  in  many 
town  offices,  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature,  as  a  representative 


(.  I 


— '  '~-      rf— JfcL 


/i 


HISTORY   OF  NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  727 

from  Cheshire,  six  terms,  from  1828  to  1839,  and  was  chosen  state 
senator  in  1840.  By  his  associates  in  these  bodies  he  was  highly  es- 
teemed. The  superior  court  also  appointed  him  a  number  of  times  to 
serve  on  boards  of  arbitration,  and  his  advice  on  other  matters  was 
much  regarded.  In  the  Congregational  church  and  society  he  took  an 
active  interest  and  was  one  of  the  committee  which  selected  the  site 
for  the  present  meeting  house.  He  also  served  these  bodies  in  vari- 
ous official  capacities,  and  in  every  moral  movement  was  on  the  side 
of  truth  and  right. 

The  only  surviving  son  of  Benajah  Ives,  Titus  B.,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 26th,  1828,  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father's  farm,  but 
since  the  early  years  of  his  manhood  has  been  engaged  in  manufac- 
turing in  his  native  town.  On  the  first  of  June,  1857,  he  married  Ann 
Eliza,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Thompson)  Peck,  and  they  reared 
one  son  and  one  daughter:  Frederick  A.,  born  March  21st,  I860: 
and  Mary  C,  born  August  14th,  1863. 

Mr.  Ives  was  one  of  the  original  subscribers  to  the  capital  stock 
of  the  Cheshire  Manufacturing  Company  and  at  its  organization,  in 
1850,  became  one  of  the  directors.  He  has  since  served  in  that 
capacity  and  since  1885  has  aLso  been  the  treasurer  and  superm- 
tendent.  His  son,  Frederick  A.,  is  the  secretary  of  the  company, 
whose  existence  has  been  so  long  continued. 

Mr.  Ives  being  of  honest,  public-.spirited  lineage,  has  preserved 
in  his  nature  the  best  characteristics  of  his  ancestors.  He  became 
an  active  member  of  the  Congregational  church  and  has  served  the 
town  when  it  would  best  advance  its  welfare.  His  disposition  has 
made  him  averse  to  public  life,  but  he  has  been  urged  to  fill  a 
number  of  offices  of  trust  and  was  elected  by  a  republican  con- 
stituency to  the  state  legislature  in  1870,  1876  and  1878. 

Georgfe  Keeler,  born  in  Ridgefield,  Conn.,  in  1831,  is  the  third 
son  of  Jeremiah  and  Hannah  (Smith)  Keeler.  At  the  age  of  15 
years  he  began  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade  and  finished  at  the  age 
of  20.  He  first  worked  at  Brewster  Station,  N.  Y.,  a  short  time, 
then  went  to  Waterbury,  where  he  remained  about  five  years,  work- 
ins:  at  his  trade.  In  1858  he  came  to  Cheshire,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
and  served  two  and  one-half  years  in  the  20th  Connecticut  Volun- 
teers. In  1886  he  added  undertaking  to  his  business  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  son,  George  W.,  under  the  firm  style  of  George 
Keeler  &  Son.  Mr.  Keeler  was  married  March  30th,  1858,  to  Sarah 
E.  Ells,  of  Ansonia,  Conn.  They  have  three  children:  George  W., 
Edwin  J.  and  Mary  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keeler  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  church  of  Cheshire. 

James  Lanyon  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Ludgvan,  County  of 
Cornwall,  in  England,  May  6th,  1817.  He  was  a  son  of  William  and 
Mary  Lanyon,  who  died  in  that  parish,  aged,  respectively,  81  and  8(i 


728  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

years.  They  were  members  of  the  Lanyon  family  which,  in  Ludg- 
van,  traces  its  lineage  to  a  period  as  remote  as  the  fifteenth  century. 
Although  poor,  they  were  honored  and  respected  members  of  that 
community.  Force  of  circumstances  caused  the  parents  to  limit  the 
advantages  of  an  education  for  their  son,  James,  to  a  few  years  school- 
ing in  his  early  youth.  Like  most  Cornish  boys,  his  labors  were  soon 
needed  for  the  family  support,  and  he  early  began  to  earn  his  own 
livelihood.  At  the  age  of  16  he  began  work  in  the  tin  mines  of  his 
native  place,  and  in  the  seven  years  he  continued  that  service  he  be- 
came a  practical  and  skillful  miner,  and  the  knowledge  he  there  ob- 
tained contributed  to  his  future  success. 

In  1840,  when  he  was  23  years  old,  he  came  to  America  under  con- 
tract with  a  London  company  to  work  the  Bristol,  Conn.,  copper  mines. 
After  remaining  in  that  employ  two  years  he  went  to  Eastern  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  was  engaged  six  months  in  iron  mining.  At  the 
solicitation  of  the  owners  of  the  Baryta  mines  in  Cheshire — the  Min- 
eral &  Manufacturing  Company,  composed  of  N.  H.  Gaston,  James  E.  P. 
Dean  and  others — he  now  came  to  this  town  to  superintend  their  in- 
terests. He  successfully  managed  the  operations  16  years,  when  the 
company  sold  its  business  to  the  Stamford  Manufacturing  Company, 
of  Stamford,  Conn.  That  corporation  retained  Mr.  Lanyon  as  its  sole 
manager  in  the  town,  and  he  superintended  the  largely  increased 
operations  until  the  suspension  of  work  in  1878.  In  this  period  he 
was  a  very  busy  man,  the  entire  management  of  the  many  mines  rest- 
ing upon  him,  and  having  in  charge,  after  1861,  from  200  to  500  men 
employed  by  the  company.  In  those  years  these  operations  were  by 
far  the  most  important  industry  in  the  town,  and  greatly  increased  its 
population.'' 

After  1878  Mr.  Lanyon  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  a  business 
life,  but  remained  a  citizen  of  Cheshire  until  his  death,  January  22d, 
1885,  leaving  surviving  a  widow  and  one  son.  He  was  married  in 
1844  to  Lucretia  A.,  daughter  of  Billious  and  Eveline  Brooks,  of 
Cheshire,  and  of  three  children  born  to  them  two  died  in  infancy. 
Their  son,  Wesley  A.,  born  February  5th,  1848,  married  Harriet  E. 
Allen,  of  Cheshire,  in  1878.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child,  Edith  L.,  born  September  16th,  1880. 

Soon  after  coming  to  Cheshire  James  Lanyon  connected  himself 
with  the  Methodist  church  and  remained  an  earnest,  consistent  mem- 
ber of  that  body  until  his  death.  In  politics  he  was  allied  to  the  Re- 
publican party,  which  frequently,  against  his  inclinations,  called  upon 
him  to  serve  in  public  capacity.  He  was  a  selectman  and  held  other 
town  offices.  In  1876  he  was  one  of  the  members  from  Cheshire  in 
the  Connecticut  house  of  representatives. 

Mr.  Lanyon  was  a  plain,  modest,  unassuming  man,  whose  honesty 
in  all  his  affairs  was  unquestioned,  and  was  thoroughly  devoted  to  the 

*  See  account  of  mines  in  foregoing  sketch  of  Cheshire. 


X 


HISTORY   OF    NEW    HAVEN    COUNTY.  729 

interests  of  his  employers.  He  had,  moreover,  the  rare  faculty  of  suc- 
cessfully managing  large  numbers  of  unorganized  men,  so  as  to  hold 
their  good  will,  and  was  by  them,  as  well  as  by  his  townsmen,  greatly 
esteemed. 

Herbert  J.  Moss,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1856,  is  a  .son  of  Julius,  and 
grandson  of  Joel,  all  natives  of  Cheshire.  The  family  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  Episcopal  church  in  Cheshire  since  1700.  Herbert  J. 
was  brought  up  a  farmer  and  followed  that  business  until  he  was  27 
years  old.  He  then  engaged  in  the  ice  trade,  and  in  1884  he  added 
the  coal  trade.  His  office  is  at  the  depot.  West  Cheshire.  He  handles 
about  1,000  tons  of  coal  annually  and  700  tons  of  ice.  In  1879  he  was 
married  to  Minnie  A.,  daughter  of  Merwin  Hemingway,  of  North 
Haven.  They  have  three  children:  Walter  H..  Mildred  H.  and 
Beatrice  G. 

Levi  Muuson,  born  in  Cheshire  m  1814,  is  the  eldest  son  of  Levi 
Munson.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  Cheshire,  and 
learned  the  wagon-maker's  trade.  He  was  clerk  in  the  store  of  Wil- 
liam Horton  about  one  year,  after  which  he  bought  out  the  store  and 
hotel  where  the  Wallace  House  now  stands.  The  Wallace  House,  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Munson,  was  built  by  his  son-in-law,  F.  L.  Wallace.  Mr. 
Munson  has  always  been  a  successful  business  man,  and  has  done  much 
to  build  up  the  business  of  Cheshire.  He  has  had  five  children,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living:  Tenna  E.,  married  to  Frank  L.  Wallace: 
Irene  D.,  married  to  J.  C.  Mathews,  of  New  York:  and  Tilton  D.,  who 
is  married  and  has  one  son,  Tilton  L. 

William  H.  Newell,  born  in  1823  in  Tinmouth.  Rutland  county, 
Vt.,  came  to  Cheshire  with  his  father  at  the  age  of  three  years,  and 
with  the  exception  of  four  years  has  resided  there  since.  He  has  been 
twice  married;  first  to  Amanda  P.  Blakeslee,  who  died  in  less  than  a 
year.  His  second  wife  was  Orpha  A.  Buckmaster,  of  Shrewsbury,  Vt. 
They  were  married  in  1852  and  have  two  daughters,  Orpha  and  Mary. 
Mr.  Newell  has  been  engaged  in  blacksmithing  most  of  his  life.  He 
was  station  agent  two  years.  He  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  and 
constable  in  the  town  of  Cheshire.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newell  are 
members  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Cheshire,  and  he  has  been 
a  member  nearly  50  years. 

Joseph  H.  Rogers,  born  in  Lyme,  Conn.,  in  1804,  is  a  son  of  James 
Rogers,  who  was  a  native  of  New  London.  Joseph  was  a  self-edu- 
cated man.  He  began  teaching  school  in  his  native  town  when  17 
years  old,  and  five  years  later  he  removed  to  New  Haven,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  teaching  a  boarding  school  fifteen  years.  In  1849  he 
took  a  voyage  around  Cape  Horn,  which  he  remembers  with  much 
pleasure,  as  he  visited  several  points  of  interest  in  South  America  and 
the  gold  mines  in  California.  He  went  to  Oregon  in  1852  and  re- 
mained there  20  years  teaching.  He  was  offered  the  highest  position 
in  two  of  the  Oregon  colleges,  and  a  similar  one   in  California.      In 


730  HISTORY   OF   NEW   HAVEN   COUNTY. 

1879  he  returned  to  Cheshire,  where  he  built  the  house  he  now  occu' 
pies.  He  married,  in  1837,  Julia  Upson,  of  Cheshire.  They  have  two 
children:  Joseph  A.,  of  Washington,  D.  C;  and  Julia  C,  who  married 
Major  G.  W.  Baird  of  the  U.  S.  army. 

Alonzo  E.  Smith,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1835,  is  a  son  of  Orson  and 
Lydia  A.  Smith.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the 
Episcopal  Academy  of  Cheshire.  He  commenced  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade  when  17  years  old,  and  has  followed  it  since,  with  the 
exception  of  seven  years,  during  which  he  was  engaged  m  the  manu- 
facturing business  in  Yalesville  and  Middletown,  Conn.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  assessor  of  taxes  and  first  selectman,  represented  the  town 
in  the  legislature  of  1872,  was  elected  judge  of  probate  in  1883,  and  is 
still  serving  in  that  office.  His  district  comprises  the  towns  of  Chesh- 
ire and  Prospect.  He  enlisted  as  private  in  Co.  A,  20th  Regiment,  in 
August,  1862,  and  participated  in  all  the  marches  and  engagements  of 
that  regiment.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  as  sergeant.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Gettys- 
burgh  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  was  transferred  with  his 
regiment  to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  was  in  the  campaign  of 
Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  and  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea.  He  was 
twice  married;  first  in  1859,  to  Cynthia  Tolles,  of  Plymouth.  She  died 
in  1860.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  A.  Simons,  of  Cheshire,  whom  he 
married  in  1861.  They  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  His  grand- 
father, Thomas  Judd,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane.  His  great-grandfather,  Stephen  Judd, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war. 

Charles  S.  vSpaulding,  born  in  Norfolk,  Conn.,  in  1837,  is  a  son  of 
Frederick  A.  Spaulding,  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Charles  S.  learned 
the  trade  of  carpenter  and  builder  when  a  young  man,  and  worked  at 
that  business  until  October,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion,  in  Company  E,  11th  Regiment  Connecticut  Volunteers.  His 
regiment  was  first  assigned  to  Burnside's  Coast  Expedition.  They 
were  afterward  detached  and  served  some  time  in  Peck's  division,  and 
were  later  transferred  to  the  18th  Corps,  and  served  in  the  department 
of  Virginia.  Mr.  Spaulding  was  discharged  June  1st,  1865,  on  account 
of  a  wound  through  the  left  side,  received  at  the  battle  of  Drury's 
Bluff.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Newbern  and  Fredericksburg, 
and  the  siege  of  Suffolk;  also  in  several  skirmishes  up  the  James  river. 
After  his  discharge  he  was  unable  to  work  for  four  years,  after  which 
he  again  engaged  in  mechanical  work  in  Thomaston.  In  December, 
1885,  he  came  to  Cheshire,  bought  a  farm,  and  has  since  resided  here. 
He  married  Grace  L.  Merrill,  of  Thomaston,  in  1875.  They  have  three 
children:   Jes.se  G.,  Anna  M.  and  Ethel  M. 

Franklin  Wallace,  born  in  Prospect,  Conn.,  in  1827,  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Urania  Wallace.  James  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  married 
in  Prospect  and  settled  there.     Franklin  followed  farming  and  team- 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  731 

ing  from  Waterbury  to  Wallingford  while  he  was  in  Prospect.  James 
had  nine  children.  The  eldest,  Robert,  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Wallace  &  Sons,  manufacturers  of  silver  ware  in  Wallingford.  Frank- 
lin enlisted  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion  in  Company  A,  20th  Regiment 
Connecticut  Volunteers.  After  serving  seven  months  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability.  He  moved  to  Cheshire  in  1858.  He 
married,  in  1845,  Fanny  Hall,  of  Wallingford,  and  they  have  three 
children:  Lucy  H.,  married  Edwin  R.  Lawton,  of  New  Haven;  Frank- 
lin L.,  married  Tina,  daughter  of  Levi  Munson;  and  Kate  U.,  married 
Walter  Mix,  of  Cheshire. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
THE   TOWN   OF   PROSPECT. 


Geographical  and  Descriptive. — Civil  Organization. — Town  Officers. — The  Roads. — Town 
Poor. — Business  Interests. — Educational  and  Religious  Interests  — Biographical 
Sketches. 


THIS  town  was  taken  from  Cheshire  and  Waterbury,  and  wa.s  in- 
corported  in  1827.  For  a  number  of  years  previous  to  that 
time  it  was  known  as  the  parish  of  Columbia.  The  present 
name  was  given  in  consequence  of  the  town's  elevated  position,  the 
many  points  of  highland  affording  a  prospect  view,  excelled  nowhere 
in  the  county.  The  general  surface  has  a  mountainous  aspect,  with 
an  appearance  of  sterility.  Huge  boulders  crop  out  on  eveiy  hand, 
and  although  some  of  the  lands  have  been  tilled  more  than  a  hun- 
dred years,  there  are  but  a  few  fields  which  are  free  from  stones.  A 
limited  area  has  productive  soil,  where  some  good  crops  are  produced. 
Grazing  and  orchard  products  give  occupation  to  many  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town,  whose  population  has  steadily  decreased.  In  1880 
there  were  492  inhabitants,  or  only  about  one-half  the  number  living 
in  the  town  at  the  time  of  its  organization:  in  1890,  445. 

Prospect  is  about  five  miles  long,  from  north  to  south,  and  a  little 
more  than  four  miles  wide.  Its  principal  stream  is  the  Ten  Mile  river, 
rising  near  the  center  and  flowing  east  and  north  through  Cheshire 
into  the  Quinnipiac.  It  drains  the  lands  between  the  Prospect  hills 
and  Cheshire  mountains,  which  form  the  eastern  boundary.  In  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  town  its  course  is  precipitous,  and  a  number 
of  small  water  powers  are  afforded.  West  of  the  center  hills  Fulling 
Mill  and  Beacon  Hill  brooks  receive  the  principal  drainage,  flowing 
thence  into  the  Naugatuck  river.  Along  these  streams  are  the  prin- 
cipal highways,  which  afford  communication  with  the  adjoining  towns: 
Waterbury  on  the  north,  Cheshire  on  the  east,  and  Naugatuck  on  the 
west.  From  the  center  it  is  five  miles  to  the  railway  points  in  each  of 
these  towns.  In  1888  the  Meriden  &  Waterbury  railroad  was  built 
through  the  northeastern  part  of  Prospect,  and  a  station  having  the 
name  of  the  town,  was  there  located.  On  the  same  road,  near  the 
Cheshire  line,  a  pleasure  resort  for  picnic  purposes  was  also  opened 
about  the  same  time. 

The  early  history  of  the  town  is  intimately  blended  with  that  of 
Waterbury  and    Cheshire,    to    which    the    reader  is    referred.      The 


HISTORY   OF   NEW   KAVEN   COUNTY.  733 

names  of  pioneer  settlers  appear  in  those  towns  and  in  the  history 
of  the  churches. 

The  May,  1827,  general  assembly,  acting  on  the  petition  of  the 
society  of  Columbia,  filed  the  preceding  month,  granted  corporate 
privileges,  and  created  the  town  with  the  same  bounds  as  those  which 
the  society  had  at  that  time.  Samuel  Peck  was  the  moderator  at  the 
first  election,  held  at  the  Congregational  meeting  house,  June  11th, 
1827,  when  the  following  were  chosen:  Town  clerk,  Edward  Chitten- 
den; selectmen,  Jared  Burr,  David  Scott,  Albert  Hoppin;  constables, 
Orrin  Hotchkiss,  Franklin  D.  Benham,  Robert  H.  Bron.son,  Andrew 
■Smith;  grand  jurors,  Gideon  M.  Hotchkiss,  Lauren  Preston,  Eldad 
Hotchkiss,  Jr.;  pound  keepers,  Joseph  Payne,  David  Scott,  Guy  Per- 
kins; town  agents,  Samuel  Peck,  Jo.seph  I.  Doolittle;  treasurer,  David 
Scott;  sealer  of  weights,  Isaac  Bradley;  sealer  of  measures,  Ephraim 
Nettleton;  fence  viewers,  Joseph  Beecher,  Lyman  Hitchcock;  assessors, 
Joseph  L  Doolittle,  Benjamin  Bronson,  Benjamin  Piatt;  surveyors  of 
highways,  Stephen  Bradley,  Samuel  Williams,  Jr.,  Gideon  M.  Hotch- 
kiss, Samuel  Peck,  Ran.som  R.  Russell,  Olcott  H.  Payne,  Garrett  Gil- 
lett,  Joel  Brooks.  Jared  Burr,  Esq.,  was  appointed  agent  to  assist  the 
selectmen  in  settling  affairs  with  Waterbury  and  Cheshire. 

Those  elected  to  the  office  of  town  clerk  since  the  organization  of 
Prospect  have  been:  1828-30,  Edward  Chittenden;  1831,  Franklin  D. 
Benham;  1832-4,  Ozra  Collins;  1835-0,  Aaron  Austin;  1837-47,  James 
Street;  1848-61,  Samuel  C.  Bronson;  1862,  Edwin  R.  Tyler;  1863-4, 
William  M.  Atwater;  1865,  David  Hawley;  1866-80,  Richard  Tyler; 
1881,  David  B.  Hotchki.ss;  1882-9,  David  M.  Plumb. 

Among  those  who  held  the  office  of  selectman  have  been:  Joseph 
Payne,  William  Alix,  Libbeus  Sanford,  Benjamin  Piatt,  Isaac  Bradley, 
George  C.  Piatt,  Joseph  I.  Doolittle,  Benjamin  Bronson,  Lauren  Pres- 
ton, David  R.  Wilmot,  Gideon  j\L  Hotchkiss,  Ransom  Russell,  Aaron 
Austin,  D.  M.  Hotchkiss,  John  Gillett,  H.  D.  Russell,  A.  S.  Plumb,  G. 
F.  Tyler,  D.  R.  Williams,  G.  D.  Fenn,  John  R.  Piatt,  Benjamin  Doo- 
little, Merritt  Clark,  Smith  S.  Clark,  George  Payne,  H.  A.  Nettle- 
ton,  Harris  Piatt,  William  E.  Morris,  David  B.  Hotchkiss,  James 
Bottomley. 

Thomas  Wilmot  moderated  at  many  of  the  early  town  meetings. 

The  construction  and  improvement  of  the  roads  have  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  town  more  than  any  other  matter.  The  appropria- 
tions for  this  object  have,  considering  the  means  of  the  town,  been 
very  liberal,  and  those  in  care  of  the  roads  have  generally  been  the 
leading  citizens.  The  supervisors  in  1890  were:  Alfred  Brooks,  George 
D.  Fenn,  Lourie  Richardson,  Lewis  Wooding,  H.  N.  Clark.  James 
Bottomley,  Frank  Allen,  A.  S.  Plumb,  Edgar  Wallace,  Levi  Sanford, 
John  Cook,  Reuben  Perkins. 

The  care  of  the  poor  has  required  serious  consideration.  In  1832 
and  later  the  town   appointed  overseers  to  look  after  those  who  had 


734  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

neglected  their  affairs,  and  who  were  through  want,  intemperance  and 
idleness  in  danger  of  becoming  town  charges.  This  means  sometimes 
proved  effectual,  but  occasionally  those  supervised  m  that  manner  re- 
sented the  care  forced  on  them,  and  refused  to  submit  to  the  authority 
of  the  overseers.  The  outlay  for  the  town  poor  in  1889  was  $225;  and 
the  expenditure  for  all  purposes  was  about  $2,000.  There  was  a 
funded  indebtedness  of  $1,492,  and  the  rate  of  taxation  was  9^  mills, 
on  a  grand  list  of  $162,652. 

At  present  there  is  but  little  occupation  aside  from  the  pursuit  of 
agriculture.  But  formerly  there  were  a  number  of  small  industries 
in  the  town  which  quickened  the  life  of  Prospect.  Most  of  these  were 
located  upon  the  brooks  already  named. 

Among  the  more  important  ones  were  those  on  Ten  Mile  river  (so- 
called),  which  is  in  Prospect  nothing  more  than  a  smart  brook.  At  the 
upper  privilege  on  that  stream  William  Mix  had  mills  below  a  24-foot 
fall,  in  which  he  also  made  Britannia  ware.  In  that  industry  he  was 
a  pioneer,  and  was  among  the  first  in  this  country  to  bring  to  the  aid 
of  hand-work  machinery  which  revolutionized  old  processes.  He  thus 
first  employed  a  buffing  wheel,  operated  by  water  power,  to  burnish 
the  spoons  and  other  ware  he  had  cast.  The  novelty  of  the  process— 
a  wheel,  so  to  speak,  made  of  rags,  putting  on  a  better  polish  than 
hand  rubbing — caused  this  little  valley  to  become  known  as  "  Rag 
Hollow,"  by  which  name  it  has  been  known  more  than  sixty  years. 
William  Mix  also  made  German  silver  spoons  of  superior  finish,  and 
later  manufactured  metal  buttons.  He  operated  until  he  was  an  aged 
man,  and  at  one  time  employed  more  than  a  score  of  persons.  In  1890 
this  power  was  but  little  used.  The  power  next  below  was  improved 
by  Harris  Smith  and  Sherman  Blakeslee,  in  the  fall  of  1839,  also  for 
the  manufacture  of  spoons,  coffee  and  tea  pots  of  Britannia  metal. 
Smith  soon  withdrew,  and  Blakeslee  alone  manufactured,  selling  to 
David  Hotchkiss  and  Robinson  Williams.  Later  Bennet  Jeralds  and 
Eli  Ives  had  that  line  of  manufacture,  from  1849  to  1854,  and  sold  the 
bu.siness  to  Charles  Parker,  who  transferred  it  to  Yalesville.  After 
that  S.  E.  Jeralds  manufactured  a  patent  hoe  ferrule,  and  associating 
E.  R.  Lawton  with  him,  manufactured  on  an  extensive  .scale  various 
kinds  of  sewing  machine  needles.  At  one  time  that  business  gave 
employment  to  forty  people.  The  last  named  firm  was  engaged  in  a 
small  way,  in  1890,  in  manufacturing  patent  knife  handles  for  the 
Meriden  Cutlery  Company. 

The  power  below  this  was  used  in  the  manufacture  of  matches  by 
Wilcox,  Tyler  &  Bronson,  Ives  &  Bagley,  and  last  by  E.  P.  Dunham. 
The  power  is  now  but  little  used.  Not  far  below  the  latter  David  R. 
Williams  had  a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  suspender  buckles  and 
other  notions,  which  he  carried  on  several  years.  The  property  passed 
to  Titus  Mix,  who  had  there  small  mills  and  shops. 


HISTUKV    OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  735 

Near  the  center  of  the  town  Harris  Smith  manufactured  umbrella 
trimmings,  employing  a  number  of  people,  until  the  interest  declined. 
A  more  successful  enterprise  in  the  village  was  the  hoe  shop  of  Eben 
Tuttle,  whose  business  grew  to  such  proportions  that  it  was  transferred 
to  Naugatuck  to  take  the  benefit  of  water  power  at  that  place.  At 
the  center  the  hoes  were  hammered  out  by  hand,  and  some  of  them 
were  ground  and  polished  by  power  at  Straitsville.  These  goods 
had  a  great  reputation,  and  their  manufacture  led  to  important  results. 

At  and  near  the  center  match  shops  were  owned  and  carried  on  by 
Richard  Tyler,  Samuel  C.  Bronson,  Stephen  H.  Payne,  John  Bronson 
and  others,  all  of  which  have  long  since  been  given  up.  Another 
abandoned  industry  is  at  Russell's  pond,  near  the  Naugatuck  line, 
where  H.  D.  Russell  and  others  used  the  power  to  produce  metal 
buttons,  harness  and  carriage  trimmings.  With  the  decay  and  re- 
moval of  these  interests  began  the  decline  of  the  town,  and  there  is 
now  scarcely  occupation  for  the  ordinary  mechanic  pursuits. 

Although  the  town  had  a  much  larger  amount  of  general  business 
than  at  present,  its  location  has  prevented  it  from  having  large  stores, 
etc.  Trade  has  been  confined  to  small  shops,  and  the  public  houses 
were  never  important.  A  post  office  bearing  the  name  of  the  town  is 
kept  at  the  center,  and  has  a  daily  mail  from  West  Cheshire  station. 
Among  the  postmasters  have  been:  Samuel  C.  Bronson,  Richard  Tyler, 
David  Hawley,  Luther  Morse,  David  B.  Hotchkiss  and  Mrs.  Stephen 
A.  Talmadge.  The  town  appropriates  $52  annually  for  the  support 
of  the  oflfice. 

At  the  post  office  is  kepi  theO.Kford  Circulating  Library, which  was 
established  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Mrs.  William  H.  Phipps.  It 
has  been  open  several  years,  has  220  volumes  and  is  well  patronized. 

Provision  for  schools  was  early  made  and  the  Society  of  Columbia 
maintamed  several  in  the  more  thickly  settled  parts  of  the  parish, 
which  were  continued  by  the  town.  In  more  recent  years  but  three 
schools  have  been  kept  up,  each  having  instruction  for  thirty  weeks 
in  the  fall  and  spring  of  the  year. 

Several  creditable  select  schools  have  been  kept  in  the  town,  one 
being  at  the  residence  of  Captain  David  M.  Hotchkiss;  another  by 
Seabury  Scott,  at  the  old  Castle  tavern  stand.  Both  were  well  patron- 
ized. 

The  early  religious  history  of  the  town  is  obscure.  About  the  time 
of  the  revolution  a  number  of  people  living  on  the  west  side  of  Chesh- 
ire mountain  complained  of  the  distance  they  were  required  to  travel 
to  attend  public  worship  in  Cheshire.  Others  living  more  remote 
from  the  meeting  house  in  Waterbury  joined  them  later  in  a  demand 
for  a  place  of  worship  more  convenient  to  their  homes.  The  old  soci- 
eties failing  to  afford  them  relief,  in  1778  a  number  separated  them. 
.selves  from  the  Cheshire  congregation  and  built  a  house  of  worshipof 
their  own   on  Cheshire   mountain.      They  secured  as  their  minister 


736  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

Reverend  John  Lewis,  who  was  succeded  by  Reverend  Benjamin 
Beach;  and  a  man  named  Chatterton  preached  later.  The  meeting- 
house was  rude  and  was  never  finished,  because  there  was  a  lack  of 
means  and  but  few  members.  These  were  called  Separatists,  but  pre- 
ferred to  be  known  as  Strict  Congregationalists.  This  movement  led 
to  the  formation  of  the  Columbia  Society  and  under  its  direction  a 
more  central  place  for  a  new  meeting  house  was  selected.  Land  on 
Prospect  hill  was  purchased  of  Abraham  Hotchkiss — one  acre  for  a 
meeting  house  and  a  smaller  quantity  for  a  graveyard.  It  was  deeded 
March  26th,  1795,  in  the  presence  of  Ira  Smith  and  Enos  Tyler.  A 
clause  in  the  deed  stipulated  that  if  the  major  part  of  those  using  the 
house  should  be  Congregationalists  or  Calvinists,  they  should  own  the 
land.  At  this  time,  however,  the  majority  were  not  Calvinists.  On 
the  3d  of  March,  1795,  the  congregation  had  voted  that  the  meeting 
house  should  be  for  the  use  of  the  Strict  Congregationalists.  It  was 
long  known  as  the  Separatist  meeting  house,  and  ministers  of  other 
denominations  sometimes  occupied  it.  The  plainness  and  simplicity 
of  this  building,  which  stood  on  the  green,  where  is  now  the  sign  post, 
was  somewhat  changed  in  1801,  when  it  was  put  into  better  shape  and 
a  steeple  with  bell  added.  Pews  were  also  placed  in  the  body  of  the 
house,  in  which  the  people  of  the  society  were  seated  according  to 
their  rates,  as  determined  by  the  grand  list. 

There  appears  to  have  been  a  steady  drift  toward  regular  Congre- 
gationalism, and  on  the  14th  day  of  May,  1798,  was  organized  the  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Prospect,  which  body  has  perpetuated  its  exist- 
istence  to  the  present  time.  The  sixteen  constituent  members  were 
Ephraim  vSmith,  Joseph  Matthews,  Abraham  Hotchkiss,  Ira  Smith, 
Eben  Hotchkiss,  Asahel  Hotchkiss,  Thankful  Smith,  Lois  Matthews, 
Hannah  Hotchkiss,  Phebe  Hotchkiss,  Esther  Ford,  Mehitable  Bying- 
ton,  Damaris  Tuttle,  Oily  Byington,  Hannah  Doolittle  and  Jerusha 
Hotchkiss.  The  ministers  in  attendance  on  this  occasion  were  the 
Reverends  John  Foote,  of  Cheshire;  Abraham  Fowler,  of  Salem  (Nau- 
gatuck);  Benjamin  Beach  and  Oliver  Hitchcock.  The  clerk  chosen 
was  Ira  Smith. 

Soon  after  this  the  old  Separatist  society  was  dissolved  and  many 
of  the  former  members  were  added  to  the  church.  In  1799  the  addi- 
tions by  letter  were  Frederick  Hotchkiss,  Tabitha  Hotchkiss,  Mrs.  Ira 
Smith,  Mrs.  Bildad  Porter,  Nehemiah  Smith,  Benjamin  Hotchkiss, 
Elizabeth  Beecher,  Esther  Beecher,  Myrinda  Sanford,  Deacon  Gideon 
Hotchkiss,  Molly  Terrell  and  Elizabeth  Tyler.  The  same  year  a  num- 
ber were  added  on  profession  of  faith,  arhong  them  being  Lydia 
Beecher,  Jonah  Hotchkiss  and  his  wife,  Robert  Hotchkiss,  Mercy 
Hitchcock,  Mary  Tyler,  Joel  Hotchkiss,  Wooster  Tuttle  and  Freelove 
Tuttle.  In  the  course  of  the  next  few  years  there  were  added,  among' 
other  members,  John  Hotchkiss,  Ezra  Hotchkiss,  Jesse  Wilmot  and 
Jared  Sanford. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY.  73T 

The  Reverend  Benjamin  Beach  supplied  the  new  church  tempora- 
rily, but,  June  5th,  1798,  Reverend  Oliver  Hitchcock  was  given  a  call, 
which  he  accepted.  He  was  installed  September  19th,  1798,  at  a  meet- 
ing- called  for  this  purpose  at  the  house  of  Ira  Smith,  wheu  Doctor 
Trumbull  and  other  prominent  ministers  were  present. 

The  church  now  entered  upon  its  active  work.  In  1800  it  adopted 
the  Saybrook  platform  as  part  of  its  creed,  to  which  it  rigidly  adhered. 
The  private  lives  of  the  members  were  made  to  conform  to  a  severe 
standard  of  morality  and  no  frivolities  of  any  kind  were  allowed.  Mr. 
Hitchcock  was  the  pastor  of  the  church  until  January  12th,  1812,  and  it  is 
said  had  to  eke  out  his  salary  by  laying  up  stone  walls  for  some  of  the 
wealthier  farmers,  being  very  proficient  at  that  work.  It  should  be 
borne  in  mind  that  the  parish  was  small  and  that  not  all  those  living 
in  it  contributed  to  the  support  of  the  minister.  Many  of  the  Separa- 
tists did  not  connect  themselves  with  the  church  and  declined  to  pay 
their  rates,  some  preferring  to  worship  with  the  Methodists  and  others- 
claiming  membership  with  the  church  at  Cheshire.  Hence  they  filed 
their  certificates  to  show  their  intentions. 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Hitchcock  to  New  York,  the  pulpit  was- 
supplied  by  Reverend  David  Bacon  (father  of  Leonard  Bacon )  in  1813; 
Abraham  Fowler,  one  year;  Gideon  Burt,  in  181.');  and  John  Marsh, 
in  1816.     The  latter  became  a  noted  temperance  worker  after  1823. 

In  May,  1817,  Reverend  Samuel  Rich  became  the  second  settled- 
pastor.  In  that  year  the  old  parsonage  was  repaired  and  a  ministerial 
fund  of  $2,000  raised.  This  has  aided  to  support  the  Gospel,  and  a 
part  of  the  fund  is  still  available.  Mr.  Rich  was  a  strong-headed  but 
nevertheless  a  .successful  minister,  and  while  he  remained  there  were 
several  revivals,  which  increased  the  membership.  In  1821  about 
seventy  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  He  was  dismissed  in  May, 
1824,  after  an  unpleasant  controversy  in  regard  to  his  salary,  which,  it 
appears,  was  not  fully  paid  at  the  time  his  pastorate  ceased.  As 'a 
consequence,  there  was  no  regular  minister  for  several  years,  but  only 
occasional  preaching. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  1827,  Reverend  John  E.  Bray  was  installed, 
and  it  is  said  that  the  singing  and  other  services  on  that  occasion  were 
unusually  impressive.     He  was  dismissed  in  1832. 

Again  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Reverend  Peter  Sampson,  and 
in  1833  by  Reverend  James  D.  Chapman.  The  latter  was  here  but  a 
short  time,  when  he  became  a  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Perfec- 
tionist, John  H.  Noyes,  the  founder  of  the  Oneida  community.  Some 
of  his  members  followed  him  in  this  belief,  and  when  the  Consociation 
revoked  his  license  to  preach  and  closed  the  pulpit  against  him.  they 
went  with  him  to  a  school  house  in  the  neighborhood,  where  they 
loyally  stood  by  him.  This  had  the  effect  of  greatly  weakening  the 
church.  Mr.  Chapman  lived  in  the  town  some  time,  and  renouncing 
his  Perfection  ideas,  his  license  was  restored  to  him,  and  he  preached 
in  Wolcott  in  1839  and  in  later  years. 


738  HISTORY   OF   NEW    HAVEN   COUNTY. 

After  Mr.  Chapman,  the  ministers  in  Prospect  were  as  follows  : 
1834-6,  Reverend  Sylvester  Selden;  1836-7,  Zephaniah  Swift;  1837-9, 
Ammi  Linsley;  1840-3,  Edward  Bull. 

In  this  period  the  church  was  so  poor  that  the  aid  of  the  mission- 
ary society  was  necessary  in  order  to  maintain  these  supplies.  During 
the  ministry  of  Reverend  Edward  Bull,  a  period  of  growth  began 
which  assured  the  further  existence  of  the  church.  In  1841  the  town 
and  the  society  united  in  a  purpose  to  build  a  new  meeting  house,  as 
the  old  one  had  becpme  unfit  for  use.  The  town  built  the  basement 
and  the  society,  aided  freely  by  Mr.  Bull,  who  was  a  man  of  means, 
built  the  superstructure  of  the  present  edifice.  A  parsonage  had  been 
begun  about  the  same  time,  which  was  completed  during  the  ministry 
■of  Mr.  Torrey.  In  1870  the  meeting  house  was  thoroughly  repaired 
and  made  more  attractive;  and  again,  in  1883,  the  basement  was  con- 
verted into  a  vestry  room  and  a  town  hall,  the  repairs  involving  an 
outlay  of  $1,000.  The  par.sonage  had  been  fully  repaired  in  1878. 
Both  buildings  nicely  served  their  purposes  in  1890. 

In  June,  1843,  Reverend  Reuben  Torrey  began  a  five  years'  pas- 
torate as  the  fourth  settled  minister,  leaving  in  1848.  Then  the  pulpit 
was  supplied  by  the  following :  1848-9,  Reverend  John  L.  Ambler ; 
1851-4,  James  Kilbourne;  1854-5,  Asa  M.  Train;  1856-7,  Joseph  Payne; 
1858-9,  Asa  M.  Train,  the  second  time. 

In  October,  1860,  Reverend  William  W.  Atwater  was  installed  as 
the  fifth  settled  pastor,  and  was  dismissed  January  31st,  1865.  The 
following  year  Reverend  Frederick  Chapman  began  a  ministry  as 
acting  pastor,  which  continued  until  1871.  Reverend  Mr.  Pyke  suc- 
ceeded him  from  1871  to  1874.  In  May  of  the  latter  year  Reverend 
F.  Countryman*  became  the  pastor  and  continued  until  his  resigna- 
tion, August  23d,  1877.  The  Reverend  J.  H.  Beckwith  preached  a 
short  time,  and  was  followed,  January  1st,  1878,  by  the  present  acting 
pastor.  Reverend  William  H.  Phipps,  whose  faithful  service  has  been 
the  means  of  preventing  the  dissolution  of  the  church,  when  so  many 
material  interests  in  the  town  have  gone  to  decay.  In  1890  the  church 
had  90  members,  and  there  was  a  Sunday  school  of  100  members, 
which  had  deacon  G.  B.  Hotchkiss  as  its  superintendent. 

The  first  deacon  of  the  church  was  Gideon  Hotchkiss,  who  served 
from  1799  until  his  death  in  1807.  He  was  born  in  Cheshire  in  1716, 
and  embraced  religion  in  1736.  He  soon  after  married  and  moved  to 
Waterbury,  living  within  the  bounds  of  the  Salem  vSociety,  from  whose 
jurisdiction  he  was  excepted.  When  the  Columbia  Society  was 
formed  he  soon  after  became  a  member,  and  actively  continued  until 
his  decease  at  the  age  of  91  years.  His  descendants  were  very  num- 
erous and  useful.  He  had  105  grandchildren  and  155  great-grand- 
children in  the  fourth  and  fifth  generations. 

The  second  deacon,  Ira  Smith,  was  elected  in   1807,  but  he  was 

*  Sketch  compiled  from  a  discourse  by  Reverend  Frank  Countryman. 


HISTORY   OF   NEW    KAVEN  COUNTY.  739 

before  that  time  active  in  the  church  and  had  been  a  leading  Separat- 
ist. His  home  being  central,  many  councils  were  there  held.  Another 
leader  in  church  matters  was  Frederick  Hotchkiss,  who  was  elected  a 
deacon  in  1818.  After  several  years  he  removed  to  New  York  city, 
where  he  was  drowned.  Another  member  of  the  Hotchkiss  family — 
Gideon  Mills— became  interested  in  church  affairs  about  1832.  He 
was  especially  a  strong  and  progressive  Sunday  school  worker.  The 
other  deacons  elected  were:  1826,  Samuel  Peck;  1834,  Jo.seph  Piatt; 
1842,  James  Street;  1857,  Whitney  B.  Dudley:  1864,  Benjamin  B.  Brown; 
1865,  Gilbert  B.  Hotchkiss.  The  latter  two  have  continued,  being  the 
deacons  in  1890. 

One  Congregational  minister  was  raised  up  by  the  church,  viz..  Rev- 
erend Henry  Alanson  Russell. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Bishop  Asbury,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  visited  old  Waterbury  in  1796  and  preached  in  the  Columbia 
Separatist  meeting  house.  On  the  dissolution  of  that  society,  about 
1800,  not  all  the  Separatists  joined  the  regular  church,  but  some  be- 
came Methodists.  These  were  visited  occasionally  by  itinerant  min- 
isters, who  held  meetings  in  private  houses,  some  of  which  were  occa- 
sions of  unusual  interest.  Amos  Hotchkiss,  who  had  been  an  active 
Separatist,  warmly  espoused  Methodism  and  threw  open  the  doors  of 
his  house,  and  some  of  the  first  meetings  were  held  there.  Later 
meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Benham,  one  half  mile 
north  of  the  village  green.  Hotchkiss  died  in  1820,  but  three  of  his 
sons — Woodward,  Avera  and  Amos  H. — became  Methodists.  The 
former  married  Polly  Castle,  a  pious  and  zealous  Methodist,  who  died 
in  1870,  aged  100  years.  He  died  in  1861,  aged  86  years.  Amos  H. 
presented  a  lot  on  the  south  side  of  the  square  for  a  meeting  house 
site.  Daniel  Hitchcock,  a  very  devout  man,  was  another  Alethodist. 
He  had  a  prayer  meeting  room  in  his  house.  Other  Methodists  were: 
Milly  Sanford,  whose  son,  Herschell,  was  a  local  preacher ;  Mrs. 
Eunice  Rowe,  Abel  Austin  and  wife,  Warren  Wilson  and  wife,  Dimon 
Hitchcock  and  wife,  Elisha  Preston,  Lauren  Preston,  a  class  leader, 
who  moved  to  Cheshire;  Ichabod  Hitchcock,  another  class  leader;  and 
Jesse  Beecher,  a  local  preacher,  who  joined  the  Adventists.  Others  of 
the  Methodists  also  embraced  that  faith. 

The  first  public  Methodist  place  of  worship  was  the  old  Separatist 
meeting  house,  which  was  removed  to  a  new  site,  on  the  south  of  the 
square.  At  that  place  Methodist  meetings  were  held  until  1858,  when 
they  were  discontinued,  and  the  organization  was  disbanded  on  account 
of  the  fewness  of  the  members.  Some  of  those  who  continued  their 
residence  in  the  town  attended  the  churches  in  Bethany  and  Cheshire, 
while  others  became  Adventists  or  found  a  spiritual  home  in  the 
Congregational  church. 

The  Adventist  chapel,  at  the  Center,  which  is  a  small  but  not  un- 
attractive frame  building,  affords  a  place  of  worship  for  members  of 


740  HISTORY   OF  NEW   HAVEN  COUNTY. 

that  faith.  It  was  built  within  tlie  past  six  years.  The  meetings 
previous  to  that  time  were  held  in  private  houses,  at  "Rag  Hollow" 
and  other  localities.  Moses  Chandler  was  one  of  the  most  active  in 
the  latter  movement  to  give  the  denomination  a  permanent  place  in 
the  town,  and  the  meetings  were  for  a  time  held  at  his  house.  Other 
members  belong  to  the  Tuttle,  Tyler,  Hotchkiss  and  Beecher  families. 
In  1890  there  were  about  a  score  of  members,  and  Seth  Woodruff  was 
the  minister. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 

Byron  L.  Morse  was  born  in  Prospect  in  1859,  and  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  that  town.  His  parents  were  Harry  and  Sarah 
(Gillett)  Morse.  The  former  died  in  1879.  Byron  L.  was  elected  to 
the  legislature  in  1889  from  the  town  of  Prospect,  and  served  on  the 
committee  of  forfeited  rights.  He  is  engaged  in  farming.  His 
parents  had  seven  children:  Byron  L.,  George,  John,  Hattie,  Walter 
(an  electrician  in  Waterbury),  Mary  and  Alice.  Byron  L.  belongs  to 
the  Mad  River  Grange,  P.  of  H.  His  brother,  George,  was  a  member 
of  the  legislature  in  1885. 

David  B.  Hotchkiss,  born  in  Prospect  in  1853,  is  a  son  of  David  M. 
and  Hannah  (Doolittle)  Hotchkiss.  The  latter  was  first  married  to 
Henry  Bristol,  and  had  one  son,  Henry  Bristol,  now  of  New  Haven. 
David  and  Hannah  had  two  children:  David  B.  and  Julia  E.,  who  mar- 
ried F.  A.  Sanford.-  David  M.  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife 
he  had  eight  children:  Emily  B.,  married  Benjamin  B.  Brown,  of  Pros- 
pect; Laura,  married  A.  S.  Plumb;  Henry  K.  and  Hervey  D.,  twins; 
Frederick,  died  when  24  years  old;  Edwin  H.,  lives  in  New  York;  Berk- 
ley S.,  of  Waterbury;  and  Richard  N.,  of  New  Jersey.  David  B.  mar- 
ried Nellie  Hupman,  of  Windsor,  N.  Y.,  in  1878.  They  have  four 
children:  Luella,  Mabel,  Ruth  and  Treat.  Mr.  Hotchkiss  has  held 
several  town  offices,  including  selectman  and  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  is  independent  in  politics.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Mad  River 
Grange,  No.  71,  P.  of  H.  David  M.  was  a  .son  of  Frederick,  he  a  son 
of  David,  he  a  son  of  Gideon,  all  natives  of  Prospect.  The  Hotchkiss 
family  was  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  town.  David  M.  was 
noted  in  his  time  for  being  a  strong  abolitionist.  He  was  instrumen- 
tal in  forming  the  town  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Prospect.  He  was 
first  selectman *during  the  war,  and  was  twice  sent  to  the  legislature. 
He  died  in  1878. 

Edwin  T.  Mix,  born  in  Cheshire  in  1843,  is  a  son  of  Titus  Mix,  who 
came  from  Wallingford  and  settled  in  Prospect.  He  was  engaged  in 
making  boxes  for  the  Ives  &  Judd  Match  Company.  His  son,  Edwin 
T.,  has  a  factory  in  Rag  Hollow,  where  he  manufactures  wagons  and 
does  a  general  repair  business.  He  has  a  fine  water  power  and  is 
doing  a  successful  business. 


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